The right foods to store at home when isolating or at any time
Are you stocking up on pantry foods in case you might need to isolate? Are you staying at home more in general and needing more food supplies now? Here are some long life foods and essentials.
One thing is generally agreed. Eating ‘right’ can help. We might just all have different perceptions of how that is implemented. Here are some ideas of foods for eating and cooking at home whether isolated or not.
The list is just a beginning. You can get inspired by the whole food plant based food groups to find balanced essentials that will last.
This article includes affiliate links and advertisements. All recommendations are genuinely beneficial and preferred. The linked recommendations are more up-to-date than other RDL articles about pantry foods.
Beans
If you have a favourite type of beans, get more of that. If you don’t know what you might like, collect a variety. Keep some dry beans because they are cheaper. You can boil them on the stove or in a pressure cooker. Just find an online guide for rinsing, soaking and then boiling your beans for the best experience. But you may also prefer canned beans for the times when you don’t have the time or energy to cook as much.
Black beans are a bit more common for Aussies who might only eat beans in takeaway burritos. You would be amazed to realise how easy it is to make your own burrito bowls at home with organic BPA-free canned beans. Get extra organised by cooking dry black beans.
If you want a variety of cheap dry beans, here are some quick examples. Galaxy Foods is a brand that has cheap low prices for cannellini beans, red kidney beans, borlotti beans and more.
Beans are very important for wellbeing in the long term. Image: iStock.
Fermented foods and drinks
Get some fermented foods! There are easy ways to make your own saurkraut. You could also find a scoby and brew your own kombucha. But we’re in a wave of distancing and juggling work. So here are some good pre-made fermented treats. Peace, Love and Vegetables offer fermented vegetables including kim chi and “SuperKraut.”
Try to have the most natural form of kombucha you can find. Herbs of Life has a range of delicious kombucha drinks. If you can get to the Blue Mountains and able to travel, you could ask them about picking up some beverages. Otherwise, you can get some of their kombucha from Doorstep Organics. The ginger turmeric flavour and hibiscus flower drink should satisfy.
Rice
Dry uncooked rice can be stored in the cupboard for a while. Be sure to seal it in a container. Whole grain rice is said to be more nutritious. You could get a bulk bag of organic brown basmati. Mix it up with some black rice and bits of wild rice. Have you tried red rice? Do what feels best. Just have something other than white rice if you can. Whole carbs will help us more than refined grains in this era.
Whole grain rice and other ‘carbs’ can help our health. Image: Unsplash.
Pasta from whole foods
How can you have your carbs and eat them too? By selecting pastas that are made from whole grains and other plants. Views may differ on this but I would personally embrace the superfood pastas at this time. They may feel different than wheat pastas. If anything, I might eat a mix of wheat and vegetable pastas all together. Eco Organics has pastas that are made from adzuki bean, black bean, edamame, mung bean and chickpeas. If you prefer a pasta that is made from whole grains, there are plenty of options. Try an authentic whole grain fettuccini, penne or spaghetti.
Seeds
All the seeds are good - including pumpkin and sunflower seeds. We can also feel good with chia seeds, flax linseed and hemp hearts. Fair Foods provides hemp seeds that should become certified organic within two years, according to the description. If you want hemp that is currently organic, subscribe to the hemp seeds from Absolute Organic. Needing more quantity of hemp now? Get a kilo bag from Hemp Foods Australia.
What is the cheapest way to get seeds? When you cut open a fresh pumpkin, rinse the seeds and then thoroughly dry or dehydrate them. Find a guide to completely remove the moisture. Then keep them in the pantry. Otherwise, you could experiment with freezing those seeds along with others.
Pumpkin seeds are great for health and easy to either preserve from scratch or buy. Image: Unsplash.
Long life drinks
Get some cartons of soy milk onto the shelf. It’s good for you. Lots of plant based milks are made to have a long best before date, especially until they are opened. I continue to suggest So Good because it is fortified and affordable. Yes, milks are such an acquired taste. Many taste different. It’s normal to prefer a specific brand and type of milk. I prefer a drink that has added vitamins and minerals. But if you are more willing to try a plant based milk that tastes like the real deal, try MilkLab soy milk (and get a bulk quantity if preferred) or Bonsoy in a single carton or multi pack.
Dried fruits
Dry fruit will keep in the cupboard and is versatile. Sprinkle it on a smoothie bowl. Mix it into a cake. Anything. Get some superfood goji berries. Dried raisins can be mixed into homemade biscuits or trail mix. Add some dry figs to your homemade bliss balls. Combine sultanas with your cereal because they apparently have potassium. Honest to Goodness apple wedges are perfect because they don’t have added nasty ingredients. If you want to dry your own fruit, get a dehydrator and start making preparing those foods now. If that is too much effort right now, there are plenty of ways to buy pre-made dried fruit.
Preserved fruit in jars or cans
Yes, it feels different than fresh fruit. But if you end up fully running out of fruit, this could prove to be useful. Look for jars or cans of fruit that has been stored in juice and not sugary syrup. Peaches are a favourite. The cherry on top is a cliche but also delightful.
When you think of canned fruit, do you think of jackfruit? I would combine it with tofu, sliced onion and other ingredients for a more balanced texture and nourishment.
Preserved vegetables
Although fresh vegetables are ideal, and frozen can be pretty good, it’s wise to have backup options in jars or cans too. Keep some classic beetroot slices in the pantry. If you can freeze some bread and veggie burgers, combine them with the beetroot for a meal whenever needed.
Sauces
Stock up on natural sauces to flavour your food without having to work too hard. Remember, these are for the days when you need to rest at home. Whole foods are the best idea. So try adding these sauces with frozen vegetables if you can’t get fresh veg. Try an organic pasta sauce for quick easy meals. This organic salsa appears to be a premium product but the ingredients list does not include sugar. Do what feels right.
Flavours
If I was isolating (knock on wood), I would use easy sauces. I won’t list all the possible dry seasonings and herbs because there are so many. But curry powder is a good basic. Turmeric and ginger are known for their health-boosting power. So if you just get a few seasonings in greater quantities, these would be a good start. Other flavour styles can probably be made in a healthy way by just using a sauce. This is about keeping it simple.
See more related articles
