When I wrote my book, 26 Days, A Whole Food Plant-Based Diet and What You Need To Know, we worked on deleting animal food products from our diet. It was a story of the good, the bad, and the ugly and what to expect when trying to eat a more plant-centered diet. (You know, another way of eating more fruits and veggies like the doctor orders?)

We clean out our closets, our cars, and offices but what about our cabinets? Sure, we clean out our cabinets by throwing out the old stuff but what about doing a pantry edit every so often?

Eliminating certain foods that no longer serve us as we get old can be tough but isn’t it just an edit? The truth is, it’s difficult for a lot of people regardless of how easy some would say to “just do it.” All animal products were reduced to practically zero for a month and our plant-based regimen lasted weeks, months, and years later.

Until now.   

Lately, I’ve been going back to eating meat and I can feel it.

My skin itches, my allergies are in full swing, and my workouts are challenging, especially my runs on the treadmill. I probably would have never known what a big cause was unless we had edited our animal products.

However, Richard and I have agreed we just need to lose weight. Another way we’re doing it, including reducing the amount of meat intake, is once again by editing our pantry.  

Lately, I’ve been deleting these from our staple-everyday grocery list. 

1. Bread

I would buy bread to make sandwiches, have toast in the morning and maybe switch it up with English muffins to put peanut butter, cottage cheese, or to have with a salad. I’d buy full-grain-wheat bread and gluten-free bread. 

Not anymore. We’ve replaced sandwiches with salads and use toppings like seaweed, sunflower seeds, sliced almonds, and avocado. Even carrots, celery, or anything with a crunch to replace the croutons is what we’re committed to eating instead. (Hello middle-aged!)

2. Croutons

We love croutons - especially the big dried-up crunchy ones from Trader Joe's. I even perfected the recipe with old bread, and they were delicious! However, I’ll save that recipe for special occasions, like Thanksgiving, and serve these instead (below). I also discovered that if you cut sweet potatoes into small cubes and roast them, they make nice croutons too. No need to add anything either but maybe some salt and pepper.

3. Pasta 

Honestly, I only buy gluten-free pasta. There are so many different brands and variations now. I’m saving the gluten pasta til Italy. Having said that, if we’re going to eat pasta, the portions have been small and are more of a side dish than the main dish (instead of the other way around like the photo below).

I love to make macaroni salad, and recently I made one for a potluck. I like to use store-bought ready-made macaroni salad and mix it with freshly cooked macaroni pasta, fresh minced carrots, and celery. There’s so much mayonnaise in the ready-made pasta, but it becomes a snap when you’re running out the door to get to a potluck by just mixing all the fresh ingredients with it. And it’s just perfect!

However, as good as it was, it was hardly touched so of course, we had leftover macaroni salad to feed an army. However, it was more of a side snack than a side dish at dinner but I’ve avoided buying pasta unless it’s made of chickpeas or spinach.

4. Chips

This is my absolute vice and it’s really hard not to have chips with a sandwich. Since we’re not having sandwiches though, they’re not around. Sight unseen, it’s just easier to avoid.

5. Rice

I don’t make rice often but it’s nice to have with fish, right? Maybe with a stir-fry or just plain fried with veggies tossed and cooked in my wok. Healthy, right?

However, it’s part of the carb family so out it goes. 

6. Potatoes

I’ve learned growing up how potatoes can be so versatile, and with a German late mother-in-law, this is the ultimate staple for Richard. It’s like what pasta is to the Italians and what tortillas are to Mexicans. We all have a carb staple in our culture but as we are learning from the blended, well-informed younger generation (thanks to social media), we are all in this together.

I’ve replaced potatoes half the time with cauliflower which is just as versatile. And I feel better.

7. Tortillas

We’ve always had a bounty of flour tortillas in the fridge. I like corn, and Richard likes flour. Richard and I both grew up with tortillas, and we like having them with butter, peanut butter, jam, eggs, or whatever we can roll into one.

Tortillas no longer belong in the fridge unless we’re having Mexican food at a restaurant or I’m making mushroom or fish tacos for dinner. 

Here’s a good article on items to avoid from the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians.

What have been your most recent edits in your pantry?