Wouldn’t it be great to know that everything you do in your home is for your own good? It might not be something that’s possible all the time, but when it comes to what you eat and drink, it is entirely something you can do, and it all starts with building a wellness pantry (perhaps literally unless you’ve got a spare cupboard to put things in). This new way of nourishing your body could be the foundation for a brand new lifestyle that makes you feel fantastic, and the best part is that you don’t need to make lots of changes all at once – it can be a slow process if you want it to be. With that in mind, keep reading to find out how you can build a wellness pantry from scratch.

Start With The Basics

Every great pantry begins with the essentials, so make sure you stock up on whole, unprocessed foods that are packed with nutrients but that are also really versatile so you can use them in all kinds of dishes – in that way, nothing’s going to go to waste. We mean things like brown rice, oats, quinoa, whole-grain pasta, and so on – these are the staples that can give you the perfect base for loads of different meals so no matter what you fancy, you’ll have most of the ingredients already (that’s going to save a lot of time, not to mention money). 

Get Spices

Spices are a brilliant addition to any wellness pantry because they can do so much to help you stay fit and healthy, and because they’ll add an extra layer of deliciousness to any dish (plus, they’re just fun to experiment with, and making cooking fun is always a bonus). They add all this flavour without any extra calories as well, which makes them even better – you’ll get all the taste without any of the health issues (or guilt). 

Each spice will generally do something good for your body (turmeric, for example, is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, and cinnamon is fantastic for helping regulate blood sugar), so it’s wise to keep your spice rack well-stocked with staples like turmeric, cumin, ginger, mint, rosemary, thyme, and so on. 

Stay Hydrated

Hydration is a massive part of wellness but it’s something that a lot of people forget very easily – food often becomes a priority, which makes sense. After all, hunger does tend to make its presence known more violently than thirst, but did you know that might be because you’re chronically dehydrated and don’t really notice the issue anymore? When you think of it like that, it really puts your hydration needs into perspective, and it should help to remind you that drinking throughout the day is vital for your health and wellbeing. 

The good news is that although water is the ideal thing to drink, there are ways you can make it a little more interesting if it’s not your cup of tea (pun intended). Herbal teas, sparkling water, and infusions like CBD tea are amazing because they’ll keep you hydrated while also offering a little extra something – whether it’s relaxation, focus, or just a break from your usual boring water. 

The best thing to do is to stock up on a variety of different teas for different benefits and occasions – you could have chamomile to help you wind down, green tea for a bit of an energy boost, CBD blends for times when you’re feeling overwhelmed, and so on. Whatever it is, there will be a natural tea or infusion to help you, and having a range on hand is sure to help no matter what you need. 

Sweeten Naturally

If you’ve got a sweet tooth, as many people have, you might think you need a lot of sugary snacks and ingredients in your pantry, and those sugary snacks and ingredients aren’t going to be particularly good for your wellness – that’s the big issue with the whole thing. 

You could just cut sweetness out altogether, but then you’d start craving and you might binge a lot of stuff that’s bad for you, or, even if you can stop yourself, you’ll feel bad about it because you’re denying yourself something you love, and that’s not how wellness is supposed to work. The trick, therefore, is to find a substitute, and we’re not talking about sweeteners either – they’re manmade using a lot of chemicals, and they’re as bad for you as sugar is, although in different ways. 

What you actually need is natural sweeteners, which means things like honey, maple syrup, dates, and so on – they’re fantastic for adding sweetness to recipes without the processed sugar and all the health problems associated with it. There are plenty of options out there, so why not do some research to work out what’s best for you, and perhaps have a few different options as they’ll all have their own flavours, meaning some sweeteners will work better than others depending on what you’re making and how you’re using them. 

Improve Your Condiments 

You might think you’ve dealt with all the extra sugar, salt, and other unhealthy ingredients in your pantry, but what about your condiments? The truth is that they can be a sneaky source of nasty, unhealthy things, and you might want to check the labels before assuming you’ve made your wellness pantry as healthy as it could be. 

Luckily, once again you can just swap things out for healthier versions and not have to miss out on the extra boost of flavour that good condiments give you. So instead of dressings and spreads which tend to be full of sugar and artificial flavourings, you could have mustard, hummus, tahini, and so on – still delicious, but much healthier. Or you could make your own dressings (they’re very easy to make with plenty of recipes online) which means you’ve got complete control over what you’re adding and how much of everything there is – in fact, when you make your own dressings, you’ve got complete control over the taste in general, so it can be even better than buying something from the shop.