Healthy Kitchen Basics



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Planning and preparation is the key to success when it comes to making major lifestyle changes.  Having the right tools to work with can help making transition an easier process.  Having a well-stocked kitchen will provide you with the tools you need to move forward with preparing healthful meals. Taking the time and making the effort to add to your cooking repertoire can prove to be a valuable investment as you begin creating quick and easy recipes that provide better quality, fresh and delicious alternatives to prepackaged convenience food. Some things take so little time to prepare but it’s just a matter of being organized with having the right products on hand for quick and easy preparation.



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Stocking the Pantry

Nut Milks Rice Milks Almond Milk Sweeteners Maple Syrup Honey Agave Nectar	Stocks Chicken Vegetable Beef Coconut Milk	Snacks Sunflower Seeds Pumpkin seeds Popcorn Baked chips	Dried Fruit/Nuts Dried Herbs & Spices Dried Mushrooms	Condiments Tamari Hoisin sauce Capers Mustard

Oils Extra Virgin Olive Oil Canola Oil Grapeseed Oil Peanut Oil Walnut Oil Coconut Oil	Vinegars Balsamic Apple Cider Rice Sherry Champagne	Grains Brown Rice Quinoa Millet Oats Polenta Amaranth Farro Teff	Pasta Semolina Whole Grain Crackers Baked Whole Grain Cereals Whole grain	Canned Goods Beans Tomatoes *look for cans labeled BPA free

Our Connection to Food

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Our relationship and connection to food can be quite profound.  It nourishes us and brings us closer together with the ones we love.  Creating a beautiful meal can at times feel as complex as orchestrating a symphony.  Enjoying a fabulously prepared meal can even feel magical as you appreciate the finesse and subtleties of fine cuisine.

Despite our good intentions many of us end up eating less than healthy as we try and keep up with our fast paced lives.  When we loose touch with the integrity of our dietary practices our health suffers. Eating a diet consisting of whole foods with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables will eventually payoff with the reward of increased energy and a feeling of well being.

Menu planning and food preparation can seem overwhelming at times.  But there’s something to be said about appreciating food in its simplicity.

 Enjoying food in its natural state can be a fresh and fast way to jumpstart a healthy diet. 

Building a healthy cooking repertoire using fine fresh ingredients and healthy cooking technique is a wonderful foundation to continually build upon.  But most importantly, respect the cycles of nature and choose seasonal foods that are at the peak of quality and freshness and appreciate the simplicity of nature’s seasonal bounty.