The Top 10 Foods You Absolutely NEED In Your Kitchen {+ an Invite into Mine!}

We’ve had a lot of Rockstars joining our community lately so I wanted to take a moment to go back to the basics. No matter where you’re starting, becoming your healthiest you doesn’t usually happen overnight.

I’ve heard far too many stories about people trying to completely overhaul their lifestyle in a week. Before they even start they’re overwhelmed and ready to quit, leaving behind a lot of wasted time, energy and money. That’s why I wholeheartedly believe in a concept I learned in nutrition school called ’crowding out’. If you’ve ever hopped on the diet roller coaster (and let’s be honest, who hasn’t!), you’re familiar with the countless long lists of what NOT to eat. But here at Your Healthiest You that’s just not how we do things…

Instead I’d rather share with you all the yummy and amazing foods you want be eating, starting with the essentials. The theory behind this method is that when your plate is filled with healthy, whole foods you’ll eat less junk naturally. But trust me, it’s a lot more than theory. That’s why one of the first things I go over with new clients are what foods to always have on hand (and I also recently shared some of my essentials with Yahoo! Health!).

Here are the top 10 foods you absolutely NEED in your kitchen: {tweet ’em!}

1. Lemons/limes.. for flavoring water, dressings, cooked veggies and more!
2. Coconut oil… for baking, sauteing, smoothies, look for organic & cold pressed.
3. Fermented veggies… more on these here.
4. Dark leafy greens (collards, kale, swiss chard, switch them up weekly!)
5. Nori wraps…yep the ones traditionally used to wrap sushi rolls! Use them to wrap up your lunch or chop and add to salads!
6. Celtic sea or himalayan pink salt for flavor.
7. Nutritional yeast.
8. Proteins: Organic, free-range animal products are great. If you’re ‘meatless’ try tempeh, tuna, eggs, sardines, nut butters, mung beans and veggie burgers (think: the less ingredients the better).
9. Apples and whole carrots for snacking.
10. An assortment of herbal teas – I always have nettle and yerba mate on hand.

Start with just one or grab them all on your next visit to the store. Either way, having these items in your kitchen will make becoming your healthiest you that much easier.