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Try these tips for stocking your pantry like a pro – and saving money while you’re at it

Whether family meals are an everyday occurrence in your home or a new adventure, keeping a well-stocked pantry is essential in creating delicious and healthy meals that won’t break the bank.

Did you know that home-cooked meals often contain less sodium, unhealthy fats and sugar than those prepared in a restaurant? Knowing how to stock your pantry like a pro can save you dinnertime frustration and money!

Here are a few tips for stocking a healthy pantry:

Protein

Money-saving tip: Shop case-lot sales. They typically occur one or two times a year and can help stock your pantry with shelf-stable foods that may last years.AdvertisementVolume 0% 

Fruits and veggies

Money-saving tip: Consider adding a can or two of veggies to a dish that will increase the number of servings and provide you with leftovers. For example, add corn or green beans to a stir-fry or carrots to your spaghetti!

Grains

Money-saving tip: When preparing a meal that has pasta or rice, consider cooking extra to store in the fridge for a meal later in the week. Leftover rice can make a delicious stir-fry or fried rice. Pre-cooked pasta can be made into a pasta salad or added to soup. Not only will this stretch your food dollar, but it can save you time as well!

Other things to keep on hand

Money-saving tip: Many spices come in large and bulk sizes that are cheaper per ounce than the smaller option. Dried spices and herbs can last one to three years if stored properly, so consider stocking up. Find recipes to make your own spice varieties such as taco, chili or all-purpose seasoning. Many of these can be made with spices you already have on hand!

Once you’ve stocked your pantry like a pro, add frozen and refrigerated items to the mix for a well-stocked kitchen.

Stock your refrigerator and freezer

Money-saving tip: Watch your local grocery store ads for meat and produce to go on sale. When you see it at a good price, buy in bulk and freeze to use later.

When buying fresh produce, don’t buy more than you can use before your next shopping trip. If you have too much fresh produce on hand, you may not be able to use it all before it spoils. Consider buying only two or three varieties each shopping trip, like broccoli, cauliflower and oranges. On your next shopping trip, try two or three different varieties, like carrots, sweet potatoes and apples.

Some foods may be difficult to find or too expensive. There are many substitutes and creative options for healthy and delicious meals. Do the best you can with what you have. Once you start cooking recipes using items from your pantry, you’ll see how easy it is to substitute one item for another.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

With your pantry, refrigerator and freezer stocked, you’re ready to create some delicious meals. One of my favorites is taco salad.

The great thing about this recipe is that it is so versatile. If you don’t have an onion, use dried onion flakes or onion powder. If you don’t have frozen corn, use canned. Any type of canned beans will work – use kidney, pinto, white, black or garbanzo. You can add canned chicken or ground beef to the recipe for an extra serving of protein. If you don’t have rice on hand, any type of grain will do.

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