Do you find that you’re always running low on groceries? There are few things worse than getting home after a long day, only to find that you’ve got nothing to make for dinner.
Well, you might have another box of sauceless noodles to cook, but you can only go on living that way for so long! We’re going to talk about why you need a full pantry in this article, giving you some insight into what a well-stocked pantry can bring to your life.
Let’s take a look.
A Full Pantry Provides Variety
One of the most important benefits of a full pantry is the fact that it allows you to eat a variety of foods every day.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner can all be different every day and inspire you to cook a little more. When the pantry gets slim, you might find yourself cooking up bags of vegetables and oatmeal for every sitting, and that does not do well for the body or the soul.
The variety allows us to think of new things to cook and enjoy our food. When you think about the amount of time you spend eating and cooking, either way, it makes sense to actually enjoy it while we’re there.
There’s another benefit to variety, though. Our bodies are designed to run on a variety of natural foods. A truly healthy diet is one that incorporates a vast array of vitamins, minerals, proteins, and more.
Health Benefits of Eating Diverse Foods
When we sprinkle a little of everything into the mix, we’ll tick off all of the boxes that our doctors keep reminding us of. How, you ask?
Well, you might have noticed that all dietary recommendations seem difficult, almost impossible to achieve. That’s true when you look at them as isolated vitamins and minerals.
Who is spending time figuring out whether they got the appropriate amount of vitamin B2? Nobody, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be sure you’re getting everything you need.
You can get all of those vitamins and minerals if you eat a variety of natural foods in the essential categories. Fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and protein sources are the essentials.
Try to incorporate those foods into your pantry, and eat different kinds of foods from those categories every day. The result is that your body will get almost all of the nutrition it needs in full measure. There might be days or weeks that some of those factors are slacking, but our bodies can handle a little fluctuation here and there.
Cooking at Home Is Cheaper
The idea of spending $100 at the grocery store might be a little daunting. When you take a look at the full picture, though, how much money are you spending on snacks and other foods while you’re out?
Take a look at your bank statement. If you’re someone who stops for gas stations and fast food often, you might be heartbroken at the amount of money you’re spending at those places.
If you go to the gas station twenty times a month, you might be spending close to $200 on sandwiches and candy bars. On the other hand, cooking at home provides the nutrients that improve your ability to resist those urges and save money.
Further, the food you buy at grocery stores is objectively cheaper than what you get at the store. You get more food for a much lower price. When you work in subscriptions like Snack Perk, streamline your budget even more and save money.
It’s very important to understand the point above. Fast food is not cheap. In fact, it’s very expensive for what you’re getting. On the one hand, the materials they’re selling you are low quality and modified to hack our taste buds.
They might taste good, but that’s because the scientist wants you to get addicted to the dopamine rush you get from it. Further, the energy deficit you get when you live off of fast food is invaluable.
Confidence and Routine
The last benefit we’ll discuss is the one that comes from the simple fact that you’re doing something good for yourself.
Do you feel good when you get fast food? How about gas station food? Does it feel good to come home to an empty pantry while your car is full of fast food rappers and garbage?
The answer is no.
On the other side of things, how does it feel to come home to a full pantry? Does it feel good to spend twenty minutes cooking a healthy meal? How about having the energy to get through the day, knowing full well that you are energized because of your dietary decisions?
Those things feel very good. So, filling your pantry will not only make you feel less bad, but it will double down and make you feel very good. That’s a confidence boost that will repeat itself as you make a habit of filling your pantry and cooking for yourself.
There are benefits to throwing wrenches in a routine here and there, but diet might be one of the few exceptions to that rule. It’s important to have a consistent source of nutrients that your body can work off of to get you through the day.
The next time you stop to get some fast food or junk food, make a note of how you feel in the hours that follow. Further, try cooking yourself a healthy meal three times in one day.
Make note of the way you feel the next day. Think of things like your energy level, your focus, and your general mood. The results of that little experiment might be enough to change your mind about food forever.
Want to Learn More About Healthy Eating?
Hopefully, the discussion above has convinced you to live with a full pantry. There’s a lot more to learn about keeping a healthy diet, though. We’re here to help.
Explore our site for more ideas on cooking, diet, wellness, and more.
