Springtime is the perfect time to adopt the “in with the new, out with the old” attitude. While this slogan can be applied to many aspects of our lives, it is especially relevant to what we keep tucked away in our pantries. Read on to see how you can give your pantry the makeover it needs to stay on track with your goals.

Throw-away items for a healthy pantry:

Junk:

Remember – see no junk, eat no junk. Start your spring cleaning by throwing out some obvious culprits…

• Refined sugars: get rid of candy, cookies, microwavable popcorn, high-sugar cereals, baking mixes, fruit snacks, granola bars, etc. Foods high in added sugar do nothing for us besides expand our waistlines!
• Foods high in trans fats: what are trans fats? Keep your eyes peeled for labels reading, “partially hydrogenated oil”… that’s trans fat. You can find this in microwavable popcorn, baking mixes, creamers, and packaged cookies and crackers.
• Packaged goods: speaking of packaged goods, it’s better to stay away from them. This means chips, cookies, and even pretzels. They don’t provide our bodies with any nutrients and they do very little to keep us full. Ever noticed how easy it is to finish an entire bag of these goodies? Unfortunately too easy, so keep these out of sight and you won’t be tempted!
• Salt: our taste buds looove salt, which is why manufacturers pile it on in the foods they produce. Sodium raises our blood pressure and leaves us feeling bloated.
• Refined grains: refined grains such as white rice and pasta have very little nutritional value. Opt for whole grains instead.

Must-have items for a healthy pantry:

Fill your pantry with these clean alternatives!

• Fats: extra virgin olive oils, coconut oil, and other nut oils are great replacements to the fatty oils we often use to cook our food.
• Sugars: get your sweet fix through honey, organic maple syrup, and dates.
• Flour: go to your nearest health foods store for some coconut flour, oat flour, or almond flour.
• Snacks: craving something to nosh on? Choose dried fruit, nuts, and seeds. Nuts and seeds are great sources of healthy fats, fiber, and protein. They’re easy to carry and they keep us feeling full.
• Whole grains: pack your pantry with foods such as steel-cut oats, high-fiber cereals, and wheat bran (great breakfast options) and whole-wheat pasta, brown rice, and whole-wheat couscous (great lunch and dinner options).