When it comes to eating well – stocking up on healthy pantry essentials is one of the best ways to set yourself up for success!  As the saying goes – if you stay ready, you don't have to get ready. A stocked pantry makes it easy to prepare simple, nourishing, and delicious eats throughout your week!

We’ve included some of our favourite paleo, vegan, and gluten-free pantry staples. From plant-based protein to paleo baking essentials, healthy fats, and our favourite snacks - we’ve got everything covered! Plus, at the end of this post – we include some simple, healthy recipes using your new pantry staples. Welcome to your healthy pantry makeover! 

Now, if you are just getting started with healthy lifestyle changes and wondering where to begin – try transforming one section of your pantry at a time. For example, you might try swapping out processed/ unhealthy snacks as the first step. Taking it one section at a time will make your healthy pantry makeover easier and more attainable!

Plant-Based Protein

Beans and legumes are great sources of vegan protein! Not only are they inexpensive and versatile – but they can be stored (dried or canned) for long periods of time in your pantry. Best of all they are low in saturated fat, high in fiber, and provide essential micronutrients.

• lentils (red, green, black)
• chickpeas
• black beans
• cannellini beans
• kidney beans
• pinto beans
• split peas
• hemp seeds

Vegan, Paleo, and Gluten-Free Baking Essentials 

If you love baking, but don’t enjoy the sugar crash that comes with indulging in conventional baked goods - try swapping your baking ingredients for these alternatives! 

Substituting refined sweeteners with dates is an excellent way to decrease the amount of added sugar in your diet. Read more about why we love using dates as a natural sweetener here. Using paleo and gluten-free flours such as coconut flour or almond flour is a great way to add more nutritional value to your baking as well! 

• date sugar
• maple syrup
• coconut flour
• almond flour
• cassava flour
• arrowroot flour
• flax seed
• apple sauce

Snacks

Every pantry needs a snack section so that you know where to reach when the cravings hit! 

Many conventional packaged snacks are filled with refined sugar, stabilizers, hydrogenated oils, trans-fats, artificial flavours and colours, and more. Instead, we like to keep it simple with healthy, wholesome ingredients that provide energy while supporting whole-body health! 

• nomz energy bites (almond, hazelnut, coconut, or pistachio)
• organic single ingredient nut butter 
• nuts (almonds, cashews, walnuts etc)
• pumpkin seeds (aka pepitas)
• sunflower seeds
• chia seeds
• vegan chocolate 
• seaweed snacks
• dried fruit - goji berries, dates, dried cranberries, apricots etc
• nomzicles (a chocolatey healthy snack to keep in your freezer!)

Healthy Fats and Oils

Replace highly refined processed oils and fats with sources of unsaturated fats and minimal amounts of high quality saturated fats! Here are some great sources of healthy fats to keep in your pantry:

• extra virgin olive oil
• avocado oil
• coconut oil
• nomz organic almond butter
• nomz organic hazelnut butter
• nomz organic pistachio butter
• nomz organic macadamia nut butter
• tahini
• coconut butter 

Read more about healthy fats and learn the difference between saturated vs unsaturated fats here. 

Superfoods + Smoothie Essentials

Even with the best intentions, we know how tough it is to make sure you’re getting all the nutrients your body needs. This is where our daily nourish superfood mix comes in!

 Using daily nourish as our smoothie essential keeps our pantry shelves uncluttered. This all-in-one superfood mix contains 12 of the world’s best superfoods – in one easy jar.

• daily nourish superfood mix
• plant-based protein powder

Other Healthy Pantry Staples

• full fat coconut milk
• apple cider vinegar
• nutritional yeast
• coconut aminos
• tomato sauce
• quinoa pasta
• chickpea pasta
• tea
• spices

Paleo + Vegan Recipes to Try

• Hazelnut chocolate chia pudding
• 4 Healthy bento box snack ideas
• Hazelnut chocolate chip cookie skillet
• Immune boosting superfood green smoothie
• Antioxidant berry beet smoothie

Let's Get Social!

Be sure to share a photo and tag us on social media @nomz #nomz if you make any of these healthy snack box ideas - we would love to see your creations!

Holistic Nutritionist Jasmine Ouellette

Jasmine is the Head of Marketing & Communications at nomz, and a Registered Nutritional Consulting Practitioner. With a background in Biology and Holistic Nutrition, Jasmine is passionate about sharing science-backed wellness information and healthy recipes to help elevate mental and physical health. Do you have a wellness topic, nutrition question, or recipe you’d like to see here on the naturally delicious blog? Drop Jazz an email and she will be sure to answer your questions in an upcoming blog post: jasmine@nomz.com