3 Ways to Simplify Your Pantry

I've been really getting into the KonMari method this past year and I have even applied it to my eating.

I have simplified and cleaned out my pantry according to Paleo and Whole30 eating. If it's not paleo it doesn't belong in my pantry. I've spoken about decision fatigue when talking about my capsule wardrobe and menu planning.

Decision fatigue is why ordinary people get angry at seemingly nothing, impulse buy, get off their diets, and can't say no.

Making decision after decision pays a price. It's not ordinary physical fatigue, in fact, you are not aware of being tired, but your mental energy is depleted.

The more choices you make during the day, from what to wear in the morning, coffee or tea during your break, to what time you should leave work all lead up to dialing for the pizza takeout when you get home.

At the end of the day, your brain looks for the quickest way out of making a decision. This is where rash actions come in, or worse, sitting on the couch and doing nothing.

A few weeks ago we simplified our closet and last week we simplified meal planning. This week lets work on the pantry.

Avoid decision fatigue and keep your pantry simple, this way when you go into the pantry for a snack, any decision you make will be a good one.

1. Check Sweeteners

Toss any item that has added sugars, high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, and any other word for sugar.

Great alternatives to candy bars - Larabars
Great alternatives to sweeteners - maple syrup, honey, and coconut sugar

I'm not a big fan of stevia, it has been linked to infertility.

Check out this post for all the words that are sugars.

2. Trans Fat

Hydrogenated or Partially Hydrogenated Oils. These type of oils are life enders. They cause heart disease and cancer. Don't eat them.

Most potato chips are also fried in trans fat oils.

Healthier options to try - Jackson's Honest Potato Chips
Siete Foods Casava Flour Chips instead of Tortilla Chips
3. Chemicals

Lookout for preservatives Sodium Benzoate and Potassium Benzoate. Benzene is a known carcinogen that is also linked to serious thyroid damage.

Sodium Nitrates and Sodium Nitrites preservatives are found in processed meats like bacon, lunch meat, and hot dogs. They're some of the worst offenders, and they're believed to cause colon cancer and metabolic syndrome, which can lead to diabetes.

The artificial colors blue 1 and 2, green 3, red 3, and yellow 6 have been linked to thyroid, adrenal, bladder, kidney, and brain cancers. Always seek out foods with the fewest artificial chemicals, especially when shopping for your kids. Look for color-free medications and natural food products that don't contain artificial colors like these.

MSG, monosodium glutamate is a processed flavor enhancer. While glutamates are present in some natural foods, such as meat and cheese, the ones exploited by the processed-foods industry are separated from their host proteins through hydrolysis. High levels of free glutamates have been shown to seriously screw with brain chemistry.
After you pick over the ingredient lists of your pantry items. Find healthier replacements for some of your junk foods. If you make your new healthier options your go-tos then it will be easier to avoid falling into that reckless trap of whatever is easiest.