Are you looking to streamline your pantry? Or better yet are you wanting to maximise your value for money when buying food?
You might be surprised to know that achieving a healthy diet is relatively simple and doesn’t require lots of fancy or expensive ingredients. You can find all of what you need at your local supermarket or green grocer.
I’ve narrowed down my top picks of the most versatile and inexpensive foods to keep you inspired in the kitchen.
1: Eggs ?
Perhaps the most versatile food of all, you can easily cook eggs 5 different ways – scrambled, poached, hard/soft boiled, over easy/medium/hard, omelette and sunny side up.
2: Bananas ?
Often described as natures energy bar. Bananas are a wonderfully versatile food, they give smoothies or ‘ice cream ‘the smoothest texture. Bananas are also a great substitute for eggs in most baked goods – 1/4 cup of ripe banana will replace one large egg.
3: Rice ?
On its own rice is a strong side for multiple dishes including stir-fry’s to burrito bowls to baked fish. Rice also makes for a wonderful dessert in rice pudding.
4: Garlic and Onions ??
Flavour is a big deal, it doesn’t matter what meal your cooking. Pretty much every savoury recipe that exists calls for at least one of these 2 ingredients. They are a great way to enhance the flavour profile of your meal without using extra salt.
5: Potatoes ?
Potato has to be one of my favourite vegetables because of its versatility. You can add it to soups and stews, slice into chips, cook hash browns, boil – there are so many options for cooking potatoes so it’s a perfect food to stock up on.
6: All Purpose Flour ?
There are literally so many foods you can make with this food – think homemade pizza, hamburger rolls, pasta, muffins, cookies, pies and cookies as well as sliced bread. These are just some of the foods you can make with all-purpose flour.
7: Frozen Vegetables ?
One way to maximise your veggie intake as well as reduce food waste is to load up on frozen veggies. My favourites include stir-fry mixes which you can simply add to protein and some rice for a complete meal. Frozen spinach is also so versatile as you can use it in smoothies, dips, pizza crusts and so much more.
8: Peanut Butter ?
More than just a humble topping, peanut butter can be used in cookies, with oatmeal or even as a base for tasty sauces like satay. My tip is to choose natural peanut butter varieties.
9: Beans and Lentils ?
Whether you enjoy them dried or canned, beans can be a delicious vegetarian protein. They work well in slow cooker recipes, dips and spreads like hummus, salads and veggie burgers to name a few
10: Rolled Oats ?
Oats can be a powerhouse food that you can use in baked goods like cookies or as traditional oatmeal. Uncooked oats can also make for an easy bulk filling for veggie burger recipes, veggie loaves or even to smoothies. You could also make your own oat flour by pulverising dry oats in a food processor.
