10 Healthy Plant Based Pantry Items You Need

 Do you follow a plant-based diet or want to eat less meat? You need to know about these ingredients that are particularly useful for vegetarians and vegans, as well as those wanting to eat more meatless meals. These plant-based pantry items need to be in your kitchen.

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 I mostly follow a plant-based diet. I say mostly as I will on occasion eat eggs and seafood. I probably have seafood a couple times a month and eggs about once a week. I am starting to substitute more plant-based items for the eggs that I bake with and I love this cheat sheet for Eleven Egg Substitutes For Baking. These egg substitutes work well in most baking recipes like brownies and cookies. 

 I also have tried recipes for making vegan seafood and this vegan tuna recipe tastes just like real tuna. During the covid pandemic when it was hard to buy food, I bought hearts of palm as it was the only thing available online. I searched for vegan recipes and discovered that I could Plant-Based Crab Cakes with the hearts of palm. These vegan crab cakes were so delicious. I love that there are many recipes for plant-based meals so one can eat less meat.

Plant-based items that I always have in my pantry

So if I want to be successful with eating more plant-based meatless meals, I know that I have to stock my pantry with many ingredients that are plant-based I find that if I have the right vegan ingredients in my pantry and fridge, it makes it so much easier to follow a plant-based diet. 

 So I made a list of plant-based items that are my favorites and ones that I regularly buy when I shop for ingredients that are plant-based. Some you may already know about and others may be new to you but I hope that my list helps you with your meatless meal cooking.

1. Nutritional Yeast ~ Nutritional yeast is an amazing vegan ingredient. This plant-based powder has a cheesy flavor and makes a great substitute for parmesan cheese. The vegan parmesan substitute is also great for many meatless recipes like Plant-Based Vegan Cashew Cheese Pate.

Parma is my favorite Vegan, Plant-Based Parmesan Alternative and they just introduced some new exciting flavors. These dairy-free, soy-free, and nut-free seasonings can be savored on pasta, lightly steamed vegetables, pizza, salads, potatoes, avocado toast, popcorn, and countless other items. Below are the new flavors.

~ Garlic Basil Parma! A blend of garlic and basil with an umami smoothness.

~ Jalapeno Bacon Parma! Just the right amount of heat with smokey-ness goodness that completes each bite.

2. Beans ~ Beans are a staple in plant-based diets as they are a great source of protein and fiber. Beans can also be used in so many recipes. From garbanzo bean hummus to chipotle-style pinto beans, beans are the main ingredients in my plant-based meals. I always have a variety of dried and canned beans in my pantry. Canned beans are great for last-minute meals and dried beans are the more economical choice. Below are some of my favorite bean recipes.

~ Vegan Tuna Salad

~ Pressure Cooker BBQ Baked Beans

~ Veggie Burgers Made With Beans and Rice

3. Sea Salt ~ Sea salt helps bring out the flavor of vegan foods. So it is a staple that I always have in my pantry for my vegan recipes. There are many varieties of sea salt, from Himalaya pink sea salt to Fleur de Sel Sea Salt, I always have several kinds in my spice cabinet. 

Fleur de Sel Sea Salt is a gourmet artisanal finishing salt.This sea salt has a bright white color with snow-like crystals and also has a slight hint of violets in its aroma. This gourmet sea salt enhances plant-based dishes with just a pinch so you don't need much for awesome flavor.

4. Nuts and Seeds ~ When you choose to stop eating meat, you need to consume other foods for protein. Nuts and seeds are loaded with protein. I love that nuts and seeds can be enjoyed as a healthy snack or used in many meatless recipes. My favorite nuts and seeds that I always have in my pantry containers are sunflower seeds, almonds, peanuts, and pumpkin seeds. Sunflower seeds can be sprinkled over salads and oatmeal. I love using almonds from Amazon in homemade almond milk. Keep reading to discover a unique nut milk maker that makes almond milk in less than 20 minutes. 

