So what the heck SHOULD I have on hand to cook?

When you decide to take the plunge into clean eating, there are a few things that I have found handy to keep stocked at all times.  By the way, I did NOT go through and throw out all of the junk in my cupboard.  There is still a lot of it in there, but I don't use most of it.  I don't recommend jumping 100%, head-first into this.  Take baby steps.  It's like losing weight.  If you lose 50 pounds in a month, you aren't as likely to keep it off as if you just lose a pound or two a week.  Start slowly and build momentum.  I STILL haven't completely given up my diet pop habit, but I've drastically cut back.  I hope to be done completely soon, but I'm weaning myself.  :)

So the list...here is stuff I keep stocked.

• Whole wheat PASTRY flour
• Spelt flour
• Ground flax seed
• Raw honey
• Sea salt
• Coarse ground black pepper
• Miscellanious spices (individual, NOT BLENDS)
• Stacey's Organic Tortilla shells
• Frozen broccoli
• Home canned tomato sauce (you can easily make this as needed with fresh tomatoes and a blender)
• Greek yogurt
• Whole bricks of cheese (the already grated kind has added junk to keep it from caking together)
• Olive oil
• Coconut oil
• Oatmeal (the real stuff, not instant)
• Chicken ( I DO buy bags of the boneless, skinless breasts on top of our whole chickens that we raise)
• Ground beef (If you can't get it from a local farmer, I suggest a meat market that can tell you where it came from)
• Fresh fruit
• Frozen strawberries (no sugar added only)

This list is far from exhaustive, but these are the main staples that I need to get through a month.  Some I need to replenish every month when I go shopping, others last quite a while longer.  I buy my flour in bulk at the food co-op.  It is A LOT cheaper that way, and you can buy however much or little as you want.  There are also so many different kinds of flours out there that you may want to buy smaller amounts and try them out to decide what kind you like best.  I keep honey on hand because it is a clean alternative to sugar in cooking and baking.  Plus, it is just good for you in general!