Staple Foods

ctooch99
ctooch99 Posts: 459 Member
Curious to hear what healthy eaters keep as their "must always have staple foods" on hand - and what your fall back meals are if you have not gotten to the store? I found that this was a key thing for eating healthy as many times for folks, the "fallback" meal ends up being McDonalds or Taco Bell...

My staples: Banannas, Almond Milk, mediterranean veggies (artichokes, olives, peppers, mushrooms), lettuce mix, Oatmeal, frozen chicken breast, good bread.

Fallback meal - Salad with grilled chicken, vinagrette and veggies listed above.
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Replies

  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    Staples:

    Spinach
    Salad veg - tomatoes, cucmbers, celery, peppers
    Cottage cheese
    Eggs (and egg whites)
    Tinned fish (sardines, tuna)
    Tinned beans (chickpea, red kidney)
    Tinned tomatoes

    Fallback meal - a spicy vegetable stew.
  • TKHappy
    TKHappy Posts: 659 Member
    My staples are: Apples, Almond Butter, Almond Milk, Pistashios, Eggs, onions, peppers, baby carrots, zucchini, mushrooms, quinoa, raisins, oats, beans, tofu, and greek yogurt! (These are always on hand in my house)

    Fall back meal is usually veggies and tofu over quinoa! It takes about 15 minutes tops to cook this up! :)
  • staple foods:
    yogurt
    chicken breast
    cucumber
    red pepper
    hummus
    salad stuff

    ALL of these are always in my fridge

    fallback meal:
    chicken breast strips cooked in olive oil and chili powder, with some sort of cooked veggie as a side
  • RilantheFirebug
    RilantheFirebug Posts: 207 Member
    We always have chicken breasts, salad ingredients, veggies, fruit, and some kind of healthy cracker (Special K, etc).
    My fallback in grilled chicken breast salad or grilled chicken and some steamed veggies/a potato.
  • ctooch99
    ctooch99 Posts: 459 Member
    Great stuff guys! TK can you post your quinoa and tofu recipe? Also, dumb divorced-guy question - where is tofu usually located at in super markets? I am getting better at healthy shopping but I still get distracted in Wegmans LOL
  • swedishwillow
    swedishwillow Posts: 88 Member
    PowerCrunch protien bars
    Lara Bars
    Diet Gingerale
    Guacamole
    Egg Whites
    English Muffins
    Plum Tomatos
    Chicken

    fall back meal - anything I can find to put to gether that would remotely taste good (from the cupboard)
  • kristelpoole
    kristelpoole Posts: 440 Member
    Always on hand at my house:
    almond milk
    greek yogurt
    eggs
    fruit
    various lettuces
    baby carrots
    new potatoes or sweet potatoes
    quinoa
    quinoa pasta
    tortillas
    TVP
    bell peppers
    fresh herbs
    onions
    mushrooms
    squash
    cheese
    tofu
    beans
    spices and condiments
    other seasonal veggies and fruits from the farmers market and our bi-weekly co-op

    fall back? either a quick thai or indian curry or an asian stir fry; veggie quesadillas or tvp tacos/taco salads
  • htebaram
    htebaram Posts: 120 Member
    My list:
    Yoplait Yogurt
    Eggs
    Chicken Breasts (boneless, skinless)
    Coffee
    Bananas
    Onions/garlic
    Lettuce mix/spinach
    Balsamic Vinigrette
    1% milk
    Bread
    Cereal
  • Gioooo
    Gioooo Posts: 301 Member
    Im obsessed with eggs. They are always in my fridge and in an overabundance lol
  • SweetSammie
    SweetSammie Posts: 391 Member
    Staples (these are the bare minimum)
    Veggies/Salad ingredients
    fruit (seasonal)
    peanut butter
    homemade preserves
    Ezekial bread
    chicken
    canned tuna
    oatmeal
    fage yogurt
    honey
    canned beans
    wheat or corn tortillas
    milk
    eggs
    cheese
    whole wheat pastry flour.

    fall back meals:
    Quesadillas [leftover meat of some variety, sauteed onions and peppers (I keep them cut in the freezer), cheese and salsa or wholly guacamole or sour cream or ranch to dip - just depending on what I have. Usually salad and canned black beans are a side.

    Scrambled eggs or omelet and toast.

    Peanut butter and jelly

    Tuna melts on toast with salad

    These are the things I make when I haven't been to the store or I don't feel like really cooking.

    edited for spelling.
  • beccala18
    beccala18 Posts: 293 Member
    I always (or almost always have)
    -eggs
    -milk
    -cheese (cheddar)
    -corn tortillas
    -quinoa
    -brown rice
    -giant bags of frozen veggies (broccoli, green beans and spinach)

    My fall back meal is: grilled chicken with veggies and rice or a spinach and cheese omelet.
  • ctooch99
    ctooch99 Posts: 459 Member
    Awesome stuff folks - thanks for sharing!
  • Staples:
    fresh fruit (usually oranges, bananas, strawberries and blueberries)
    almond milk
    reduced fat pb
    semi sweet chocolate chips (sprinkle in a bowl of granola, better than a chocolate bar ahhaha)
    kale
    spring mix greens
    gatorade g2 lime flavor
  • CASL3
    CASL3 Posts: 7 Member
    What is TVP?
  • jdploki70
    jdploki70 Posts: 343
    Staples:

