Staple Foods

Staple foods are the ingredients that form the basis of cooking and comprise the bulk of the ingredients. The staples in many diets are long lasting. They can be bought in bulk or stocked up when on sale.

The three benefits are

• 6 months of staple foods in the pantry serves as a form of emergency fund and can be used to decrease the size of one's emergency fund. Even without income, one will not be without food. This is also useful for disaster preparation.
• By stocking up only when foods are on sale, the basis price is lowered.
• Dinners can be planned around staples foods according to what's on sale (weekly loss leaders).

Core Staples

• Beans
• Flour
• Rice
• Oatmeal
• Lentils
• Potatoes
• Pasta

Useful Additions

• Tins - Tomatoes, Green Beans, Tuna
• Vinegar
• Cooking Oil
• Onions/Leeks
• Garlic
• Apples
• Turnips/Parsnips
• Spices
• Canned tuna
• Canned sardines

Items that can be flash frozen and stored in freezer for out-of-season use:

• blueberries
• strawberries
• raspberries
• sliced peaches
• sliced/cubed pineapple
• sliced zucchini
• corn (cut off cobb or left on in 2" pieces)
• sliced peppers
• sliced carrots
• peas
• green beans