Stock your kitchen with staples.
Planning and fixing meals is a lot easier when you have the right staples, or basic supplies, on hand—foods that your family likes and uses often. In the cupboard, these items might be pasta, dry beans or canned vegetables that keep for a long time. In the refrigerator and freezer, these foods are ones you use often to make meals.
Use the list below to get your kitchen stocked with healthy staples. With the right basics on hand, you’ll be ready to whip up a family favorite or throw together a meal at a moment’s notice. These staples will also keep you eating healthy and out of the fast food drive-thru.
Freezer
- Bread
- Fish
- Frozen vegetables
- Lean ground beef
- Orange juice
- Whole chicken or pieces
Refrigerator
- Carrots
- Cheese – shredded, sliced
- Eggs
- Grated Parmesan cheese
- Margarine/butter
- Milk
- Salad dressing, low-fat
- Yogurt, plain, low-fat or nonfat
Canned and Dry Goods
- Beans – canned or dried
- Crackers
- Crunchy cereal
- Macaroni/pasta
- Miscellaneous fruits & vegetables
- Mushrooms
- Oats
- Peanut butter
- Pizza/pasta sauce
- Rice
- Tomatoes – diced, whole, juice, sauce, stewed
- Tuna
- Vegetable broth
Seasoning Items
- Basil
- Bay leaves
- Black pepper
- Bouillon
- Chili powder
- Cinnamon
- Cream of tartar
- Dill
- Garlic powder
- Ginger
- Italian seasoning
- Lemon juice
- Onion flakes
- Oregano
Baking Items
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Canola or olive oil
- Cornstarch
- Dried fruit – raisins
- Dry milk
- Flour
- Nuts, almonds or other
- Oil, canola or olive
- Sugar – powdered, white, brown
- Paprika
- Rosemary
- Salt
- Soy sauce
- Thyme
- Vanilla
- Vinegar
- Worcestershire sauce