    Brown Rice
    Couscous
    Potatoes
    Onions
    Lean Pork
    Chicken
    Fish
    Salads
    Spinach
    Cheese
    Low Cal (lean) lunch meat
    Sandwich and Bagel thins
    Mustard, and other assorted spices

    Fallback meal is usually leftovers (coming from a huge family, I tend to overcook) or a quick skillet dish of peppers (frozen), onions, whatever meat is on hand (usually polish sausage) and potatoes.
  • miceyl
    miceyl Posts: 11 Member
    Almonds
    Dried Apricots and cranberries
    Avocado
    Bagged lettuce
    Greek yogurt - I have been eating the Oikos Key Lime, Strawberry & Raspberry
    Cottage Cheese
    Trader Joe's Sprouted Wheat Bread
    Fresh Cauliflower, Broccoli, Green Beans
    Frozen Brussel Sprouts & Spinach
    Tonno Tuna packed in Oil
    Canned Beans
    Alot of Fresh fruit - whatever is seasonal and looks good
    Quinoa
    Healthy Dreamfields Pasta
    Instant Polenta
    Marinara Sauce
    Eggs
    Cheese
    Lean meat - chicken breast, sirloin steak, pork loin, polish ham

    My fall back meal is a frittata. I can always throw one together with leftover veggies or frozen spinach. I always have cheese and top it with sliced avocado...YUM!
  • MooMooooo
    MooMooooo Posts: 306 Member
    You guys are so good!

    My staples are bread, milk, baked beans and cheese. (I store both cheese and bread in the freezer fyi)

    If I haven't done the grocery shopping it's vegemite on toast for every meal until I do. (My husband will grumble but settle for grilled cheese sandwiches or baked beans on toast).

    It used to be vegemite on toast with coffee but I recently gave up sugar soo... just toast now.
  • brityn
    brityn Posts: 443 Member
    My staples are:
    eggs (fresh and hard boiled)
    coffee
    fuji apples
    strawberries
    oranges
    cucumbers
    romaine lettuce
    mixed greens
    hearts of palm
    'flat out' wraps (one in the fridge and one in the freezer)
    laughing cow spreadable cheese
    fresh shaved roasted chicken breast (for sandwiches and wraps)
    quinoa
    healthy harvest cream of mushroom soup
    frozen chicken breasts
    canned black beans
    turkey bacon (1/2 frozen 1/2 thawed)
    Muscle Milk lite protein powder
    canned artichoke bottoms
    fat free evaporated milk (for my coffee instead of cream)
    steel cut oats
    almonds

    Go to meals if I haven't gone to the store...
    breakfast-steel cut oats with evaporated milk, granola and slivered almonds
    lunch-flat out wrap (laughing cow cheese wedge, roasted chicken, black beans, hearts of palm, artichoke hearts, thinly sliced cucumber)
    Dinner-baked creamy chicken-lay thawed chicken breast in casserole, sprinkle with garlic and salt and pepper, add one can of sliced mushrooms and a can of cream of mushroom soup. Ill top it with turkey bacon if I have any in the freezer. Bake at 350 for 2 hours and serve over cooked quinoa with a side salad.
  • Great stuff guys! TK can you post your quinoa and tofu recipe? Also, dumb divorced-guy question - where is tofu usually located at in super markets? I am getting better at healthy shopping but I still get distracted in Wegmans LOL

    dont know where youre from, but at my local grocery stores, its in the vegetable section, near salad stuff, hummus, veggie burgers
  • duplicitous
    duplicitous Posts: 82 Member
    protein milk
    Cheese
    salami
    olives
    cottage cheese
    greek yogurt
    hershey's syrup
    salmon
    celery
    cucumbers
    mushooms
    onions
    garlic

    Fall back meal: salmon over penne pasta (with artichoke hearts, capers and lemongrass pureed and coated on salmon.)
  • sashanicole88
    sashanicole88 Posts: 180 Member
    good food ideas!

    Carrots
    hummus
    chicken
    tilapia/salmon
    brown rice
    frozen veggies
    yogurt

    :)
  • divinebird
    divinebird Posts: 81 Member
    I always have:

    Whole romaine hearts
    Green onions/scallions
    Plain greek yogurt (usually Chobani)
    Frozen chicken breasts
    Meatless breakfast crumbles (husband's favorite)
    Apples
    Potatoes
    Whole wheat wraps
    Carrots
    Celery
    Fresh garlic bulbs
    Dry Parmesan cheese (not grated)
    Decaf coffee
    Heavy cream --I feel like I should explain that this comes from a local dairy, and I use it to make butter and whipped cream. I don't buy either of those things anymore and I am never looking back.

