Eating real food can be stressful and come with a large amount of work. At times it seems we need to plan and prepare for hours just for one meal. Every meal doesn’t have to be crazy and elaborate or take hours to prepare. Sometimes we are just in the mood for something simple and quick. These staples make real food meal time easier.

Granola

Granola is your basic real food substitute for cold cereals. Grab some homemade granola and some yogurt or milk for a quick breakfast. Keep oats and your favorite granola ingredients stocks to whip up a quick batch of this.

Bread

Obviously this one is a no brainer. Bread can easily be turned into a variety of sandwiches or eaten alongside grilled meat and veggies. Make an egg salad sandwich or use some leftover chicken and throw a sandwich together.

Whole Wheat Tortillas

In my family we love enchiladas and tostadas or burritos. Keeping Tortillas stocked up is great because it doesn’t take hours to prepare a dish of enchiladas. They are also great for sandwiches when you want to shake things up a bit. Here is how to make them.

Chicken or Beef Stock

Stock is an essential ingredient in soups and gravies but it takes a long time to make. Keeping this stocked and on hand is pretty easy and makes a last minute soup that much easier. It is also cheaper and pretty easy to make yourself. I make perpetual bone broth like this.

Whole Wheat Pasta

Pasta is always fast and easy. My go to is usually spaghetti but there are lots of different types of pasta you could make.

Canned beans

We purchase dried beans which can be a pain to prepare when planning for a meal. So I soak and can them ahead of time and have them ready for whenever I need them. Here is how to soak beans.

Fresh or Frozen Produce

Fresh is obviously the best option here but I added frozen produce because it is easier to stock up on or have as a backup. It stays good longer in the freezer and can be used whenever. Fresh produce however is always wonderful to have on hand and can generally be added to any meal.

Butter, Coconut oil, and Olive oil

Stay stocked up on your fats. Butter, coconut oil, and olive oil are my favorites.

Eggs and Dairy

Eggs are super diverse and great for you. They also can be used to makes so many dishes. You could also whip them up quick for boiled eggs as a snack or egg salad for a quick lunch. As for dairy I find myself using it all the time. Cheese, cottage cheese, milk. These are just basics that most people would want around.

Potatoes

I make a lot of dishes with potatoes. They are great in soups and stews or on their own. They are good as a side of mashed potatoes or homemade fries.

So there you have it. Here are some staples you might want to include as you eat real food. Some are pretty simple and easy while others like stock, and dried beans you may need to prepare each week or month.