Stocking a Whole Foods Pantry {a peek at my mostly healthy, gluten-free food}

My pantry “overhaul” began in 2007, when I first began learning about healthy food.

A few years later, after the birth of our fourth child in 2010, my pantry was overhauled again when we had to drastically change our diet for the sake of our family’s gluten allergies.

My journey in discovering a whole foods diet that is balanced, financially do-able, and practical for our busy lives has required many “baby steps” and has led to where I am today… not a food purist by any means.  

More of a natural mama who enjoys providing healthy, tasty meals for my growing family.

Today I want to give you a peek at our family’s gluten-free pantry!  

(You already got a peek at my “farm house” dining room, right?  Well, now let’s look inside the pantry!)

If your family has gluten sensitivities, maybe this post will help you visualize the kinds of foods we enjoy as a gluten-free bunch.  

If gluten isn’t an issue for you,  well then you may want to take a peek out of curiosity. 🙂

Many naturally gluten-free foods are delicious and healthy for everyone to enjoy!

Our kitchen cabinets, freezer, and pantry are mostly stocked with organic and “whole foods,” with a few canned and processed products thrown in the mix.  

I’ve found this to be the most economical way for our busy household of eight to enjoy healthy snacks and meals.

Like I said, I’m not a food purist, but I do like to keep healthy meals on our plates!

Over the years, I’ve kept a master list (like the one below) tucked into my homemaking notebook, as well as a copy in the kitchen to consult when I’m making weekly grocery lists.

I’ve created one for you to print and use too, right here ——————>

(It’s free!) 

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By the way, the pictures in this post are ones I took of my pantry this week… I sometimes use stock images on the blog, but these are pics of my very own “farm house” cottage.

I hope you enjoy a peek inside my pantry!

Kristy’s Master Pantry List

Baking & Grains

• gluten-free grains:
  • sorghum
  • brown rice
  • quinoa
  • tapioca
  • buckwheat

I typically buy grains in bulk and grind them in my pretty, red BlendTec or Nutrimill.

• xantham gum (a necessity in gluten free baking!)
• freshly ground gluten-free flour
• almond flour
• coconut flour
• corn meal (ground from organic popping corn)
• cream of tartar
• baking soda
• arrowroot powder
• baking powder (I typically make my own)
• nutritional yeast (we mainly sprinkle this over our buttered popcorn for a zesty and healthy treat!)
• oats
• brown rice pasta
• corn tortillas (I opt for organic any time I can!)
• gluten-free bread
• whole wheat bread (for the family members who can eat it; I buy sprouted bread whenever possible)
• gluten-free wraps
• organic hot and cold cereal for quick breakfasts on school mornings

Oils & fats

• extra virgin organic coconut oil 
• palm shortening (great for pies and cookies)
• olive oil
• grapeseed oil (for frying)
• butter 

Spices (I buy most of my spices from Bulk Herb Store and refill my containers as needed)

• sea salt
• black pepper
• cayenne pepper
• parsley
• cinnamon
• ginger
• oregano
• basil
• thyme
• cumin
• chili powder
• allspice
• nutmeg
• pure vanilla extract 

Sweeteners

• organic, wildflower honey
• organic brown sugar & raw cane sugar
• stevia & Truvia
• xylitol
• pure maple syrup 

Nuts & Nutbutters

• almonds
• walnuts
• pecans (we generally harvest these from our own trees)
• peanuts
• all natural almond butter 
• all natural peanut butter 

My sweet little Caleb helping himself to a snack in the pantry… this picture is about a year old, but I couldn’t resist including it in today’s post!

Other pantry Items

• unsweetened apple sauce
• chocolate chips
• cocoa powder
• unsweetened, flaked coconut
• salad dressings (our family likes natural brands, such as Newman’s Own) 
• organic, whole milk yogurt
• jellies/jams 
• salsa 
• organic tomato sauce 
• fire roasted tomatoes
• barbecue sauce 
• Worcestershire sauce
• gluten-free soy sauce
• mustard
• organic ketchup
• olive-oil mayonnaise
• dry beans: black, pinto, white northern beans
• organic canned beans: black, pinto, white northern beans
• lentils
• split peas (sometimes!)
• black-eyed peas
• canned black olives
• jars or cans of sliced mushrooms
• canned pineapples
• pickles 
• organic popcorn (for the air popper- yum!)
• organic tortilla chips or baked chips
• snacks for my kids: organic fruit snacks, raisins, gluten-free pretzels and crackers, gluten-free cereal

Dairy Items

• organic, whole milk
• unsweetened almond milk
• sour cream (full fat)
• cream cheese (full fat)
• heavy cream (for my coffee!)
• free range, organic eggs (from my daughter’s hens, when they are producing)
• cheese (organic, when I can find it!)

Produce

• I buy organic veggies as often as possible, frozen or fresh varities.  
• During the summer months, I usually shop frequently at our local Farmer’s Market.
• Veggies we eat most frequently (depending upon what’s in season): yellow squash, zuccini, okra, tomatoes, lettuce and spinach, green beans, broccoli, fall squash varieties, sweet potatoes, baking and red potatoes, onions and garlic
• I buy fruit when it’s in season, opting for organic as much as possible: blueberries, strawberries, cantaloupe, pears, grapes, grapefruit, kiwis, oranges, bananas, etc.

Meat

• organic, grass fed beef 
• hormone-free chicken
• venison (whenever Jeremy goes deer hunting!)
• wild caught tuna (canned) 
• wild caught salmon (canned)
• occasionally fresh, wild caught fish
• turkey, ham & nitrate-free bacon occasionally

This is a basic round-up of the foods we eat on a regular basis. 

If you’d like to print my master pantry list, here’s a PDF file to download and print for your own use.

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Check out my Whole Foods blog category for posts I’ve shared over the years on menu planning, healthy recipes, food storage, saving money on whole foods and more!

I’d love to connect with you over in my Natural Living private Facebook group, as well.  It’s  a great place to mingle with other health-minded women, ask questions, and find resources.

If you’re interested in learning more about how we shop for and prepare whole foods for our family of eight, leave me a comment and let me know!