Getting ready...

Around here the end of the holiday season is followed by the new year and with that the annual Daniel Fast at our church. I won't go into the whys and hows of the "religion" behind it, but for me it's a huge oppurtunity to re-focus. On my faith, my body and all sorts of other things. The fast runs for 21 days and limits what you eat to a basically vegan diet. In addition to no animal based foods it also includes no sweeteners and no yeast. The purpose is to eat non-processed, plant based foods.
This means that mama has already started stocking the pantry to prepare. This post is really for the folks who are also participating in the fast and would benefit from a starting off point for their pantry.
So you non-fasters, check back tomorrow to see what I'm working on.

Ok, here are a few suggestions for things you should keep in your pantry. Many of them, if you are like me, you already have as pantry staples.

Whole Wheat pasta
Brown and/or wild rice
Potatoes
Whole Wheat Flour
Olive Oil
Coconut Oil (it's a staple in my granola)
Vinegar (great for making your own salad dressings, there are only 1 or 2 sold commercially)
Spices (this is a great time to try new flavors!)
Dried and canned beans (be sure to check your can labels, no additives or sugars)
Canned tomatoes (again, check your labels! Many of them have corn syrup or sugar)
Capers (strong flavor for dressings)
Sugar free jam or jelly
Garlic
Onions
Shallots
Olives
Lemons (again, a dressing staple)
Mustard  (it's the only condiment you can really use, you'd be amazed what you'll put it on)
Nuts (Pistachios and almonds are this house fav)
Vegetable Broth
Apples
Bananas!!! (the base of all smoothies)

In the fridge:
Salad greens (lettuce, spinach, arugula, etc)
Celery
Carrots
Cukes
Tomatoes
Grapes (great for grabbing a handful)
(All veggies and fruit are fair game, so load up on your favorites!)

In the freezer:
Frozen Blueberries
Frozen Peaches
Green Beans
Broccoli
Corn
Brussels

Here's the deal you will find what works best for you. This is just where I start. Our favorites are smoothies, Salads, and Soups. Frozen veg are the freshest option out of season, because they are usually frozen straight from the farmer. They don't spend as much time on a truck or at the grocery store spoiling.
What are you doing to get ready?