List of basic staples for a plant-based diet coming soon.
Pantry
- agave nectar
- applesauce
- baking soda & baking powder
- brown rice
- canned beans
- (whole grain) cereal
- chocolate chips (Enjoy Life Brand is my favorite)
- cocoa
- coffee
- dried beans (pinto, black, chickpea’s, lentils, etc.)
- dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, etc.)
- flour (whole wheat and gluten-free)
- grains
- (shelf stable) non-dairy milks
- nutritional yeast
- nuts/seeds
- old-fashioned oats
- pasta
- pasta sauce
- quinoa
- raw sugar
- red wine vinegar
- tomato sauce
- tortillas
- tortilla chips
- turbinado sugar
- vanilla
Spices
- black/white pepper
- chili powder
- cinnamon
- cumin
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- sea salt
- turmeric
Freezer
- bananas
- blueberries
- breads
- broccoli
- cherries
- corn
- herbs
- mixed veggies
- stir fry veggies
- strawberries
- whole wheat pastry flour
I also like to freeze leftover soups and baked goods like muffins and breads. If I chop too many veggies I’ll store them in the freezer to use in a quick stir fry or soup.
Refrigerator
- applesauce
- Braggs Liquid Aminos
- chia seeds
- coconut milk coffee creamer
- fat-free balsamic vinaigrette
- flax seeds
- jelly (with no added sugar)
- lemon/lime juice
- milk (we use rice milk)
- mustard
- natural nut butters
- nutritional yeast
- dates
- maple syrup
- salsa
- sunflower seed butter
Many of these items are more like add on’s or condiments. I often feel like our fridge is full of things that aren’t really food. Some of these items could be stored in the pantry instead of the fridge but I live in the desert so it is typically hotter here so I store them in the fridge.
Fresh Produce
- apples
- bananas
- broccoli
- carrots
- garlic
- onions
- oranges
- peppers (jalapenos, bell peppers and sweet peppers)
- potatoes
- sweet potatoes
- spinach and other lettuces
- tomatoes
- other seasonal produce (cucumbers, pears, peaches, melons, etc.)
These are our basic produce picks. We buy these regularly and at any given time you will find them in our fridge. We try to stick to seasonal produce so you’ll rarely find asparagus in our fridge. We don’t store all of our produce in the fridge. Some things like potatoes and onions are stored in the pantry. Broccoli and spinach are always in the refrigerator. Other items like apples and peppers could be stored at room temperature or refrigerated.
I’m about to make this even easier! Here is a printer-friendly compilation of all my Basic Staples for a Plant-Based Diet! <<Click on the link for a PDF!