6 Easy Food Swaps For A Quick Pantry Makeover

We all know that good health starts with good food. When we think about good food and healthy living, most of us imagine leafy greens and colorful vegetables. And yes, these fantastic for us and should be part of our healthy diet. Yet, we can't neglect our pantries... A well-stocked pantry leads to healthy meals and snacks, which then leads to healthy humans :) The food that takes up space in our home and stomach should contribute to our health, not detract from it. When it comes to pantry staples, lots of undesirable ingredients can easily sneak in. Even foods that appear to be "healthy" may contain unwholesome ingredients. Thankfully, making over the pantry doesn't have to be a tedious process. There are many simple replacements for common pantry staples that are great for you and your family! Here are 6 easy food swaps for a quick pantry makeover! Do it all at once or replace one thing at a time. Eventually, you'll have a made-over pantry that's packed with healthful foods your whole family will enjoy.

#1 -- Ditch Refined Sugar

I think we can all agree that refined sugar has no nutritional value. Yet, many of us continue to use it because it's what we know. However, this one simple switch can make a big difference. Replace white and brown sugar with Wildly Organic's Coconut Sugar. Unlike white sugar, coconut sugar is whole food and still retains many vitamins and minerals. Replace for white or brown sugar in a 1:1 ratio in baking and cooking. And, here are 7 sweeteners that are healthier than white sugar -- coconut sugar is included on that list!

#2 -- Replace Pancake Syrup With Coconut Syrup

Have you read the ingredient list on pancake syrup?? It often contains GMO corn syrup, preservatives, and artificial colors. It's definitely not a whole food and isn't contributing to your health in any way. If pancake syrup lives in your pantry, it's time to give it the heave-ho and use Wildly Organic's Coconut Syrup instead. Like coconut sugar, coconut syrup is a whole food. It contains many vitamins and minerals (and tastes great too!). It's made by simmering the sap of the coconut tree. Much better than a concoction of corn syrup and artificial flavor, colors, and preservatives don't you think? Furthermore, coconut syrup is less expensive than real maple syrup, but you use it in the same way! Wildly Organic's Coconut Syrup is organic and unrefined. Use it on pancakes, drizzle it on ice cream, or add a finishing touch to oatmeal or yogurt.

#3 -- Use High-Quality Olive Oil Instead Of Vegetable Oils

Sadly, the olive oil industry has become so corrupt that it's very difficult to know exactly what's in the oil we buy. Many oils on supermarket shelves are adulterated with low-grade oils that are detrimental to our health. Because of this, it's important to use olive oil from a reputable source. The origin of your olive oil should be easy to find and production practices should also be known. Wildly Organic's Olive Oil meets all of the criteria. Our olive oil is produced by a co-op of small farmers through an extremely careful and rigorous process. Most importantly, WO is open and honest about where and how our oil is made. Furthermore, our organic olive oil is produced by centrifuge, so it is never exposed to heat. The farmers from whom we source our oil are very particular about the olives they use and discard any that do not meet the highest standard. After production, the oil is stored in dark glass bottles to preserve freshness and integrity. Use Wildly Organic's Olive Oil in your favorite homemade salad dressings, in tapenade, or for a simple dipping sauce for bread!

#4 -- Replace Cocoa Powder With Raw Cacao Powder

To quickly increase antioxidants and enzymes in baked goods and beverages, replaceregular cocoa powder with Wildly Organic's Raw Cacao Powder or Fermented Raw Cacao Powder. This is one easy swap to make all your chocolate treats more nutrient-dense! Learn about all 8 benefits of cacao! Cacao powder is produced via a cold processing method, while cocoa powder is roasted at high temperatures. This roasting process destroys some of the value enzymes and lowers the overall nutritional value of the product. Both fermented and non-fermented cacao is an improvement over regular cocoa powder. Fermented cacao powder has a stronger/darker chocolate flavor than non-fermented, so choose whichever one suits your taste buds. Find out more about the difference between fermented and non-fermented cacao powder in What’s the Difference Between Fermented and Non-Fermented Cacao Powder. Wildly Organic has gone a step further and sought Fair Trade certification for our fermented cacao so you can have a healthier, more ethical pantry! To adapt your own favorite recipes, simply replace your current cocoa powder with an equal amount of either of Wildly Organic's cacao powders. Or, try any of our delectable Real Food Chocolate Candy Recipes, Grain-Free, Nut-Free Salted Caramel Brownies, or Sugar-Free Hot Cocoa!

#5 -- Use Coconut Oil Instead Of Margarine Or Shortening

Many of us grew up using shortening for a variety of baked goods and home-fried foods. However, shortening is one of the worst offenders when it comes to unhealthy foods in your pantry. Vegetable shortening and margarine are both made from genetically modified plants and contains hydrogenated oils and trans fats. There's truly nothing worthwhile about it. Luckily, any of Wildly Organic's Coconut Oils are a great substitute for vegetable shortening and margarine. They boast many health benefits, too! Can you just buy coconut oil off the shelf at the grocery store? Isn't that cheaper? Well, yes, sure you can. However, not all coconut oils are created equally. Use caution when choosing the right coconut oil for your pantry. Use coconut oil in place of shortening and margarine for baking, sautéing, and frying. It works just as well for main dishes as it does for desserts! Give it a try in homemade personal care products too -- like deodorant or an invigorating scrub!

#6 -- Replace Table Salt With Himalayan Pink Salt

• use soaked nuts and seeds instead of plain ones
• switch dried milk powder for coconut milk powder
• replace white flour with gluten-free options

Do you need to swap some items in your pantry? Which ones will you start with?