What I keep in my fridge and pantry

A gluten-free, dairy-free (cow dairy, that is) lifestyle does not have to mean bare cabinets. Here are some essentials to help you and your family stay healthy without going hungry.
Veggies

• Any fresh veggie is a healthy one- my favorites include broccoli, cauliflower, kale, collard greens, sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts, and zucchini. Zucchini and broccoli are Cece's favs.

• Frozen peas, frozen broccoli, frozen spinach are must-haves when you run out of the fresh toward the end of the week. Add frozen spinach to ground meat, spaghetti sauce, and smoothies.
• Avoid canned veggies- they are high in sodium and the cans can be lined with a harmful chemical called BPA.

Grains

• Millet- cooks quick and delicious (nice substitute for couscous)
  
• Amaranth- very high in protein
  
• Quinoa
• Brown rice, wild rice, and my favorite- FORBIDDEN rice!
  
• Teff flour- good baking flour
  
• Gluten free oats- make oatmeal or throw some oats in a food processor to make a flour
• Brown rice pasta
  
• Brown rice bread- tasty when toasted!
• Brown rice tortillas- great for wraps and mexican burritos.
  

Oils/Fats- see previous post on "The Best Oils to Cook With"

• Grapeseed oil- use this oil for high heat cooking
• Olive oil- use this oil for salads and other cold items
• Coconut oil- also use for high heat cooking
• Organic Butter- yes, thats right, BUTTER...never margarine! Butter can be full of gut-loving butyric acid. Buying organic butter means there are no hormones or antibiotics.
• Avocados

Fruit

• Any fresh fruit is good. Deeply pigmented berries are some of the best source of antioxidants.
• Frozen fruit is just as good as fresh. Great for adding to smoothies and to morning oatmeal.
  
• Moderate amounts of dried fruits. I keep raisins on hand as an easy snack
• Moderate amounts of freeze dried fruit. Again, this makes for a healthy snack with all the nutrients intact. But it can be a concentrated source of sugar.

Protein

• Dried and canned beans- see post on "Beans, Beans, Beans" for recipes.
• Tempeh
• Nut flours- great for baking. See post on "Cooking with Protein Packed Nut Flours."
• Organic beef and organic chicken
• Eggs- see post on "Why eat organic eggs?"
• Nut Butters- almond butter and sunflower seed butter are my favorite
• Tahini- a sesame seed spread
• Hummus
• Nuts- walnuts are highest in omega 3 fatty acids!
  

Cow Dairy Substitutes

• Goat milk- see post on "Goat milk vs. Cow's milk"
• Plain goat yogurt
• Unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• Goat feta

Snacks/Sweets

• Protein bars- great for on the go and you need a little pick-me-up. I like Lara bars, especially the peanut butter cookie one.
• Gluten free ginger snaps
• Bar of dark chocolate
• Blue corn tortilla chips
• Roasted seaweed snacks (great for teething babies who put everything, including paper, in their mouth. They might as well be getting nutrition while doing this!

Misc

• Salsa
• Stevia as an alternative, natural sweetener
• Maple syrup
• Honey
• Balsamic vinegar
• Nutritional Yeast
• Any and all herbal spices- I like thyme, oregano, dill, tarragon, and curry
• Flax seed, ground- add to yogurt, salads, smoothies, and oatmeal.
  
• Hemp protein powder- throw in your smoothie for a nutritional boost.
• Braags Liquid Aminos- a nice soy sauce (contains wheat) alternative
• Miso- add to soups and stews. It makes them DELECTABLE with an added bonus of probiotics (good bacteria colonized in your gut).