How To Stock a Healthier Kitchen in 2026

This is Starter Kit, a series where our editors share the food, drink, and kitchen essentials they recommend when you’re setting up from scratch. Here, Andrea Strong writes about everything you’ll need to stock your kitchen—from protein shakes and prebiotic sodas to air fryers and greens powders—for your healthiest year yet.

If you’re coming into 2026 off a particularly decadent December or just feel the need to lean into wellness and self-care at the start of the new year, you’re not alone. But good intentions are only part of the way forward; you’ll need a plan. The world of wellness is wide and wonderful, but it can also be overwhelming. You may want to start each day with a protein shake, a revitalizing smoothie, or a probiotic soda, but which ones are really going to deliver the benefits you need? What kind of greens powders are best, and what exactly is an electrolyte powder? What are the best pantry staples for ushering in healthy snacking habits? That’s where we come in.

Our starter kit cuts through the clutter and delivers (and defines) everything you’ll need—drinks and supplements, meals and snacks, appliances, tools, and accessories—to begin again.

Drinks

There is no shortage of options in the beverage category to get you started on your way to a healthy lifestyle—with a slew of brands delivering revitalizing doses of protein, antioxidants, prebiotics, and wellness boosts in shakes, teas, tonics, sodas, and more.

A good option for kicking off your morning (or reviving an afternoon lull) is matcha; the “it” beverage loaded with antioxidants and L-Theanine, an amino acid thought to promote relaxation and jitter-free, sustained energy. The highest quality matcha comes from Japan, like Rocky’s Matcha Oishi Ceremonial Blend, where it is at the center of traditional practices like chado (tea ceremony).

Coffee is also entering the functional beverage space, adding adaptogens and supplements that should absolutely be part of your wellness arsenal. A favorite to consider is Atlas’s supplemented instant coffee, which goes beyond just mushrooms to include prebiotics, probiotics, collagen, and vitamins. The coffee is creamy and cocoa-like, with about half the caffeine punch of a regular cup of coffee. At night, reach for a latte loaded with adaptogens, passionflower and hops (an herbal sleep blend), and magnesium glycinate, ideal for longer, lovelier rest.

Protein is another powerful way to keep your energy sustained throughout the day, and the latest innovation in this category means many are now formulated as grab-and-go bottled protein shakes, making them not only good-for-you but convenient tagalongs for your in-and-out of the gym activities. While protein shakes have traditionally been saddled with a reputation for tasting rather chalky and unpleasant, new brands are changing the optics, delivering surprisingly tasty options; be sure to check out Fairlife Core Power Elite with an impressive 42 grams of protein and Rebbl Protein Shakes, made vegan with coconut milk and up to 36 grams of protein.

Swapping soda or seltzer for a prebiotic or probiotic soda is a great way to incorporate gut health into your wellness plan. While both prebiotics and probiotics focus on digestion and gut health, they are actually two different things that work in two different ways. Prebiotics feed good gut bacteria, while probiotics are the actual living, beneficial microorganisms (like bacteria and yeast), which add to the healthy microbial population in your gut.

We’ve got recommendations for both categories; in the prebiotic space, Olipop’s sodas are packed with nine grams of prebiotic fiber per can—with nearly two dozen fun flavors in both classic soda flavors like Vintage Cola and Root Beer, and fruit-forward options like Strawberry Vanilla and Watermelon Lime, making these a nice option for Dry January as well. If you’re looking for a probiotic dose, go with Culture Pop, made with DE11, a clinically tested strain of Bacillus subtilis known for its resilience in the digestive system, that’s sweetened solely with fruit juice, in flavors like Strawberry & Rhubarb and Ginger Lemon & Turmeric.

Another category to consider adding to your wellness pantry is tonics, highly concentrated shots of goodness stocked with superfoods. Depending on what your body’s craving, you might choose one that offers a quick detox (Dose for your liver), to a midday energy boost (Vive Organic’s Energy + Focus passionfruit shot), an immunity kick (Uncle Matt’s Ultimate Defense shot), or a dose of your greens (Factor’s Daily Greens).

