With the high cost of food on everyone’s minds and potential food supply interruptions in the news, many of us are looking for ways to increase food security and ease the hit to our wallets while still providing wholesome meals for our families. Maintaining a well-stocked pantry is one way to save money and ensure you always have what you need on hand to whip up a quick meal or snack without overspending on eating out or impulse buying at the grocery store.

For me, this is second nature. I grew up in a farming family where the budget never quite stretched far enough, and I learned early on how to cook from scratch using inexpensive ingredients and pantry staples. However, I’ve come to realize that a lot of people didn’t grow up with this knowledge. When I began writing my book, Attainable Sustainable Pantry, my goal was to encourage readers to take a deeper dive into creating a pantry they can rely on. That means stocking up on basic ingredients, using those ingredients for home cooking (including making homemade versions of supermarket favorites), and learning how to transform fresh produce into shelf-stable goods through safe food preservation techniques.

If all of that sounds like it might cost more in time or money, here are a few simple tips to help you get started.

Homemade is Budget Friendly

There’s always a trade-off when we lean on packaged foods to keep our pantry full. Making our own bread, for instance, allows us to make multiple loaves from one $4.00 bag of flour compared to spending $3.00 or more on a single loaf of sandwich bread. Learn to make some things on your own, and the savings add up.

Homemade is Healthier

Not only do prepared, packaged foods cost more, they’re also engineered to make us eat more. Packed with sugar, salt, and fats, they add calories as well as preservatives, flavorings, and food coloring to our daily meals. When you fill your kitchen with homemade staples, you control the ingredients: less sugar, less salt, fewer additives. You can source local produce, select organic ingredients if that’s important to you, and generate less plastic waste all at the same time.

A Well-Stocked Pantry Provides Security

As we’ve all seen over the last several years, we never know what will come along and interrupt the usual flow of life. Stocking up makes good sense. From rising food costs to another global pandemic, when you keep a well-stocked pantry, know how to prepare homemade basics, and have the skills to freeze, can, pickle, and dry fresh produce for later, you will be prepared for whatever may come.

Your Efforts Now Will Pay Off Later

Sure, making your own bread or yogurt takes time. No one can deny that ready-made is quick and easy. But each time you set aside an afternoon to make a recipe or two for the pantry, you’re giving yourself several easier days in the future. A pantry and freezer stocked with homemade goodness nearly matches processed food for ease—and far outshines it for the health of your family.

Slow and Steady Wins

My biggest piece of advice is to ease into these changes gradually. Determine just one convenience item you’d like to replace with a homemade version. When that feels easy enough, add another. You’re not going to unlearn a lifetime of ingrained habits in a few short weeks, but creating new habits over time will change the way you and your loved ones eat.

Ready to Get Started?

On the pages that follow, I’ve included a couple of my favorite recipes for easy homemade versions of popular grocery items, including granola and salad dressing. For more tips and recipes to help fill your pantry with wholesome homemade food, I invite you to grab a copy of my new book Attainable Sustainable Pantry, available now in bookstores and online.

Shopping List

Whether you’re just getting started stocking your pantry or you’re taking inventory and filling in the gaps, here’s a list of the foods and staple ingredients I recommend keeping on hand at all times.

• Pasta
• Rice
• Oatmeal
• Nuts
• Dried fruit
• Nuts
• Nut butters
• Dry beans
• Canned goods
• Tomato sauce
• Chicken broth
• Olives
• Canned beans
• Tuna
• Flour
• Yeast
• Baking soda
• Baking powder
• Vanilla extract
• Sugar
• Confectioners’ sugar
• Brown sugar
• Cocoa powder
• Chocolate chips
• Honey
• Maple syrup
• Herbs & Spices
• Olive oil
• Avocado oil
• Coconut oil
• Butter
• Cinnamon
• Table salt
• Sea salt
• Black pepper
• Celery seed
• Paprika
• Oregano
• Basil
• Garlic powder
• Dried onion flakes
• Soy sauce
• Chili powder
• Bay leaves
• Tea
• Coffee

Recipes

Simple Vinaigrette

Homemade Granola