5 Must-Haves for My Vegetarian Pantry

Ever wonder what vegetarians eat?  Well, besides vegetables, of course. It is a common question I get and sometimes has negativity attached to it, but I realize that’s just people and their ignorance to the unknown.  I want to share some basic staples to have on hand that happen to be packed with health benefits.  These are necessary for my vegetarian pantry, but really they are great for any pantry.

Brown Rice – I love to have brown rice on hand at all times.  It is easy to flavor with vegetable broth, herbs, and spices.  It’s also super healthy and making a perfect batch is easy if you follow my great recipe. 

Dried Beans – Beans are a definite must in my pantry because they are a wonderful source of protein and fiber and when purchased from the bulk bins at the grocery store, they are very inexpensive.  They go great in many dishes, like refried beans.  Once you make them from scratch, you will never want to buy them from a can again. 

Nutritional Yeast – A wonderful source of protein, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids makes this a must in anyone’s kitchen.  The price is right and it offers a nice nutty or even “cheesy” flavor to popcorn, vegetables, or pasta.

Lentils – Lentils are a fairly new food to me.  I hadn’t eaten them much before becoming a vegetarian.  Boy, was I missing out!  They pack a super healthy punch with folate, protein, and vitamins (to name a few).  My favorite way to eat lentils? Soup!

Quinoa – This one really needs a post all of its own.  Quinoa truly is a “supergrain.”  A wonderful staple in a vegetarian diet, it provides a source of complete protein and fiber (among other things).  It’s super easy to prepare and makes a wonderful side dish.

What do you think?  Do any of these sound like something your family would love to try?  Or maybe you already buy some or all of them on a regular basis.  Please share your favorite healthy staples for the pantry!