Kitchen cupboard essentials

Need help eating healthily? Keep these kitchen cupboard essentials nearby for good food on tap

Snacking on junk food is tempting when it’s there. Just staring you in the face. But if you keep that stuff out of sight, then you can keep it out of mind, too, which makes for a much more successful attempt at staying healthy.

If you stock your cupboards up with the good stuff, too, this’ll also give you healthier options when you’re feeling peckish, as well as all the good-for-you ingredients necessary for everyday cooking. Here are our favourite picks:

1. Oats
Starting the day with protein-packed frittatas and the like is great, but healthy breakfasts don’t need to be elaborate. Keeping some good quality oats around means you can whip up a hearty, healthy brekkie in minutes. Throw in some flax and chia, sprinkle some cinnamon on top and you’re good to go. Gluten-free oats are also widely available these days if you’re intolerant or allergic.

2. Tinned tuna
Didn’t have time to do a supermarket run? Tinned tuna still boasts the goodness of the fresh stuff, but the good thing is that it keeps in the cupboard for ages. An emergency supply is essential for those late nights and busy weekends.

3. Lentils
Lentils aren’t just for vegetarians. Adding these humble legumes to stews and soups adds texture, volume and a little protein to completely change up your dish. If you’ve not got any fresh meat in the fridge, you can also easily whip up a lentil lasagna in no time.

4. Olive oil and balsamic vinegar
It’s easy to get carried away with fancy dressings when you’ve got the time, but nothing beats a drizzle of olive oil with balsamic vinegar. It also beats a creamy dressing in the health ranks, any day of the week.

5. Herbs and spices
Whether it’s cayenne pepper for a spicy kick or cinnamon for a sweet fix, keeping a wide selection of herbs and spices in your cupboards can transform dishes, turning them from bland to flavoursome in just a shake.