The last few years have taught me something very important: not taking the food supply chain for granted. It can be interrupted at any moment, and truly, for any reason.
In this post, you can read about the main pantry items I keep in stock and my medicine cabinet’s main items. My partner doesn’t understand why I usually buy TWO of most things. One for now, one for later. I always say “It keeps!” or “You can freeze it!” In my post “Six reasons to keep your pantry and freezer full”, you can read more in-depth on the motivations behind keeping a stocked pantry.
I’ve recently moved to my current location so, unfortunately, I have to rebuild my pantry. The good news is we can do it together and you can see the transformation too!
Pantry items
Store-bought
Flour: I keep a few kinds and usually get 10 kg of all-purpose as I make most of my bread products at home. I like to have all-purpose and whole wheat on hand at a minimum. These containers on the left are from Canadian tire but they don’t sell them anymore. Amazon has THEM now though and in various sizes!
Oats: I get the One Degree sprouted glyphosate-free oats at Costco, but it is NOT quick oats (The brand DOES have quick oats though. Spotted at Real Canadian Superstore). Otherwise, if I want regular quick oats, I get them at either Walmart or Superstore (Great Value, No name). You can also get it at Bulk Barn but not sure if that’s the best price?!
Sugar (White/brown): Usually from Walmart when it comes on sale. The small bags usually do, but never the big ones.
Nuts: Also get from Costco. Nuts are SPENDY, but they are so yummy and packed with vitamins and minerals! Plus, they add texture to baked goods and dishes.
Rice: I like to keep at least 2 kinds on hand. Usually white and basmati. I store it in a sealed flip-top container to keep moisture out but have easy access.
Dry beans: I like to have a few kinds on hand. Usually kidney beans for chilli, chickpeas, and black beans for burrito bowls. I buy them dry and pressure can them at home so they are ready to go. (I’ll make a post about my go-to canning recipes and link it here later.)
Lentils: Easy to find and store. I usually use them in soups but they are versatile.
Pasta: they are constantly on sale, making it easy to keep in stock. Save On Foods and Walmart usually have really good sale prices. I keep them in their original packaging, some in the main pantry and some downstairs. Nothing too crazy. I like the basic grocery store brands such as Catelli or Lancia. I wouldn’t recommend the “Antonio Amato” brand from Costco. I’ve found for some reason they are much stickier than any other brand I’ve ever purchased.
Coconut milk: I mostly use it for soup recipes these days. It adds creaminess. I usually get it from Costco too. Careful not to confuse it with coconut CREAM. Coconut milk is coconut cream + coconut water. Coconut cream is just that.
Honey: We now have bees on the property so thankfully we will not have to purchase honey for a while. I used to buy it at Costco in the 3-pack format (the bear bottles) just for convenience and ease of storage. If it goes hard, you can microwave it slowly for 20-30 seconds burst in a glass container, and it will soften back up. You could also use a water bath if you don’t have a microwave.
Maple syrup: I’ve been buying it at Costco for a while now. Best price in town!
Home canned items in stock
Broths/stocks: I used to buy these but now I make them all at home. Chicken, beef, and vegetable broths are pretty easy to make. It’s very much a hands-off process. You can freeze it in cubes, freeze it in jars (careful not to overfill or the jars will explode! This happened to me this year…) or you can pressure can it for a shelf-stable product. I use Bernardin’s protocol.
Tomato products (paste, soup, crushed tomatoes): One of the most important pantry items I keep in stock. I don’t even attempt making tomato paste: it’s too much work! So I buy it. I also buy tomato soup (Aylmer or Campbell) at Walmart or Real Canadian Superstore when on sale below 1$( or even 77 cents). For the rest, I try to make and preserve, like crushed tomatoes, pizza sauce and BBQ sauce. I can sometimes find Roma tomatoes at 50 cents a pound, so I stock up when I can! (More on this later)
Medicine cabinet items I keep in stock
This is a very important list as well. I find investing in medication and first aid to be like buying insurance. You pay for it, but may or may not use it. Regardless, you’ll be thankful to have it handy if you end up needing it. While having medication on hand is important, I do not recommend buying it in a larger amount than you need. Chances are it will go bad before you use it. And if you’ve used it all before it does go bad, that’s a whole different conversation…
- Band-aids and gauzes: Band-aids are constantly on sale at most drugstores. Costco also sells a large 220-pack of various sizes and types of bandages. Gauzes are also fairly inexpensive. A very cheap option to use for major wounds that are bleeding a lot is to use maxi pads. I’ve got wraps from Dollorama for 2$. It’s not the largest roll but it’ll probably get you patched up if you need.
- Butterfly bandages: For wider or deeper cuts that need to be kept close together to heal. THESE seem to be popular on Amazon.
- Pain and fever medication: I usually get the store brand and buy both ibuprofen and acetaminophen.
- Pepto-bismol, nausea medication: Ginger tablets and pepto-bismol type (or store brand) are always handy to have.
- Diarrhea medication: (When your boyfriend is lactose-intolerant and he wanted ice cream anyways.) I like to keep Gas-X and anti-diarrhea meds on hand.
- Cold & Flu: I usually keep an “overall” medication like a DayQuil/Nightquil combo-pack. Always in my medicine cabinet are also both medicated and non-medicated lozenges. I keep Cepacol, Dequadin and usually Ricola echinacea lozenges.
- Rubbing alcohol and/or peroxide: Useful for SO MANY things other than sanitizing cuts and scrapes (Ask me about gnat infestation in my house plants…).
- Tums: They are inexpensive and can help the occasional acid reflux.
- A535/ muscle & joints pain relieving cream: when you are over 30 years old. If you know, you know.
- Ice packs and hot bag : Freezer packs last the longest but otherwise, the good old pea bags can do the trick, too. For hot bags, I like the magic bag brand as they come in a perfect shape for my shoulders.
- Eye drops & antibiotic drops: I have the Visine and the Similasan drops for pink eye.
- Zinc tablets, Vitamin C and vitamin D: When you start feeling a tickle or for everyday support.
- Home-made immune booster tincture (Recipe coming later.): I *try* taking it as often as I can but not gonna lie I keep forgetting.
This year, I definitely want to add to this list of items to keep in stock and create a solid emergency and trauma kit for my household.
Here are a few things that are currently on my list to add to the kit:
- A new thermometer
- Rounded scissors
- Tourniquet
- Quick Clot bandages
- Rounded scissors
- CPR mask
- More foil blankets
- Chest seal
It’s not always easy to figure out what to consider “the most important items” for one household to stock up on. I hope this post helps you get started and fill your pantry.
The key phrase is always to stock what you use and use what you stock. If your family doesn’t eat nor like beans, then obviously don’t stock on beans!