my whole foods pantry

Today I bring you......my pantry. 

My friend Amanda awhile back said to me, "you totally have to blog your pantry." And while that was like, forever ago, I finally pulled out the flash and took photos. So uhm, here it is.

I figured a good time to share was after a restocking trip....

 

 

 

 

 

The pull out drawers are my favorite. I love them. Those and the butcher block island are a must have in the someday-forever-house. 

I'm in the midst of this class. Week seven right now and still loving it. I've been looking at my pantry a little differently and with a little more gratitude. There are a lot more beans in there now compared to 6 weeks ago. I'm cooking up double batches of beans these days and freezing half of them for easy dinner night. Just toss the drained beans into a quart mason jar and freeze. Hello super easy dinner. I love this!

As you can see in the first picture, I buy a lot of pantry items in bulk. This is the bulk option at my health food store. They do offer a few bins.... but the majority of it is in pre-weighed packages. Bonus - I don't buy sandwich sized bags anymore.

For storage, I'm a glass jar girl all the way. Louisiana is known for bugs. Cockroaches in particular. When we moved here we were told you had to spray for them. We did. Twice. Outside only. (it's a monthly thing). I decided that I would rather keep a very clean pantry/kitchen with everything stored in jars of some sort before I would spray for the four years we live here. We're a few months shy of three years and guess what? No bugs.

Favorite glass jar tip : Sharpie markers to label. They come off with a gentle scrub from a sponge. I recently started labeling our drinking jars/glasses at the beginning of the morning too. Guess who is tired of washing 4 times as many glasses as there are people?

Also, Mandy just shared her genius idea of flipping the lid upside down for storing frozen/dried goods if you have old school canning lids that contain bpa. We're hoping to convert our stash this summer with bpa free lids & rings.

Just for fun, here are some favorite whole foods books with excellent pantry tips : 

~ Feeding the Whole Family: Recipes for Babies, Young Children, and Their Parents by Cynthia Lair

   (Feeding the Whole Family was my first whole foods cookbook.... it led the way for changing how we ate!)

~ Urban Pantry: Tips and Recipes for a Thrifty, Sustainable and Seasonal Kitchen by Amy Pennington

~ Super Natural Every Day: Well-loved Recipes from My Natural Foods Kitchen by Heidi Swanson

 

 

 

 

Eating whole foods is not cheap. Humanely raised, organically grown foods will always be more expensive. Sometimes I struggle with the amount we spend on food. ($200 most weeks to feed 5-6 people 3 meals a day) Heather shared something in class last week that really resonated with me, that helped me rest a little easier about this expense, this investment.

 

"Many of us who include high quality whole foods in our diet have found it important

enough to make sacrifices in other ares of the family budget to accommodate the

expense. Clothing is sought after second hand before purchasing new, dining out and

travel is limited, books/furniture/household goods are often purchased used, traded or

decided not really that important. Families seek entertainment by way of local parks,

libraries, free in-town music festivals, and nature activities as a way to go easy on the

budget and still have a life." ~Heather Bruggeman in the Whole Food Kitchen

 

This is so true for our family. Somehow when you know you have friends in this journey, it makes the road traveled all the more worthy.

 

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p.s. I'm over at Rhythm of the Home today too...... come visit!

 

Comments

[renee @ FIMBY]

$200 is still better than our grocery budget for 5 people (4 adult type eaters). You're right. It ain't cheap but it's an investment. We'd rather live in a small house and drive a nearly-clunker (as long as we can get into the mtns to ski) and eat well than have a big house and eat processed foods.

[NinnyNoodleNoo]

I agree - what goes into your body is of utmost importance (same for creams/etc you put on your body too). I prefer to try to save money in other areas and buy good healthy food for my family.

[Heather]

Healthy food is so important. I look at it as our health insurance. We rarely go to the dr.'s because we have no need. And holy crap I drooled all over my laptop when I saw your pictures, seriously impressive :-) I love the glass jars as well.

[KC]

You are a gal after my own heart. I think you came into my kitchen and took pictures while we were at the park! I have everything in mason jars as well. We spend about 100 for 3 people per week around here. I try to have us eat as locally as possible and that's definitely not cheaper. But I think of the better quality ingredients in my whole eating as preventative medicine. Not paying the doctor allows me to buy the really awesome pastured eggs with yolks the color oranges.

