Your pantry likely has a few items taking up space that aren’t adding any real value to your cooking or have long outlived their welcome. Clearing out the unnecessary makes it easier to focus on ingredients that actually improve your meals. A well-organized pantry sets you up for better, more flavorful dishes every time you cook.
Vegetable Shortening
This relic from grandma’s kitchen has outlived its usefulness. Loaded with trans fats and zero flavor, it’s being shown the door. Swap it for butter, coconut oil, or avocado oil, which actually taste good.
Pre-Shredded Cheese
The convenience isn’t worth the compromise. Those anti-caking agents turn your cheese into a weird, gritty mess when melted. Grating your own cheese may take an extra minute, but the silky, gooey result will make you wonder why you ever settled for the bagged stuff.
Artificial Sweeteners
If it’s labeled “zero-calorie,” it’s time to give it the boot. These lab-made sweeteners often come with a bitter aftertaste and a side of health debates. Natural options like honey and maple syrup bring actual flavor to the table.
Canned Frosting
This sugary paste masquerading as frosting has no place in a kitchen that respects cake. Homemade frosting takes just minutes, tastes infinitely better, and doesn’t feel like you’re eating flavored glue.
Bouillon Cubes
These salty little bricks have overstayed their welcome. Liquid broths and homemade stocks bring richer, cleaner flavors without that chalky aftertaste. Plus, they won’t leave your soup tasting like a salt mine.
Flavored Yogurt Cups
Those tiny tubs of fruit-flavored yogurt are basically sugar bombs in disguise. Go for plain Greek yogurt and add your own honey or fresh fruit. You’ll save yourself from the artificial flavor parade and actually taste something real.
Imitation Vanilla Extract
If you’ve been baking with the fake stuff, it’s time for a glow-up. Real vanilla extract is leagues better and brings out a warmth and depth in desserts that imitation just can’t fake. Your cookies will thank you.
Bottled Salad Dressings
Why settle for something that tastes like it came out of a chemistry lab? Homemade dressings are fresher, healthier, and take minutes to whip up. Plus, you’ll finally stop wondering what “xanthan gum” actually is.
Microwave Popcorn
Those buttery-smelling bags are full of chemicals you can’t pronounce. Air-popped popcorn gives you total control over flavor and avoids the fake butter fiasco. You can season it any way you like without the mystery additives.
Canned Fruit in Syrup
Fruit shouldn’t need a sugary syrup bath to taste good. Fresh or frozen fruit tastes better, has more nutrients, and won’t leave your hands sticky. The fresh stuff is the upgrade you didn’t know you needed.
12 New Year’s Food Habits That Are Actually Worth Keeping
New year, new you—at least until February rolls around and those over-the-top resolutions start feeling more like chores. But not all food habits need to be extreme or impossible to keep. Some are simple, practical, and actually worth sticking with long after the “new year, new me” energy fades. These aren’t about punishing yourself with kale smoothies or swearing off desserts forever. They’re about small, smart choices that can make eating healthier feel less like a job and more like a normal part of life.
Read it Here: 12 New Year’s Food Habits That Are Actually Worth Keeping
15 Pantry Staples Anyone Trying To Eat Healthy Should Stock Up On
Starting the new year with a plan to eat healthier always sounds great—until you realize your pantry looks like it belongs to a college dorm. No one’s sticking to their goals with nothing but instant noodles and sugary cereal staring back at them. Stocking up on a few powerhouse staples can make the difference between hitting those health resolutions and ordering pizza for the third night in a row. Think of these items as your secret to success. They’re versatile, long-lasting, and ready to step in when you need a quick, healthy meal.
Read it Here: 15 Pantry Staples Anyone Trying To Eat Healthy Should Stock Up On
*Select images provided by Depositphotos.
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
