Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — Healthy eating habits start in the home kitchen. Suzy Bunker believes three simple pantry swaps can support your long-term health goals.
She explained that many people simply don't realize how their everyday pantry staples are impacting their health. She said that these pantry swaps are totally affordable and will help your family eat better.
"Our food isn't the same as it used to be," she said. "We're genetically modifying a lot of food and/or using pesticides and herbicides that are harming our insides… harming our microbiome."
Swap Traditional Flour for Organic or Alternative Flours
The first place Bunker said to look is the flour you use every day.
"Number one thing is if you can buy organic flour," she said. "We're gonna avoid those pesticides and herbicides. That's the main thing we're wanting to avoid with flour."
Even if you prefer traditional white flour, she recommended choosing an organic version when you can. She also noted that alternative options are growing in popularity.
"We have gluten-free flour as well as almond flour. There's lots of gluten-free alternatives that we can use now," she explained.
If you find you are experiencing digestive issues, she suggested experimenting.
"If you're having digestive discomfort... try going off gluten for a week or two and see how you feel," she said.
Rethink the Sugar in Your Pantry
Sugar is another ingredient Bunker said can use a swap.
"We start to age and that inflammation is a little harder," she noted.
One super simple switch is moving to organic.
"If we can even just get like an organic cane sugar," Bunker explained. "This cane sugar is actually better than a traditional sugar beet sugar.... Then we know that it doesn't contain those pesticides and herbicides."
There are some other sweetener options if you want to reduce blood sugar spikes.
"You can do coconut sugar or monk fruit sugar," she explained. "Monk fruit will have no effect on blood sugar."
She explained that honey, maple sugar and agave alternatives may be lower on the glycemic scale, but they will still give you a spike.
Choose Better Cooking Oils
Bunkers last pantry swap is cooking oils. While there are lots of choices available, she had three specific recommendations.
"Avocado oil, extra virgin olive oil, and coconut oil are my three go-tos."
For high-heat cooking, Bunker goes for avocado oil. For salads and finishing dishes, she recommended olive oil. Coconut oil works well in baked goods. One common challenge with healthier oils is the flavor. Some people are ok with the taste, while others don't want it in every recipe. When flavor neutrality matters, she said to use avocado oil.
"Olive oil is strong," she explained. "Avocado's really neutral... It'd be good."
For baked goods she noted that coconut oil can actually enhance the final product.
"Brownies with coconut oil are really good," she said.
_Find more healthy inspiration from Suzy Bunker on Instagram, @cook_healthy_with_suzy._
This story was adapted from a TV broadcast script using artificial intelligence. Every story, including those adapted with AI, is reviewed by a human editor before publication to ensure that KSL's editorial standards are upheld.
