A Spoonful of Care

When I first faced restricted-diet cooking, I thought I had to reinvent my entire pantry overnight. The truth? You only need a foundation of safe, versatile staples. With these on hand, you’ll always be able to pull together a nourishing meal.

Dry Goods

• Brown or white rice
• Whole grain or white pasta
• Couscous or quinoa
• Oats (for baking or breakfast)
• Whole wheat flour (for muffins/breads)
• Crackers (sealed, pasteurized brands)

Canned/Packaged

• Low-sodium broths (vegetable, chicken, beef)
• Canned beans (well-rinsed)
• Canned tuna or salmon (pasteurized)
• Jarred tomato sauce (low-sodium, no raw add-ins)
• Shelf-stable nut butters

Frozen

• Mixed vegetables (steamable bags are great)
• Berries (safe if cooked/baked)
• Fish fillets, chicken breasts, or turkey cutlets
• Cooked grains (some brands sell frozen brown rice)

Safe Snacks

• Granola bars (individually packaged)
• Applesauce cups
• Yogurt cups (pasteurized)
• Rice cakes