Healthy Pantry Essentials

Maintaining a healthy pantry is tricky business as a military spouse.  With the frequency of our moves, it seems like we are always paring down to lighten the load of our household goods, or loading up to restock.  Going to the Commissary for the first time after a move is a budget buster when you’re trying to stock up on food staples and cleaning supplies.  Sometimes the Commissary doesn’t carry some of the specialty food items we need so we have to get organized and make a trip into a bigger city or shop online.

The InDependent team compiled a list of things that we keep in our pantries. You can use it to boost the health factor of your pantry or to help you prioritize your shopping after a PCS.  Having a well-balanced pantry means that you have things on hand for snacks and meals and you just have to fill in with perishable items. Use the infographic below or you can download the printable version here.

Are there any healthy items not included here that you like to keep on hand?  How long before a PCS do you start paring down your pantry?

Healthy Pantry Essentials | InDependent

Infographic by Leslie. Compiled by Kimberly.

*Many canned products contain BPA, an industrial chemical used to make some plastics and resins. Resins coat many cans causing BPA to seep into food and beverages. Exposure to BPA is a concern because of possible negative health effects. Reduce exposure by looking for BPA free brands or alternative packaging. Source: Mayo Clinic.

For a guide to find BPA-free products, visit InspirationGreen.com.

**It is especially important to purchase BPA-free packaging for tomato products because the tomatoes leech the BPA from cans faster than other foods. Source: The Oregonian