Many of you are curious about what types of foods and cooking ingredients I keep on hand and use frequently when cooking vegetarian. I have compiled a list of what I consider to be essential healthy vegetarian kitchen staples. I hope you find this helpful!
Oils and Spices Cabinet
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Extra Virgin Olive Oil Spray
Salt
Sea Salt
Black Pepper
Whole Wheat Bread Crumbs
Corn Starch
Red Wine Vinegar
Dried Onion Soup Mix
Pizza/Pasta Seasoning
Italian Seasoning
Nutritional Yeast
Ground Cumin
Chili Powder
Dried Sweet Basil
Garlic Powder
Dried Rosemary
Dried Thyme
Onion Powder
Turmeric
Cayenne Pepper
Paprika
Ground Oregano
Crushed Red Pepper
Cinnamon
Curry Powder
Pantry
Quinoa
Brown Rice
Whole Wheat Pasta
Pasta Sauce (low-sodium versions)
Black Beans (no salt added)
Kidney Beans (no salt added)
Pinto Beans (no salt added)
Canned vegetables, especially diced tomatoes!
Kashi Cereal
Whole Wheat or Brown Rice Wraps
Whole Wheat Thin Buns
Almonds (I get 100 calorie packs for portion control)
Oats (quick and rolled)
Lightly Salted Brown Rice Cakes
Popcorn
Food Should Taste Good Chips (I love the blue tortilla and the sweet potato varieties!)
Bars (Kashi, Powerbar Pure and Simple, Larabar, etc.) – I only eat these sparingly as a special treat!
Freezer
Whole Wheat Ezekiel Bread
Meat Substitutes (I love Morningstar and Amy’s brands but there are MANY others I have not tried yet)
Amy’s Frozen Meals- these are delicious, organic, vegetarian (sometimes vegan), and only contain ingredients you can actually read! If you have to eat a quick, frozen meal then these are definitely recommended!
Vegetables- full-sized bags and individual servings
Refrigerator
Eggs
Tofu
Salsa
Unsweetened Almond or Soy Milk
Natural Peanut or Almond Butter
Greek Yogurt
Low Fat Cottage Cheese
Cheese Wedges (Weight Watchers or Laughing Cow)
Hummus
Jarred Minced Garlic
Condiments (hot sauce, mustards, Vegenaise, salad dressings, low sugar jelly, pizza sauce, light soy sauce, etc.)
Fruits and Vegetables
Some of my favorites that I use frequently include:
Apples
Bananas
Cantaloupe
Raspberries
Blueberries
Strawberries
Watermelon
Tomatoes
Carrots
Onions
Bell Peppers
Broccoli
Zucchini
Brussel Sprouts
Asparagus
Sweet Potatoes
Salad Mix
Spinach
If you have any questions regarding a specific section or product please let me know!
