what do you ALWAYS have on hand? (eating at home related)

[ziggystardust]

I'm really trying to meal plan and stick to it. I find that my hardest meals to plan are lunches on the weekends. I just instinctively want to grab something out. Also, side dishes always get me for some reason.

So...

What do you always keep on hand for meals/snacks/sides? what are your staples that one should always have at the ready?

 

[marmalade]

You can never fail with good'ole grilled cheese sandwich.

I always have potatoes on hand, they are so versitle. You can make them mashed, baked, frenched, hashed, fried..... the possibilities are endless.

 

[bookgirl]

We always have at least one convienence meal (complete meal in a box, or those frozen entrees) for last minute need a dinner nights.

I try to keep at least 3 of our favorites (salsa chicken, pulled pork, enchiladas/quesadillas) frozen in the freezer. When ever I make these I always double or triple the batch so that I can vacumn pack the leftovers.

I usually have baking potatos around as well.

ETA: Peanut Butter is always in the house, and usually saltine crackers as well.

 

[kiki02]

bagels, bialys, jam, butter, cheeses, eggs, milk, fruit, sliced bread, pasta, sauce.

 

[shortbun]

eggs, potatoes, pasta, some kind of sauce, brown rice, fruits, broccoli, peas, carrots, butter, tomatoes-fresh and canned, fresh herbs, onions, cheese-cheddar and parm-bread, tea, coffee, sugar-white and brown, flour, refried beans, tortilla chips, all kinds of beans-dry and canned. Other stuff, I don't want to think anymore.

 

[sarahlovesmickey]

pasta, sauce, peanut butter, bread, milk, fruit (usually fresh, but often we go through it so fast and I don't always get to the grocery store in time so then we have canned), and some type of frozen veggies. At any given time, you can find these things in our house. Pasta is so versitile--soooo many recipes out there and you can often throw in leftovers and make some type of casserole with it.

 

[Zoemakes5]

Stuff usually on hand:
Pasta and pasta sauce
frozen hamburger
frozen chicken breasts
pizza rolls (I'm rolling my eyes myself here, but the kids love them and can make them in a pinch)
shredded cheese
tortillas
potatoes as mentioned
Mac and Cheese
Spam
Tomato sauce
Diced tomatoes
Cream of mushroom soup
top ramen
PB&J

We have a stand alone freezer in the garage and so happy, as we can take advantage of sales and buying in bulk (a necessity with my large family!)

As for weekends, one day most weekends we have "brunch" because everyone is getting up so late. French toast is a favorite with bacon or sausage. Sausage and biscuits and gravy is a good one, too. We will frequently do quesadillas or sandwiches or Little Caesar's pizza (that's a cheap one for us at $5 per pizza).

 

[2DisPrincesses]

Pasta (various forms)
Canned tomatoes
Frozen veggies
Peanut Butter
Strawberry Jelly
Frozen Chicken Breasts
Cheese
Tortillas
Canned Soup (Progresso or similar)
Bread
Tomato Sauce
Mac and Cheese

 

[charming23]

We try to always have

eggs
pasta
spaghetti sauce
garlic bread
frozen chicken breasts
a frozen pizza for a quick meal
lots of frozen veggies that can be quickly added to a meal or stir fry
canned tuna
potatoes

 

[mrsheppo]

I usually keep on hand

Eggs
Sausage
Pancake mix
Pasta
Spaghetti sauce
Canned soup
Rice
Beans
Frozen chicken breasts
Chicken nuggets for DD
Peanut butter
Bread or sandwich rolls
Cereal
Cheese

 

[wishesuponastar]

Besides a lot of those foods listed above, the foods that help me out in a pinch are leftovers! Especially for a Saturday lunch. We just make a buffet out of what's in the fridge

 

[FQ fan]

I agree with previous posters.

Frozen chicken
diced tomatoes (no tomato sauce for us)
canned soup
some kind of rolls or bread
a frozen convenience meal for when you just can't frce yourself to cook
pasta
frozen Veggies


I also keep something sweet in the house at all times. Not a lot, but there are times when I just NEED chocolate and I find that if I have soemthing small in the house I am less likely to go out and splurge when I'm weak.

 

[Teresa Pitman]

My family is vegan, so our list might be a bit different than others:
canned beans (of various kinds)
canned lentils
tomato sauce
firm tofu
nut butters
spinach
kale
mushrooms
sweet potatoes
salsa
hummus
fresh and frozen vegetables (mostly fresh)
fresh and frozen fruits
whole grain wraps

Teresa

 

[mirage0306]

We always have:

chicken breast
salad stuff--lettuce, tomatoes
peanut butter
bread
eggs
butter
apples, bananas
lots of frozen vegetables
cheese
milk
cereal

 

[mrsklamc]

Pasta, tuna, & cream of whatever soup.

 

[njmom47]

Pasta, spaghetti sauce, tuna, one meal-in-a-box, ground meat (turkey or beef), chicken breasts, frozen veggies, couscous (quick and yummy!), eggs, cheese, peanut butter, and fruit cups.

 

[JUSTAND]

I am in the UK but my lis tis not so different

Potatoes
Onion
Chicken Breats
Pasta and sauce
Bacon
Eggs
Cheese
Milk

 

[kayrosek]

Pasta
Jarred sauce
Canned and frozen veggies
Tortillas
Eggs
Peanut butter
Cheese
Peanut butter
Canned soup
Saltines
Ramen (my kids love the silly things when they need a quick meal or snack)
Rice
Potatos
Various types of beans
Tuna
Bread
Various condiments

I really don't worry about always having meat on hand as three out of five of us won't eat anything but fish and rarely even eat that. My husband does like it when I at least have lunch meat and sausage on hand but there are plenty of other things he will eat if there is none in the house.

 

[Sadie22]

in the freezer:
homemade chili, taco filling
stuffed potatoes
chicken breasts
turkey breasts
salmon, tilapia
Canadian bacon
vegetables of many varieties, including
broccoli, green beans, spinach, corn, lima beans
blueberries and other fruit including cranberries, cherries, peaches
bread
rolls

In the pantry:
onions
potatoes
olive oil
spices
pasta
brown rice
taco shells
beans of many kinds
tuna
peanut butter
crackers
canned fruit and applesauce
canned tomatoes
pasta sauce
bananas

In the refrigerator:
apples
minced garlic
condiments
spreads
cheese
yogurt
milk
eggs
butter
lettuce
celery

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

A good thing to have on hand for lunch on the weekends for us is pizza. IF we are in the middle of a project it is so easy to heat the oven and put a pizza in.

Lean pockets are quick and easy.

Baked quesadilla are a quick meal.

Friday night I make bar foods. Baked chicken tenders, tater tots, cheese sticks, ect. Put tin foil on a cookie sheet, spread items out and bake. When done ball up tin foil and toss it out makes clean up easy especially if you use paper plates too!

Sloppy Joes. When I make sloppy joes I make enough to freeze and have a package of buns in the freezer at all times.

Like a PP said I keep a frozen meal or two on hand for quick fixes. Frozen lasanga, stuffed peppers ect.