The $20/$20 Challenge: Take a Peek Inside Chef Selena’s Pantry

I was so excited to see this email for the $20/$20 Challenge come through the inbox. I mean, we get to peak inside a real chef’s cabinets and fridge {you can check out Chef Selena’s website HERE or her food blog, Flavor Palate}. That is fascinating to me! Here is Selena’s story:

Hey Mavis!

I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get $20.00 sent to the food bank by just sending you some photos and a few details about my family and me. You are just full of really great ideas and I love that each move made is for the greater good!

I am married with two young girls, ages 9 and 6. We are pretty healthy eaters in my family, we stick to the basic diet of protein, starch and vegetables or fruit. I try not to overload the plates and I also try to cut back on the meat and dairy a few times a week. As you know having children and keeping them happy in the kitchen department is a challenge in itself.

Luckily my girls are both very visual people, they like things that are pleasing to the eye. This works well for me because I too have a touch of OCD. So the use of clear containers and clear spice jars and well as clear plastic tubs to store food is helpful in knowing what you have on hand and at the same time is easy on the eyes.

One may think that having a chef as a mom means gourmet cuisine every night. Well I’m here to tell you that is not true. Chefs are people too, and most chefs didn’t grow up eating gourmet food, plus who can afford it?

If I had to categorize my family I would say that we are health concise and enjoy trying new things. We eat a good variety of fruits vegetables both store bought and home grown. We balance our diet with lean meats and complex carbohydrates and we all drink a lot of water.

Here are a few photos of my kitchen cabinets and a few of the extra storage we have for food because I have the smallest kitchen on the face of the earth. Again almost everything is visible and that is done on purpose. I want to know what ingredients I have to work with, not have them hidden only to find years later, expired or worse.

Selena

Are you getting your pantries camera ready? You can participate in the $20/$20 Challenge by simply sending in pictures of your pantry. Find out more about the $20/$20 Challenge: Show Your Pantry – Fill a Pantry!