Bryce’s Kitchen Staples
The ingredients our co-founder actually keeps stocked, grouped the way a kitchen is, with tap-to-check rows to build your own list.
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Why a Staples List Helps
Bryce is a NuStart co-founder and a home cook. These are the ingredients he actually keeps stocked: a starting point, not a shopping mandate.
A small, familiar set of ingredients is what makes cooking at home quick and repeatable. Keep a handful of versatile seasonings, a few good fats, a couple of sweeteners, and reliable proteins on hand, and most weeknight meals come together without a plan. Below are Bryce’s go-tos, grouped the way a kitchen is. Whole foods come first; the richer items are the small amounts that make food taste finished.
Use them as a starting point and swap in your own favorites.
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Bryce’s Go-To Ingredients
★ Herbs & Spices
Fresh herbs Bryce keeps on hand: basil, oregano, and cilantro. Dried works too: 1 tsp dried per 1 Tbsp fresh. Full pairing guide in the “Cooking with Herbs & Spices” handout.
★ Favorite Blends
Ingredients and pairings for each are in the Herbs & Spices handout.
★ Finishing Salts
Staples Bryce keeps on hand, used sparingly to finish a dish after building flavor with herbs and spices. Flavor first, salt last.
★ Vinegars
A splash of vinegar brightens food and can stand in for some of the salt: flavor without the sodium.
★ Condiments & Hot Sauces
A little goes a long way. Several are salty or sweet, so add to taste. Salsa and hot sauce bring big flavor for very few calories.
★ Fresh Aromatics
The flavor base Bryce starts most savory dishes with: sautéed first, then build the dish on top.
★ Leafy Greens
Bryce keeps at least one of these on hand: the base for salads and an easy way to fill half the plate.
★ Fresh Vegetables
Roast, steam, or sauté: an easy way to fill half the plate with fiber and volume.
★ Fresh Fruit
Nature’s dessert: a satisfying sweet with fiber. Watch for seasonal fruit, which is usually at its best and on sale.
★ Frozen Fruit & Vegetables
Always on hand and just as nutritious: frozen fruit for smoothies (that Vitamix) and frozen vegetables for a quick side.
★ Starches & Whole Grains
The whole-food carb quarter of the plate: steady, satisfying fuel to build a meal around. (Old-fashioned oats are a whole grain, too.)
★ Pantry — Canned & Jarred
Shelf-stable building blocks for soups, stews, chilis, sauces, and marinades.
★ Cooking Oils
Everyday fats for cooking and finishing. A little goes a long way, so measure rather than pour.
★ Nuts, Seeds & Nut Butters
Unsaturated fats and fiber: a spoonful of nut butter or a handful of nuts adds staying power; chia and flax are easy add-ins for smoothies and oatmeal.
★ Natural Sweeteners
Used in small amounts to sweeten oatmeal, yogurt, dressings, and baking: a touch to finish, not the main event.
★ Baking Basics
The pantry basics for baking and thickening. Keep them stocked so a recipe never stalls.
★ Dairy
Used thoughtfully to enrich and finish a dish: small amounts add flavor and satisfaction.
★ Proteins
Reliable meal anchors. Drain ground beef well after browning; lean chicken breast keeps meals light; eggs work for breakfast, baking, and quick protein. For a special occasion, a good steak: ribeye or porterhouse when on sale, or the lesser-known Denver cut (more economical and very tasty).
★ Beverages
Everyday staples: cinnamon or a splash of milk dresses them up without added sugar.
★ Tools Bryce Reaches For Most
A handful of dependable tools is all most cooking takes. See the “How to Use Your NuStart Kitchen Tools” handout.
Put It to Work
Try This
Stock five or six of these staples this week and build one simple meal around them: an aromatic base, a lean protein, a whole-food carb, and a favorite seasoning to finish.
Wellness education, not medical advice. For questions about your health, medications, or a condition you manage, discuss it with your primary care provider.