Check out some of my favorite nut and seed recipes

~ Natural Homemade Honey Sunflower Seed Butter

~ Easy To Make Homemade Hummus

~ No-Bake High Fiber Breakfast Granola Bars

5. Green Juice Powder ~ Green vegetables are so good for you but it can be hard to eat the number of greens that your body needs. So consuming green juice with help you get those vital nutrients that green veggies provide. My favorite way to use green powder is in my morning smoothie. I also drink a deliciously sweet apple flavor of green juice several times a week.

 Organifi Green Juice Crisp Apple has a taste of refreshing slightly sweet apple. This classic green juice has a refreshing twist and only 2g of sugar. The green juice blend is formulated with 12 superfoods like ashwagandha, spirulina, moringa, and of course organic whole apples. Easy to mix and enjoy.

6. Coffee ~ This favorite morning drink is loaded with antioxidants, so I have plenty of coffee in my pantry. I would not want to run out of my favorite healthy drink. I drink my daily cups of coffee in many different ways. I mostly brew coffee with the pour-over method and then drink it hot or iced. Check out my favorite coffee drink recipes.

~ Dairy-Free Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Coffee Latte

~ Whipped Dalgona Coffee

~ Cold Brew Coffee

7. Vegan Protein Powder ~ Plant-based protein has many uses beyond smoothies and protein shakes. When added to recipes, protein powder adds protein and can be used in place of flour in gluten-free recipes. The only protein powder that I have found to perform well in recipes is NUZEST. 

Save 15% on Nuzest with code MOMKNOWSBEST15

 This premium pea protein vegan powder is made with clean ingredients and is free of soy, dairy, sugar, gluten, and nuts. So Nuzest is an allergy-friendly protein mix. This protein powder has a great taste, is low in carbs, and mixes up smoothly. I love adding protein powder to pancakes, cookies, quick bread, and even brownies. Check out some of my favorite recipes that include protein powder.

~ 4-Ingredient Mocha Coconut Breakfast Cookies

~ Gluten-Free Chocolate Mocha Protein Brownies

~ Dairy-Free Vegan Chocolate Protein Pancakes

8. Brown Rice ~ Many plant-based protein sources, like beans, need grains to make them complete sources of protein. Brown rice is a healthy grain that my family loves. So I always stock my pantry with brown rice. Brown rice has more fiber and nutrition than rice white and can be used in plant-based recipes that call for rice. I like the chewy texture of brown rice and use it in the below recipes.

~ Homemade Sushi Bowl Recipe

~ Southwestern Style Sushi Burrito

~ Spicy Spanish Rice

9. Nut Milk ~ Since I have a dairy allergy, I use nut milk in my coffee as well as in my plant-based recipes. So I always have a pitcher of plant-based milk in my fridge and I have supplies in my pantry, so I can quickly make homemade nut milk when I need more. I used to buy containers of plant-based milk at the store but then I discovered all the nasty items that are added to the nut milk like sugar, thickeners,  preservatives, gums, and emulsifiers. 

So now I make my own homemade nut and oat milk with the Nutr Milk Maker. I can enjoy homemade plant-based milk in minutes with the Nutr Machine. This machine is so easy to use and the nut milk tastes so delicious. It only takes a couple tablespoons to make the nut milk. I love that the Nutr is small in size and cleanup is a breeze. 

 If you have ever tried making homemade almond milk with a blender, you know how time-consuming and messy it can be. When I use the Nutr milk maker, I just add nuts, water, and a few other ingredients into the container. Then I press start and in minutes, I have fresh nut milk that I can add to my coffee or use in recipes. This amazing device also makes creamy oat milk, rice milk, soy milk, and even Whipped Dalgona Coffee. If you sign up for the TheNutr.com newsletter, you can save $10 off the Nutr Milk Maker.

10. Best Sourdough Bread

  If you love sourdough bread then you need to stock your freezer with this amazing sourdough bread. These delicious loaves of bread are ready to bake and they bake in under 25 minutes. So all you have to do is grab a loaf of bread from your freezer and bake it in the oven. This bread subscription box is loaded with bread and other goodies like fresh pasta and artisanal pastries. Right now, for a limited time, you can save $10 off this amazing bread box with my special code which is only available to my readers. 

Take $10 OFF Your First Wildgrain Box with code MOMKNOWSBEST10