A Healthier Pantry Plan {and a Deal Alert!}

    My pantry is ever evolving based on the needs of our family, and it has seen many changes over the years.  With some new health challenges that have arisen, this year it will be changing yet again.

    I have already made some changes to my diet which have helped immensely.  For me, this has to be a lifestyle change as opposed to a temporary diet, so I am taking baby steps as I learn about which foods nourish my body and which foods are harmful.  This means that what I stock in my pantry is going to look a little different from here on out, and that's ok! We've always wanted to eat healthier as a family, and this is that push that will get us there.  

    As I keep a deep pantry, I still have many of the foods that don't fit into the "healthy" category for me, but I have come up with a plan.  Right now, I am slowly working through those items and incorporating them into my menu, and as they run out, I replace them with healthier alternatives.  

    In my monthly planner, there is a spot for pantry/freezer/refrigerator inventory.  I write down the things that I need to use up (whether for health reasons or because they are nearing expiration) and I come up with my menu based on that.  Yes, it means I am still cooking some of the "off limits" foods, but I am careful to moderate how much of those things I eat.  I find that baby steps are much less overwhelming when it comes to overhauling something like this!

     At the same time, I am working through my freezers.  We have plans to renovate the room that we have our freezers in in a few months, so I am trying to make them easier to move by emptying them out a bit.

    One of the benefits of doing this is that I'm not buying much at the grocery store right now, aside from perishable things like milk and fresh fruits and vegetables and bargains if I find any.  (I'm not going to pass up a bargain, especially if my stock is dwindling!)  It's also showing me just how far the foods I have stocked will get me.  How many weeks or months worth of this or that do I have?  How much will I need to keep on hand once I find alternatives?

    I know that most of the time, healthier foods are more expensive.  This will add a new element of challenge to shopping on a budget.  But I tell myself that buying healthy food is still going to be cheaper than all those doctor bills!  I also believe that health, especially in light of all that I experienced last year, is well worth investing in.  For me, that means better food, as there is a direct link between our health and what we eat.  I've always know it, but now it's a priority (and a necessity.)

    One of the things that is going to help me will be getting the garden going.  We didn't have one last year, and I really miss it.  It hurts me to pay $7 for a bunch of kale when it is one of the easiest things for me to grow!  Woe is me if some of it goes bad in the refrigerator before I can use it!  This week I need to go through my seeds and look at my planting chart and start making my plan. 

    This is going to be a learning (and relearning) process for me.  I will share as I go in hopes that it might help someone else make some healthier changes.  Sometimes we just need a little motivation and encouragement.  Sometimes we need ideas.  If you have ever done a healthy pantry overhaul, please share any tips you have in the comments.  

     And now for the bargain alert that I have to share!  As I said, I am not really buying much at the store at this point.  That is unless I find a deal that fits into my healthier lifestyle plan.  The other day when I was at Dollar Tree, I almost didn't check the food section as I doubted I would find anything good.  But I just can't pass up an opportunity for bargain shopping for the pantry and I'm so glad I looked!  This is what I found:

    Pink Himalayan salt!  A while back, maybe a year ago, they carried this but by the time I found out about it, my Dollar Tree had sold out.  They didn't restock since it was just one of their temporary products.  But now they have it again!

    For a price comparison, I checked my local grocery store. The cheapest Himalayan pink salt they had was their store brand for .24 per ounce.  The salt at Dollar Tree comes to just a fraction of that at .08 per ounce!  (A one pound bag is $1.25.)

    I am not sure if this is at all Dollar Trees or if it was just mine, but I think it's worth a look.  Let us know if you find any where you are!

    Happy pantry building!