Refrigerator Staples

Just as it is important to stock your pantry with essential dry goods, it's also important to keep your fridge stocked with certain basics as well. Here are some items you should always strive to keep on hand:

• Butter: both in stick form for baking, but also spreadable if you are a big toast, bagel, or waffle person. Be sure you are using unsalted butter for baking and cooking so you know and control exactly how much salt is going into your meal or baked goods. If you get spreadable, look for an olive oil-butter blend.

• Bread: always good to have a loaf in the fridge and one in the freezer. Bread does really well in the freezer and I find it rarely gets moldy if stored in the fridge. I would also consider a package of tortillas, which can be used for breakfast burritos or help change up your sandwich routine. I always keep ours in the fridge to help them stay fresher longer and they easily get soft again with 5-10 seconds in the microwave.

• Jelly: make sure you've got peanut butter (or other nut butter) in the pantry for some low-cost, high protein lunches!

• Eggs

• Milk (don't forget to include half-and-half or flavored coffee creamers if you drink them)

• Mayonnaise

• Ketchup (or whatever condiment of choice you prefer). This could also include mustard, relish, honey mustard, bbq sauce, etc. You do you.

• Salad dressing, salsa, taco sauce. Again, you do you.

• Sandwich meat

• Cheese: both shredded and in slices.

• Frozen vegetables: Always go for fresh produce, but it's never a bad idea to have a bag or two of frozen veg (like broccoli florets or edamame) in the freezer for a quick and healthy side dish to your meal. Simply take whatever you need out of the bag, seal back up with a twist tie or put it in a baggie and toss what you don't need back in the freezer for another time.

• Other items to consider based on your usage: sour cream, yogurt, cream cheese, minced garlic, puff pastry sheets, bacon, juice, a package of fresh ravioli or tortellini.

Did you notice that fresh produce and meat didn't make this list? As nice and as yummy as they are to eat, I don't consider them staples. You may choose to add them to your "must-have" list, but I prefer to buy what I need for specific meals to help minimize waste. But, when you do get established and have space, watching the grocery ads for meat sales is a cost-effective way to buy at a larger size (i.e., 3-5 lbs of ground beef), bring it home, break it down into smaller sizes, put in freezer bags, and freeze. That works for all meat, though I find chicken can get really watery when it thaws, so just be prepared for that. Be sure to date and label your freezer bags with a permanent marker so you are eating the oldest food first.

Remember, any other food or condiments you use "all the time" and aren't mentioned above, should also be on your list. Use your refrigerator and pantry in tandem with one another so if you haven't gone to the store in awhile, you can open both and figure out something simple, cheap, and tasty to make.