    My go-to meal is a huge salad made from one head of romaine and two green onions, with 1tbsp each of olive oil and balsamico. I add whatever herbs are on hand and it is my favorite thing, any time of the year.

    Recently, I started making another go-to recipe of roasted chicken breasts with parmesan and garlic, plus roasted romaine. My mouth started watering as I typed this. <3 I do have the recipe if anyone wants it. :)
  • brityn
    brityn Posts: 443 Member
    Great stuff guys! TK can you post your quinoa and tofu recipe? Also, dumb divorced-guy question - where is tofu usually located at in super markets? I am getting better at healthy shopping but I still get distracted in Wegmans LOL


    I didn't post the original topic, but the tofu is usually located next to the bagged salads, coleslaw and dressings in the cold case
  • brityn
    brityn Posts: 443 Member
    What is TVP?

    Textured vegetable protein (vegetarian meat replacer)
  • ctooch99
    ctooch99 Posts: 459 Member
    Great stuff guys! TK can you post your quinoa and tofu recipe? Also, dumb divorced-guy question - where is tofu usually located at in super markets? I am getting better at healthy shopping but I still get distracted in Wegmans LOL


    I didn't post the original topic, but the tofu is usually located next to the bagged salads, coleslaw and dressings in the cold case

    Awesome - Thanks!
  • fdlafon
    fdlafon Posts: 259 Member
    bump for later review
  • TKHappy
    TKHappy Posts: 659 Member
    Great stuff guys! TK can you post your quinoa and tofu recipe? Also, dumb divorced-guy question - where is tofu usually located at in super markets? I am getting better at healthy shopping but I still get distracted in Wegmans LOL

    Wegmans has their brand tofu....which I love...usually in the Nature's Market section with the 'dairy' type stuff!!

    Seriously the 'recipe' is super simple! :)

    1/8 package of tofu, pressed
    1/4 cup chopped mushrooms
    1/4 cup chopped zuchini
    1/4 cup chopped onions
    1/4 cup chopped pepper
    1/4 cup Quinoa
    1tbsp. chopped garlic
    Ms. Dash

    In a frying pan or wok cook the tofu first with pepper and Ms. Dash....I usually use Olivo Spray butter or even vegetable broth....until it starts to brown, then add the veggies and cook to your desired tenderness! :)

    In a small sauce pan, cook quinoa as directed!

    When done mix together and eat! LOL...like I said simple simple simple! :)
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Staples:
    soy milk
    brown/wild rice mix (Lundberg brand usually)
    Instand brown rice
    a variety of dried beans
    a variety of frozen fish/shellfish
    canned tuna
    hummus
    carrots
    onions
    garlic
    jalapeno
    frozen peas
    frozen collard greens
    Flat Out wraps
    canned refried beans
    canned beans
    Organic corn tortilla chips
    salsa
    Rotel diced tomatoes w habanero
    Reduced fat cheddar cheese
    Hellman's Canola oil mayo
    a variety of mustards
    a variety of vinegars
    Barilla Plus pasta
    EVOO

    We keep a well stocked freezer and pantry so we're never short on meal options, but fallback quickie meals for when we are in a hurry or just don't feel like cooking much are:

    Wraps made with hummus or leftover fish/meat and a mustard/vinegar/evoo vinegrette
    Nachos made with tortilla chips, canned refried beans, chopped onion, salsa or Rotel, and cheddar cheese
    Pasta with mayo, canned tuna, chopped onion and peas.
    Instant brown rice with beans and frozen greens
  • sherry9300
    sherry9300 Posts: 149 Member
    Peanut Butter
    Whole Grain Bread
    Tuna
    Frozen Veggies
    Frozen Talapia Filets
    TruMoo Chocolate Milk
    Almonds
    Bananas
    Yogurt
    Cream of Wheat
    Oatmeal
    Chicken Breast

    Fallback Meal: Pan Cooked Talapia with Garlic and Lemon with a big serving of steamed veggies. The whole thing can be done in about ten minutes.
  • ctooch99
    ctooch99 Posts: 459 Member
    Great stuff guys! TK can you post your quinoa and tofu recipe? Also, dumb divorced-guy question - where is tofu usually located at in super markets? I am getting better at healthy shopping but I still get distracted in Wegmans LOL

    Wegmans has their brand tofu....which I love...usually in the Nature's Market section with the 'dairy' type stuff!!

    Seriously the 'recipe' is super simple! :)

    1/8 package of tofu, pressed
    1/4 cup chopped mushrooms
    1/4 cup chopped zuchini
    1/4 cup chopped onions
    1/4 cup chopped pepper
    1/4 cup Quinoa
    1tbsp. chopped garlic
    Ms. Dash

    In a frying pan or wok cook the tofu first with pepper and Ms. Dash....I usually use Olivo Spray butter or even vegetable broth....until it starts to brown, then add the veggies and cook to your desired tenderness! :)

    In a small sauce pan, cook quinoa as directed!

    When done mix together and eat! LOL...like I said simple simple simple! :)

    Very cool - thanks - always looking for new ideas on quick healthy meals and I have been wanting to incorporate Tofu into my "staples".