Healthy eaters in your shop: a top stock list

Mark Bittman writes an excellent article in Time on How to Eat Now encouraging people to eat at home because it’s good for you, for your family and it’s far easier than you think.

He challenges why so many people are eating “hyperprocessed food, the stuff that is correctly called junk and should really carry warning labels.”

He believes preparing food should be a source of comfort, pride, health, well-being, relaxation and sociability for people. Something that connects us to other humans.

The solution to the obesity epidemic he says is to do it yourself, eat meals and stop gaining 25% of our daily calories from snacks.

Helpfully, Time prints a list of store cupboard basics so that you know what to stock for local shoppers who subscribe to the above ideas.

Here are Mark’s pantry basics. How many do you stock?

Spices and herbs

·        Salt and black pepper

·        Ground cumin

·        Chili powder

·        Fresh herbs

·        Dried chilis

Oils and condiments

·        Extra virgin olive oil

·        Soy sauce

Staples

·        Pasta or other noodles

·        Canned beans

·        Coconut milk

·        Stock

Long-storing fruit and vegetables

·        Onions

·        Garlic

·        Lemons and limes

·        Frozen vegetables

Long-storing dairy and meat

·        Eggs

·        Butter.

Time adds the following in each section:

·        Spices and herbs: curry powder, smoked paprika, dried thyme, dried oregano, dried rosemary, dried dill, dried sage, garlic powder, ground ginger, cayenne.

·        Oils and condiments: vegetable oil, sherry or wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, mustard, mayonnaise, hot sauces, ketchup, fish sauce, rice vinegar, dark sesame oil, barbecue sauce.

·        Staples: rice, whole grains, dried beans, oil-packed tuna, canned tomatoes, tomato paste, peanut butter, nuts or seeds, honey or maple syrup, anchovies or sardines.

·        Long-storing fruit and vegetables: ginger root, potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, cabbage, frozen fruit, celery root, squashes, shallots, oranges, apples.

·        Long-storing dairy and meat: bacon or ham, milk or cream, yoghurt, Parmesan cheese, other hard cheeses, Ricotta cheese, goat cheese, sour cream.