delicious grocery staples that make macros quick and easy
Here is a full rundown of delicious grocery staples that make counting macros quick and easy. These are all foods that I keep on hand that are 1) versatile and 2) delicious to not only me, but my family.
It took me MONTHS- almost a year- once I started counting macros to completely revamp my pantry and what I keep stocked. Finding foods we actually like the taste of, foods we actually eat, and foods that enable me to meet my macros everyday with ease, and satisfy any cravings.
All Items are linked for your convenience, and I can actually vouch for each recommended product because it is what I ACTUALLY buy and use regularly. Good luck and I hope you can find some products here that make your adventure to weight loss easier. My prayer is you spend spend less time mining the internet for recommendations one item at a time and more time on the pathway to achieving your goals!
dairy staples
Pasture raised eggs
As omelettes or fried eggs these are an absolute staple in our house.
lifeway full fat Kefir
So convenient to blend up with a banana and some protein powder for a quick breakfast or snack on the go. You can even use your stick blender to avoid taking out the “big” blender!
SKYR YOGURT
Skyr has higher protein than ‘normal’ greek yogurt. Perfect for a yogurt bowl with protein granola and fruit.
FRIENDSHIP 4% COTTAGE CHEESE
This is the only kind of cottage cheese I will eat! Perfect in a cottage cheese bowl with pecans and pineapple tidbits, with a little maple syrup.
Raw Milk
I can buy this local to me at the farm in my state. It’s the only milk worth drinking IMHO.
RAW SHARP CHEDDAR CHEESE
I grab Grazier’s brand from Azure Standard in bulk. It keeps well in the fridge and we grate it up for tacos, omelettes, burger bowls and snacks.
Grass Fed Butter
My 8 yo daughter balked at the “regular” butter I bought the other day. “Mommy, why didn’t you buy the grass fed butter? This butter is gross.” Well, I can’t disagree with her. It’s pale and tastes like nothing. When you aren’t eating much fat, you gotta make the fats you do eat count with delicious grass fed butter. I also like Truly butter if you can find it.
meat and poultry staples
Breakfast
Nitrate free Deli Ham
I love this with cheese in an omelette, or as a quick snack with cheese. Also you can fry some up with your fried eggs to up your protein for your breakfast. Just throw on for a few seconds to brown it a bit after your eggs cook.
Apple Chicken Sausage (and blueberry breakfast version!)
This is the only one I could find without natural flavors added, which ideally I like to avoid (It’s pretty hard when it comes to my “junk” foods). These were excellent with a goat cheese and spinach omelette, and we even had the blueberry ones as a side dish with our yogurt bowls, perfect for hitting 30 g protein for breakfast!
Nitrate free pork bacon
I’m so glad I can indulge in bacon still. The turkey bacon just doesn’t cut it for me. This worked great with some homemade bread, two fried eggs and some thinly sliced sharp cheese as an egg sandwich.
Applegate Chicken & Maple Breakfast Sausage Patties
I cook these up in the oven while I cook the other parts of our breakfast.
Lunch and Dinner
Boneless skinless chicken breast
I was resistant, but this is actually quite a cost effective and easy staple to have on hand. Whether its marinated in bbq sauce, balsamic vinegar and basil, or coated with ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, and an onion soup packet (Just 5 by McCormick is actually clean!), it’s always great, low calorie, high protein. Even sprinkled with garlic powder, paprika, and parsley, it’s just simple and something that will fill you up right.
Quick cook individually chicken breast (keep in the freezer)
Same thing, but you can only take out one and they are smaller (but one 30 g of protein serving) they cook in about 30 minutes in the oven from frozen. You pay more for this, but the convenience of when you need a quick meal, it’s worth it.
Bell and Evans Chicken Tenders
I was shocked the macros actually panned out with these. They can cook from frozen in less than 30 minutes and had decent ingredients and tasted great. Who thought I’d be able to eat chicken tenders again AND lose weight? I’m thrilled!
CENTER CUT PORK CHOPS
These defrost quickly from the freezer and make a great easy quick meal. With sauteed apples, coated with a McCormick Just 5 ranch packet, or a spicy pork chop spice blend, these can actually be nice enough to serve to guests. I brown in my cast iron pan, then throw on a sheet pan and finish in the oven. Less than 30 minutes.
PORK TENDERLOIN
These are definitely fancy enough to serve to guests. I marinate in lemon juice, Italian spices, and honey and then either throw on the grill or in the oven for about 30 minutes. You can also smother them in apple butter mixed with a little dijon mustard and cook on a sheet pan in the oven. Delicious and the prep is mindless.
FROZEN TUNA STEAKS
Want to eat like a Queen after you pull something out of your freezer? This is it. I marinate for even just 20 minutes in soy sauce, sesame oil, and honey, then quick sear for 30 seconds to 1 min on each side in a screaming hot cast iron skillet. These are excellent and super elegant. Serve with white rice and green beans or snap peas.
TOP ROUND ROAST CUT INTO STEAKS
These are the base for my favorite slow cooker meal. I brown both sides of the steaks in the instant pot on saute and then saute a sliced onion. I put in 2 cups of water that i’ve mixed 3 T of flour with 1 T of beef boullion and a McCormick Just 5 french onion packet. Slow cook on high for 4 hours. Serve with mashed yellow potatoes and corn.
BISON STEAKS
These are so lean and have amazing macros. They go on sale at my local store on a rotating basis. They aren’t very affordable but are super convenient and the flavor is awesome. A definite treat meal that will have you eating at home instead of the restaurant.
