It’s getting chilly and rightly time to stock up on the GOOD stuff! But before you go out and buy a great wall of bog roll again, make sure you first have the basics on hand to create healthy and affordable meals at the ready this season.
Sadly, there’s only so long you can survive off those 2-minute-noodle wonders, and it’s time to get back to good N-U-T-R-I-T-I-O-N. Remember that crazy word? Rhymes with a beautician (the real heroes we’ve missed).
To help get us back into the swing of things, Remedy Drinks Nutritionist Jacq Alwill has been kind enough to share the multipurpose pantry staples she stocks up on at the supermarkets to make meals FULL of nutrition and flavour. Take notes.
GRAINS & PSEUDO GRAINS
“Grains are a wonderful source of B vitamins, fibre and carbohydrates for sustained energy and to help our brains function at their absolute best, the top grains to have on hand are basmati or brown rice, buckwheat, pure buckwheat soba noodles, quinoa, quinoa flakes, oats and barley.” Jacq explains. Try porridge for breakfast, a salad loaded with quinoa for lunch and hearty dinner with rice or noodles!
LEGUMES & BEANS
Thanks to the popularity of going meat-free (even for one day a week), legumes and beans are key– and they’re cost-effective, versatile and filling. “Legumes and beans will satiate your appetite and fuel your body with plant-based proteins. They provide essential amino acids our bodies need to synthesise proteins and for growth, development and repair.” If you’re not sure which to take home, Jacq recommends brown lentils, chickpeas, kidney beans and butter beans. If you’re buying them dried, try puy lentils, red lentils or split peas.
FERMENTED FOOD & DRINKS
Fermented foods and drinks are the true long-life pantry heroes! Jacq suggests keeping an eye out for kimchi, sauerkraut, miso, yoghurt and fermented drinks at the supermarket AKA Remedy Kombucha, Remedy Switchel, Remedy Sodas and Remedy Kefir. “Fermented goods are some of the most delicious ingredients you can stock up on and store for later. Through the fermentation process, they produce beautiful bacteria best known to us as probiotics to support our immune health. How? They feed the gut flora so it can flourish and absorb the nutrients in our foods.” We’ll CHEERS to that.
OIL, VINEGAR, & CONDIMENTS
Don’t skimp on oils, vinegar and condiments. What you’re cooking with should taste great! “Using high-quality oils not only add flavour to dishes, they can also be a source of high-quality fats. Extra-virgin olive oil, unrefined coconut oil, macadamia oil, sesame oil and ghee are all great to have. Balsamic vinegar and apple cider vinegar will transform any salad while helping curb sugar spikes and aiding digestion” says Jacq. Tamari and fish sauce are great for adding flavour to stir-fries and Asian cuisines. Tahini, almond butter, peanut butter or cashew butter can be used in baking, simple salad dressings, and if you just can’t help yourself, eaten by the spoon!
