How to Stock Up on Healthy Pantry Staples

With these on hand, you can always whip up easy, tasty meals and snacks

By Catherine Roberts

When you need to make a meal or feel like getting yourself a snack but you’re not sure exactly what you want, you could simply go to your pantry or open your fridge to see what’s there.

That’s why having the right ingredients on hand makes all the difference in maintaining a healthy diet with food that’s also delicious and satisfying.

Here are tips from Consumer Reports nutrition expert Amy Keating, RD, on how to stock your kitchen to make eating healthy quick and simple.

To reveal each tip, click or hover your cursor over the dots (or tap on a mobile device) on the illustration below.

Refrigerator Staples to Stock

Some items stay fresh in the refrigerator for a long time, making them useful to have on hand. Consider fruits like apples and oranges, veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and kale, and Parmesan cheese.

Editor’s Note: A version of this article also appeared in the October 2024 issue of Consumer Reports On Health.

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