SIRLOIN STEAK
Steaks defrost quickly and don’t take up much space in the freezer. Also cook up quickly on the grill or your cast iron pan.
grass fed ground beef
We love this as burger bowls mostly. But sometimes tacos.
safecatch yellowfin CANNED TUNA
This tuna is healthier and higher protein than the alternatives. I don’t always buy it because of the price and I wish it came in the convenient big cans but it is excellent.
swanson CANNED CHICKEN
Apparently canned chicken is all about which brand you buy. I’ll put this with sharp cheese in between two tortillas to make an awesome quesadilla with salsa and skyr. I can eat about half and then feed half to my hubby.
GRAIN/CARBOHYDRATE STAPLES
BREAKFAST
STEEL CUT OATS
I boil these for about 5 minutes the night before then put the lid on and let it sit overnight. They cook up quickly with a little added water in the morning. Definitely need some fried eggs and sausage as well on the side. But super filling and you can eat a good amount for the calories.
AMARYNTH
This cooks up as a porridge quickly (30 minutes). This grain has the highest protein content. Has a unique taste but with a little added brown sugar, some fruit and nuts, it’s a great compliment to some eggs and sausage in the morning.
LUNCH AND DINNER
YELLOW POTATO
Mashed or diced and sprinkled with garlic powder, paprika, and parsley and roasted in the oven at 425 for about 30 minutes. Mix halfway through, and cut them on the smaller side. The base of our burger bowls or a tasty carb side for dinner or leftover for breakfast.
SWEET POTATO
So yummy with some grass fed butter and cinnamon. I should try these for breakfast too since they are so delicious.
tri color QUINOA
Quick cooking and delicious with butter. Different texture than rice which is a good change every once and a while.
WHITE RICE
Gotta have it for certain dishes.
SPROUTED BROWN RICE
This rice is amazing, you can get the health benefits of brown rice but with a reduced cooking time. There are some foods that this heartier grain goes better with than white rice.
WASA multigrain CRISPBREAD
When we have no carb prepared this is a quick shelf stable last forever food to grab for a side with your meal. I always put butter on mine.
MARY’S GONE CRACKERS superseed everything
I like to eat these with my tuna salad (sometimes mixed with cottage cheese) and some pickles. Great crunch.
VEGETABLE AND FRUIT STAPLES
BANANAS
Gotta have them for those smoothies. You can also squeeze a ripe one into your oatmeal, or slice as your fruit on top.
FROZEN MANGO
Love to eat these slightly defrosted as a dessert.
FROZEN BLUEBERRIES
Love to cook these down and eat over cottage cheese on top of pancakes.
FROZEN GREEN BEANS
Way easier than cutting up green beans!
FROZEN SNAP PEAS
So fresh and fun.
FROZEN ASPARAGUS
Cooks up quick and is super yummy. I usually eat roasted asparagus but liked this for a change.
FROZEN CORN
So sweet and yummy with beef dishes including pot roast.
CANNED TIDBIT PINEAPPLE
A staple for a cottage cheese bowl.
CANNED PUMPKIN
I mix this with vanilla protein and kefir and a little pumpkin pie spice for an excellent pumpkin spice smoothie. You can even use a stick blender instead of taking out the big blender.
KIMCHI
Great side dish for breakfast with any egg dish.
RAW SAUERKRAUT
I really love the garlic sauerkraut by this brand if you can find it!
LITTLE LEAF baby butter LETTUCE
Gotta keep salad ingredients on hand for a quick vegetable side at lunch or dinner.
TOMATO
For salad, burger bowls, or tacos
EUROPEAN CUCUMBER
For salad, easy side dish, and snacking.
APPLES OR ORANGES (DEPENDING ON SEASON)
Apples cut up in a cottage cheese bowl with cinnamon, pecans, and maple syrup is such a treat. I also cut the organic oranges from Azure in quarters and serve with our breakfast or as a snack. So refreshing and healthy in the winter.
SWEETS/EXTRAS STAPLES
BAREBELLS PROTEIN BARS – CHOCOLATE DOUGH
Definitely not a clean snack, but if you are low on protein and in a mood, these things taste like a candy bar. Which would be a junk food anyways right?
simply teras GRASS FED PROTEIN POWDER
I hate artificial sweeteners and even don’t like the taste of stevia but they did a good job with it in this protein. Smaller containers, smaller scoops, great taste.
DARK CHOCOLATE SEA SALT BROWNIE BRITTLE
I love to make mini ice cream “sandwiches” by putting a spoonful of ice cream between two of these.
KEMPS COOKIE DOUGH FROZEN YOGURT
Even though its not ice cream, this frozen yogurt tastes better than the MULTITUDE of cookie dough ice creams we’ve tried. Most of their flavors are excellent. Highly recommend.
dark MAPLE SYRUP
Dark maple syrup has more minerals and it is just so yummy.
CHOMPS TURKEY PEPPERONI JERKY STICKS
Great on the go clean protein source. Add some cheese and crackers to round it out.
unsalted PEPITAS
Have some Skyr as a dessert with some pumpkin butter and pepitas … you won’t even miss the ice cream.
chopped PECANS
Perfect add on for yogurt, oatmeal, or cottage cheese bowls
kind protein peanut butter protein granola
I personally prefer the almond but this granola is great and the only one I could find with good protein content that I could actually incorporate into my diet.
boulder canyon avocado oil potato chips
If you can find the malt vinegar and sea salt flavor… there is nothing like it!
delicious grocery staples can make all the difference
One of the hardest parts of counting macros was having no clue what to buy, eat, or pair it with. I hope this list sets you up for success with real products that taste great and that a real person can fit into their macros.
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