Healthy snacks

The munchies can sideline even the most dedicated wellness warriors among us, so it’s handy to stock your pantry with a variety of better-for-you snacks that nourish—protein chips, seed crackers, jerky sticks, dried fruit, and protein bars. If you’re someone who cannot resist the call to salt and crunch, you’ll want to load up on Wilde high-protein chips, made not from potatoes, but from chicken breast, egg whites, and bone broth. Thin and crispy and packed with 10 grams of protein per serving, they come in a variety of flavors like barbecue, chicken and waffle and salt and vinegar, ideal for the most discerning snacker.

Ella’s Flats seed crackers, founded by a mom looking for healthier snacks for her kids, are naturally full of protein, fiber, vitamins, and healthy fats, plus they naturally help balance blood sugar. She’s created a savory line that includes Everything, Spicy and Sesame and a sweet line made with dates, perfect for when you want a little treat.

Protein bars are easy to stash in a pocket or a backpack, ideal to reach for when you’re feeling hangry and want something to fill you up without empty calories. The key is to reach for ones that are not loaded up with sugar; enter RX, a clean protein bar made from egg whites, dates, and nuts that pack in 12-18 grams of protein per bar in appealing recipes like chocolate sea salt, peanut butter, coconut chocolate, blueberry, and more. Aloha bars are plant-based and loaded up with 10g of fiber and an impressive 14 grams of protein in flavors that sound decidedly decadent: pumpkin spice, banana bread, and oatmeal chocolate chip.

If you’re okay with meat, you’ll want to stock up on some form of jerky; it’s come a long way from the days of shrink-wrapped logs of mystery meat. Chomps, for instance, is made from grass-fed and finished beef, delivering 10 grams of satisfying protein and zero sugar. The company makes several flavors in beef, venison and turkey recipes—taco-seasoned, jalapeno, habanero and smoky barbecue, giving you a big bang of flavor.

If you’re a snacker looking for something sweet, dried fruit is your friend. While it used to be a vehicle for sugar, that’s not the case anymore. Smart brands like Amazi have revolutionized the fruit snack space—dehydrating everything from pineapple to jackfruit and plantains.

Meal & grocery delivery

Cooking elaborate healthy meals is one of those aspirational goals that lives in a world where time is infinite. Sadly, time is quite finite. Which is where meal and grocery delivery services come in: The best ones make cooking healthy meals seamless, stress-free, and fun without time-consuming menu planning and multiple trips to the grocery store. As a bonus, they can also introduce you to new techniques, ingredients, or hacks that’ll inform your approaches to home cooking more broadly.

Our favorite meal delivery services offer something more than just take-out, they are grounded in community and culture. Take CookUnity for example, where celebrated chefs from around the country—Akhtar Nawab, Andres Mendez, Fabiola Rivera—and more, are tapped for at home meals prepared according to your preferences. The site includes choices like GLP-1, vegan, low-calorie, Mediterranean diet, Asian, pescatarian, gluten-free vegetarian and more.

Purple Carrot is another terrific option offering chef-crafted, globally-inspired plant-based meals—peanut tofu ramen, tacos dorados, and Korean fried “chicken”—delivered weekly. The team at Green Chef also own Hello Fresh, but this service offers (mostly) organic, seasonal produce, with an emphasis on lean (sustainably sourced) protein, whole grains, whole fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, and low to no-added sugars. It’s the kit to try if buying organic is important to you, and/or if you want to incorporate recipes that meet the criteria for certain diets (keto, Mediterranean, high-protein, etc.).

Hungryroot is more of a grocery delivery service than a meal kit service, but if you choose to add “recipes” to your weekly order, your box will include a recipe card with suggestions for how to easily combine some of the provided ingredients into quick-and-easy meals like Kevin’s Bulgogi Beef with Broccoli, and almond chickpea cookie dough.

