Happy 2014! I hope your holidays were relaxing ... and delicious. After all the fabulous foods my colleagues and I indulged in over the holidays, we're ready to get a healthy start to 2014. Call it a "New Year, New You." The first item on our to-do list: Stocking a pantry that allows us to cook delicious, healthy meals. Extra virgin olive oil, of course, is our top pantry essential. We’ll also include: whole grains, like quinoa and whole-wheat flour; seeds, including flaxseeds and pumpkin seeds; plenty of fresh veggies and fruits; and more.To help you stock your pantry, we’ve compiled a checklist. It’s collected from several sources, including: Wellness Today, theKitchn, EatingWell, and Shape. You can also find healthy and delicious recipes in our January eNewsletter.Extra Virgin Olive Oil (for drizzling, salad dressing, cooking, baking, more)Grains

• Quinoa
• Brown Rice
• Whole-wheat and rye flours
• Whole-wheat pasta
• Whole rolled oats
• Pearl Barley

Legumes

• Great Northern, cannellini, kidney, or pinto beans
• Red, and/or green lentils
• Chickpeas

Vegetables

• Garlic
• Onions/shallots
• Tomatoes (though technically a fruit!)
• Carrots
• Brussels sprouts
• Broccoli
• Kale, Swiss chard, and other greens
• Lettuce
• Cucumbers
• Mushrooms
• Spinach
• Squash
• Potatoes and/or sweet potatoes

Fruits[caption id="attachment_7297" align="alignright" width="300"] Photo Courtesy of AvocadoDiva.com[/caption]

• Blueberries and other berries
• Bananas
• Avocados
• Apples
• Lemons
• Oranges

Other

• Canned tomatoes
• Almonds, walnuts, pistachios, and other nuts
• Flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, and other seeds
• Honey and agave nectar
• Eggs
• Raisins, cranberries, apricots, and other dried fruits
• Balsamic, red-wine, white-wine, apple cider, and other vinegars
• Dijon mustard
• Tamari soy sauce

Please let us know your healthy pantry essentials! In the meantime, here’s to a Happy, Delicious, and Healthy 2014.Bon appétit,California Olive Ranch Master Miller Bob Singletary