5 Healthy Foods You Should Always Have in Your Pantry

I love spending time in the kitchen and most often, cooking is a pleasure, rather than a chore. But there are days when time is limited, and reverting to convenience foods is just too - well, convenient. Fortunately, convenience and health aren't mutually exclusive; beyond the frozen dinners and packaged mixes there are real, whole, nutritious foods streamlined to save us time, without costing us our health. Here are 5 of the most convenient, healthy foods everyone should have in their pantry!


Canned Chickpeas and Other Beans1. Canned Chickpeas and Other Beans
A can of chickpeas costs about a dollar, and they're loaded with protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. A quick rinse and they're ready to go in these barbecue cranberry chickpea wraps.
Make BBQ chickpea cranberry wraps
















Related: The 25 healthiest foods for under $1





2. Canned Tomatoes Canned Tomatoes
Having good-quality canned tomatoes at the ready in your pantry means a fast sauce from scratch - in the same time it takes to cook your pasta! Try this classic turkey bolognese.
Make turkey bolognese


















Quick-cooking or Frozen Rice3. Quick-cooking Rice
Quick-to-cook rice provides the base for this nutrient-dense rice bowl - or make a quick fried rice with egg, veggies, and leftover chicken, shrimp, or pork. This mushroom and kale rice bowl is vegan, too.
Make mushroom kale rice bowls











Related: Purple ketchup ... and 7 more failed food products you'll never eat again




Pitas4. Pitas
A fresh bag of pitas can be transformed into quick pita pizzas, torn and served with hummus or other dip, or stuffed like these summer quinoa pita pockets. Use your imagination!
Make summer quinoa hummus pitas



















Dry Pasta5. Dry Pasta
Dry pasta is a classic pantry staple - and is so useful when you need to get dinner on the table fast. Orzo in particular cooks quickly - try it in this spinach, tomato, and orzo soup - with canned tomatoes and bagged fresh spinach! It's real food fast.
Make spinach, tomato, and orzo soup












-By Julie Van Rosendaal
Follow Julie on Babble

For 4 more healthy foods you should always have in your kitchen, visit Babble!

MORE ON BABBLE

25 things women will never understand about men
7 food additives you should think twice about before eating
5 things that really happen on girl's night
8 over-the-top divorce cakes that scream I'M FREE!!
The 5 WORST foods for weight loss


Stay connected. Follow Babble on Facebook and Twitter.