Pastas and grains are the workhorses of the pantry. There isn’t one of us who hasn’t come home and thrown together a quick pasta! I think that if my son didn’t have this option, he would definitely starve. Remember that the higher the quality, the more nutritious the pastas and grains will be. Pastas that are made in part from kelp and seaweed can add much-needed antioxidants to your dishes. When not available, a pasta made from durum wheat flour will cook perfectly al dente without getting soggy. You can add additional nutrition by trying whole wheat or even quinoa pasta. For grains, try heirloom grains; my favorites are quinoa, bulgar wheat, and barley. Cous cous is always a quick answer for the pantry as well – just remember that technically it’s a pasta and doesn’t hold the nutritional value of the grains!