[barefootnfive]

Love this post! You gave me soooooo many fun ideas for my pantry. Thanks! -B

[Stacy]

I am SO jealous of your pantry. Its neat, organized AND has drawers!!! I literally sat here for 2 whole minutes just staring at your pics. :;sigh:: One day i will have a pantry like this. But i need a pantry first LOL!
I really want to get into the whole foods in my house. Specially with my Crohns disease. It would bennifit me alot. But with my husband being the "meat everynight eater" its not as easy as i thought it would be. You inspire me girl.

[Patti]

Oh my goodness! Beautiful! I seemed to have not been in line when the good Lord was handing out the organization gene. I'm sure we will be seeing your pantry on Pinterest.

[Nichole]

Yes, sealed containers are key to keeping roaches out of your kitchen when living in the South. That, and leaving your sink free of dirty dishes over night! Two very important lessons I learned from my mama.

I use mason jars for everything as well. Last week I tried to take pictures of my pantry too because I think mason jars filled with wholesome grains and ingredients are just about the loveliest and most wholesome sight there is. I didn't use a flash and the light was too low so the photos just didn't capture their "spirit". Ya know? Love your organization. :) I need to use a marker to label my jars though. It sucks to mix up millet for cous cous.

[MackenzieH]

Oh, a kindred spirit for sure :) I'm taking Heather's class too, just beginning our whole foods journey in some ways, picking up where my mom's kitchen left off is another way to look at it I guess. I found your blog a few weeks ago and I love it! So nice "getting to know you"! Your pantry is beautiful, I'm a glass jars and sharpies gal too!

[Stephinie]

Yes Renee! I think looking at it as an investment is so helpful when weighing the costs. I'm with you on what's important in your life... feeling good & enjoying the outdoors!

[Stephinie]

Yes on topical goods as well.... we've just started venturing into making our own..... a whole new chapter in the living simple life!

[Stephinie]

Us too (on the rarely sick thing). Thank you for the sweet comments on my photography too! (smile!)

[Stephinie]

We're kitchen sisters, I love it! We try to eat local too, which is also more expensive. But freshly cut kale has GOT to be more nutritious than week old stuff at the market right? And the eggs..... once you have good eggs you really can never go back. I eagerly await the day when we can have backyard chickens again!

[Stephinie]

Happy pantry organizing to you. Haha! It does feel good to open the door and be inspired though...... and I love the ease of the jars telling me what to write on the shopping list too~~

[Stephinie]

Stacy!!!!! You can always switch out the other portions of your meal & keep the meat for the man. Pack yourself a wholesome kickass lunch for work. You are worth the time and energy to learn to eat a new way. Believe when I say it is worth it!! Once you get the swing of it, you'll feel so good & never look back. Really, really. xo  ~s

[Stephinie]

Haha! That made me giggle.....

[Stephinie]

Your mama is a wise one! Those are the rules here too..... and always keeping the pet food cleaned up. The millet-couscous thing got me laughing. I swapped flours before.... resulting in lovely brick muffins. This is when the sharpie habit started!

[Stephinie]

Heather's class is amazing, right? I'm so loving it. Even though we eat pretty well all ready, it's so good to have some reassurance and guidance and new perspective. All so good! I'm so glad you've been visiting and that you took a moment to say hello :)

[Barb]

Now, I'm looking at my own pantry with new eyes - what fabulous organization in yours. I don't think I'll post photos of mine anytime soon.

[Stephinie]

Thank you for the kind words.....

[~ joey ~]

I just found your blog through Rhythm of the Home and I love it! We eat and store our goods the same as your family, it's so nice to think we're not alone! I look forward to coming back to see more of what you do!
xoxo
~ joey ~

[Stephinie]

Welcome! I look forward to visiting with you in this space..... thank you for taking the time to say hello~~

[linden]

Beautiful Pantry! Everything looks so organized. Thanks for sharing. I'm really enjoying the class as well.

[Stephinie]

Thank you Linden. I'm glad you enjoyed a peek into my kitchen :) Are you taking Heather's Vegan Class?

[ensideout@hotmail.com]

I am curious, when I empty my beans in a mason, one use and I've emptied pretty much the whole thing. I also have six people here. Do you store the rest in bags until they go in the mason? Does it seem like an extra step to empty from the plastic to the mason instead of just leaving it. how do you feel about it?