(VIDEO) Quick Tip: Make Some Pantry Swaps
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Welcome to the Quick Start Guide to Homesteading series, where you will find everything you need to know to get started living a more sustainable life, whether you are in the city, country, or somewhere in between.
Today we are going to talk about the first idea in the Food and Drink category of the fundamentals framework: Make some pantry swaps.
If you haven’t already, you can download the FREE Quick Start Guide to Homesteading at our website.
We think if you watch these videos, read the guide, and start practicing what you learn, you will be well on your way to becoming a homesteader.
Below are the show notes.
So what does that mean to make some pantry swaps in the homesteading fundamentals framework?
Julie: So what that means is to replace some of the more highly processed or unhealthy items in your kitchen with things that are more natural and less processed. We'll give you some examples in a moment.
Why is it important to make some pantry as a homesteader?
Julie: We've all heard that making healthier choices. more wholesome food is better for us but knowing where to start with that can be overwhelming. Making some pantry swaps is a great way to begin shifting your diet and your eating habits are healthier options.
Kevin: And choosing less processed food is also better for the environment. They often use fewer chemicals, non GMO ingredients and they just take less energy to produce.
Julie: If you're also purchasing items that were produced in your region and being sold at a local store instead of a national chain who will be supporting your community as well.
How do you make some pantry swaps for your homestead?
Julie: So first, you want to look at what's in your pantry or cupboard right now to see what you and your family like to eat. Then you can start to consider what healthier less processed options of those products might be out there. You can do this research online or just by going to the grocery store and seeing what else is on the shelves. We'll give you a few examples.
Kevin: If you like sugar in your coffee or tea consider other alternatives like honey or maybe maple syrup. We purchase our honey at the local hardware store where a beekeeper who lives in our town sells it.
Julie: If you like to bake perhaps you could replace a conventional bleached white flour with something that's made locally or a whole wheat flour. We buy a couple of different brands of flour that are produced within 50 miles of our homestead.
Kevin: Even if cooking and baking are not your thing. Perhaps they're more wholesome or more local varieties of packaged foods that you could choose for instance, maybe you could use nuts instead of croutons on your salad.
Julie: Whatever you decide, every little step counts and starting small is the best way to go. We can tell you that from experience. When we first started changing the food that was in our pantry we bought a bunch of things that we didn't end up using.
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