I'm a Registered Dietitian — Here are 7 Plant-Based Staples You Should Add to Your Pantry
These delicious, sustainability-focused food brands are making a real impact.
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Plant-based products are everywhere right now, but not all of them are created equal. As a registered dietitian, I’m constantly evaluating the options from both a personal health and an environmental impact perspective. Some items don't live up to the marketing hype, but many are genuinely moving the needle toward a more sustainable future.
During Climate Week NYC, I attended PlanetHAUS by Planet FWD, an immersive experience that brought climate action to life inside everyday spaces like kitchens, bathrooms, and living rooms. It got me thinking more deeply about the small choices we make every day, especially in the kitchen, and how they can add up to big change for both our health and the planet.
With that in mind, I’m sharing a few pantry staples I rely on, plus some standout new products I discovered at the event. These brands make climate-conscious eating easier, without sacrificing function, convenience, or (critically) flavor.
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One of the coolest things I learned at PlanetHAUS was how brands are using real data to make meaningful changes, and Purely Elizabeth is a great example. Through lifecycle assessments, this Certified B Corporation (a credential that recognizes rigorous social, environmental, and ethical standards) discovered that the oats it sources produce 25 percent fewer emissions than the average oats grown in North America. I had no idea oats could vary so much in their environmental impact!
I’ve been a fan of the brand's granolas and oatmeals for years. They’re a regular in my pantry, and my kids love the cookie granola. Plus, Purely Elizabeth products have earned several Good Housekeeping Snack Awards over the past few years. Knowing the brand is making thoughtful choices behind the scenes just makes me feel even better about buying their products.
I’ve been using Frontier Co-op spices for a while now. The quality is top-notch, and I love that they’re not irradiated and instead use steam pasteurization (a more natural method that still ensures safety and purity of the products). Their Mexican Fiesta Seasoning is a pantry staple in my house, since it’s salt-free, super flavorful, and so versatile. But at PlanetHAUS, I learned something new: Frontier Co-op is taking things a step further with a Regenerative Organic Certified line.
What really stuck with me is how committed the brand is to building resilience in the communities along their supply chain, and regenerative agriculture is a key part of that mission.
I didn’t realize that Regenerative Organic Certified represents the highest standard in organic farming: It combines soil health, animal welfare, and fair labor practices all in one label. This allows me to shop with confidence, knowing my purchases support values I care about, from environmental impact to community well-being.
I already loved Patagonia Provisions' food for camping trips and everyday snacks (the brand's tinned fish is always in my pantry!), but I walked away from the event with a deeper appreciation for the company's mission.
Beyond making delicious, responsibly sourced products, Patagonia Provisions is actively working to fix what's broken in our food system. Through organic, regenerative, and responsible agricultural practices, it's showing what it looks like to use food as a tool for environmental change.
And on the more immediate side? These sourdough crackers are such an easy way to enjoy the benefits of fermented foods without the effort of making your own sourdough at home. I included them in our 2025 Good Housekeeping Nutrition Trends Report, because they truly deliver on flavor and function.
Another brand I was excited to see represented at PlanetHAUS was Thrive Market, mostly because it's already a go-to in my home. Thrive is an online, membership-based grocer founded with the mission to make healthy, sustainable living more accessible and affordable for everyone.
It’s a service I use regularly, and I included it in Good Housekeeping's list of the best grocery delivery services. One of the things I love most is that it offers products for the whole family, from pantry staples and snacks to healthier cleaning supplies and kids’ items.
The experience at PlanetHAUS reminded me just how intentional Thrive Market is with sourcing, packaging, and product standards, all while keeping things convenient. It’s an simple way to stock a more sustainable kitchen without having to run to five different stores.
I’m always on the lookout for the next buzzy beverage that’s actually good for you, and Just Ice Tea's canned tea definitely fits the bill. At the event, I sampled the ready-to-drink organic, Fair Trade teas perfectly chilled, and it was the ideal refreshing pick-me-up between sessions.
Founded by Seth Goldman, co-founder of Honest Tea, and celebrity chef Spike Mendelsohn, Just Ice Tea offers a variety of “Just Sweet Enough” and unsweetened options, all made with simple, recognizable ingredients and nothing artificial. It’s perfectly brewed, chef-crafted tea that’s full of flavor — exactly what I wanted as a refreshing and wholesome boost during a busy day.
Aloha bars have long been among my top-rated protein bars because they’re vegan and made with organic, high-quality ingredients and no artificial sweeteners. They actually taste great, which isn’t always the case with plant-based bars, and that's why they earned a spot in our Snack Awards. This plant-based protein company is on a mission to make delicious, nutritious food accessible to everyone.
As a Certified B Corp and Climate Neutral Certified brand, Aloha is serious about sustainability and committed to leaving the world better it found it. It’s a brand I feel good about supporting (and snacking on).
I hadn't tried Xocolatl's craft chocolate, and it brought me right back to a moment in Bali, where I first learned about raw cacao. Similar to wine grapes and coffee beans, cacao varieties can have beautifully distinct flavor profiles (fruity, nutty, earthy) depending on where and how they’re grown. Every step of the processing shapes the final taste, from the soil and climate to how the beans are fermented, roasted, and ground.
But these bars aren't just about flavor, they're about impact. By choosing craft chocolate, you're choosing a more ethical, sustainable cacao industry. Supporting small-batch, responsibly sourced chocolate can help slow deforestation and ensure better wages for cacao farmers around the world.
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