Making sure your kitchen is well stocked with healthy foods is preparing yourself for successful weight loss and optimal health. Making this happen requires consistent and well planned grocery shopping and preparation. The work might seem overwhelming but will make healthy eating much easier in the long run.

First make a list of what you have. Then make a list of the things that you need to stock up on. Hit the grocery store and fill in your kitchen with healthy foods. If you need help making your list, the following is a basic list of some healthy kitchen essentials:

Healthy foods for your pantry:

* Whole grains – quinoa, amaranth, kamut, barley
* Lentils
* Canned goods – diced tomatoes, healthy soups, tuna, salmon, mixed beans
* Whole grain crackers
* Whole grain cereals
* Rolled Oats
* Green/Black tea
* Whole wheat pasta
* Mixed nuts/trail mix
* Dried fruit
* Vinegar – balsamic, apple cider, red wine, raspberry
* Oils – olive, coconut, canola, sesame, sesame, avocado
* Spices – oregano, basil, paprika, turmeric, cumin, cinnamon
* Garlic
* Ginger

Healthy foods for your fridge:

* Low fat milk
* Water jug – Brita is a great brand for this
* Vegetables – tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, romaine lettuce, carrots, spinach
* Fruit -Apples, strawberries, blueberries, oranges
* Lean meat – chicken/turkey breast, lean cuts of steak, grass fed beef
* Fatty Fish – salmon, mackerel, cod
* Eggs
* Pesto/salsa/healthy sauces
* Margarine

Healthy foods for your freezer:

* Frozen veggies
* Frozen meats
* Frozen fish
* Frozen berries
* Ready-made stir-fry mix

Healthy foods for your counter top:

* Whole wheat bread/high fiber pita
* Fruits (bananas, apples, oranges)

Useful appliances for your kitchen:

* Coffee grinder – useful for grinding seeds like the very healthy flaxseed
* Blender – great for making healthy fruit and veggie smoothies

These foods are great basics for anyone who wants to live healthier and eat right. If you are cooking within two days or so you will want to take inventory of what is available for your meal preparation. Making sure you have those staples available makes grocery shopping and healthier eating easier.

Everyone might have other necessary items on their kitchen staples list. Remember that these are just the basics and your list might be longer or shorter. Whatever the specifics of the list are, remember that keeping a healthy stocked kitchen will make weight loss much easier!