But what exactly is a real meal?
Tomato paste
Tomato paste is a miracle ingredient.
you’ve got the option to use it to thicken stews and soups and make amazing marinara sauces.
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Plus, 1 tablespoon of tomato paste counts as a 1/4-cup serving of vegetables.
Whole grain products
There are so manywhole grain productsyou should have a go at keep on hand.
Theyre affordable, and can be used to round out just about any meal.
Plus, if stored properly, they can last for a pretty long time.
Root vegetables include potatoes (both sweet and regular), onions, and yams.
Canned beans
Beans, andespecially canned beans, are great.
Theyre full of protein and fiber, and are easy to prepare in mere minutes.
Dried lentils
Lentils, like beans, arefull of proteinand fiber.
Unlike beans, they arent usually sold in cans, so you have to buy them dried.
Canned fish
This is another super simple, ready-to-eat protein to keep on hand.
Salmon, tuna, and anchovies are all good varieties of fish to keep in your pantry.
Theyre full of vitamin D and healthy fats, and you could use them in salads and sandwiches.
Even throw anchovies into salad dressings and tomato sauces for a salty, umami kick.
DeMuth also loves to keep her pantry stocked with turmeric (AKA the super-spice du jour).
Nuts, seeds, and nut butters
Nuts and seeds are incredibly versatile.
Nut butters, in that same vein, are another great ingredient to have.
Its full of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, and it tastes amazing.
preserve your more expensive bottles for vegetable drizzling and bread dipping, and your cheaper bottles for cooking.
Their uses go beyond salad dressings.
Nutritional yeast
This ingredient is extremely popular in the vegan community because of its cheesy characteristics.
Keep this tightly sealed and stored in a cool, dark place as yeast is an active ingredient.
Though this may seem like an ingredient that needs to be refrigerated, it doesnt.
Garlic is another delicious, low-calorie flavoring agent that can be used easily in myriad dishes.