Sakara is the best option for health heads with allergies and sensitivities; it specializes in plant-based, gluten-free prepared meals that prioritize nutrient-rich foods. The brand truly is all about wellness, and their Signature Nutrition Program allows you to choose between three or five days of breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, or just lunches and dinners, a sure-fire way into wellness.

Thrive Market is not in the meal delivery service business yet, but it’s an oasis for online shoppers searching for a one-stop marketplace that offers truly anything and everything you need to launch your inner wellness warrior—healthy snacks, probiotic sodas, farm-fresh produce, pastured meats, and more.

Pantry staples

A well-stocked pantry is key for wellness planning; you’ll want to make sure you have low-lift array of quick and easy products—boxed, canned, tinned, what have you —to turn into a healthy meal or a nourishing snack, saving you from a greasy night of takeout or the effort of a full-blown meal.

Before you roll your eyes, let us say that boxed mac and cheese is not just for toddlers; these days high-protein options like the mac from Goodles are both nutritious and far more palatable than the chalk-dusted varieties of days gone by. Goodles noodles are made from a mix of wheat flour, chickpea protein, and wheat protein, plus a whole bunch of vitamins extracted from various veggies. There are several different varieties, but the Shella Good is a great blank canvas for a fast weeknight meal– add in some frozen broccoli or peas into the boiling water during the last few minutes of cooking and some freshly ground black pepper to take it up a notch.

Fiber-packed beans are great for your heart (you know the rest of that rhyme) and thanks to Heyday’s preseasoned canned beans—a no-brainer for a can-to-plate dinner with brown rice. They’re built from intensely flavorful ingredients like lemongrass, galangal, guajillo chile peppers, kimchi (yes, actual kimchi), and gochujang——think coconut curry chickpeas and enchilada style black beans.

Cereal for dinner is probably not the best idea you grew up on Captain Crunch and Fruity Pebbles, but with a raft of new brands labeled “protein” “high fiber” and “grain-free,” you’re okay to turn your morning bowl into your dinner. We’re particularly fond of Magic Spoon, which packs 14 grams of protein into every keto-friendly, gluten-free, grain-free, soy-free, wheat-free bite, in flavors like Fruity, Cinnamon Toast, Frosted Cereal, and Blueberry Muffin. Seven Sundays is another favorite, offering a few different cereal product lines, including Little Crispies and the more protein-forward Sunflower Cereal and Oat Protein Cereals, all of which are sweetened with refined sugar-free options like maple syrup, dates, or wildflower honey.

Another essential for your pantry is a good bone broth; we love the Chicken Bone Broth from Epic Foods. With this on hand, a ramen or bowl of noodles gets next level richness thanks to a gelatine-rich base that is almost creamy. The flavor is a straight pile-driver of savory chicken, good enough to drink on its own.

The final key to your wellness pantry is tinned fish. Canned tuna may not excite you, but the line of tinned smoked fish from Fishwife is a game-changer for tossing in salads, tucking into sandwiches, or just snacking on, straight out of the tin with a pile of crackers. Protein rich and high in good cholesterol, their tinned beauties (the packaging is nice enough to keep on display long after the fish is devoured) include smoked rainbow trout, Atlantic salmon, albacore tuna, and Cantabrian anchovy fillets, but the smoked salmon with Fly By Jing chili crisp is a showstopper; pro-tip: if you have nori, cucumber or scallion on hand, use it to make little hand rolls).

Supplements

Stroll down the supplement aisle in your local Whole Foods and it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer number of gummies, powders, potions promising to change your life in a scoop or two. There is a lot of noise to cut through in this space. If you’re looking for a gummy to deliver nutrition, the top of the line is Grüns. These work like a greens powder, but are easier to grab on the go thanks to their single-serving pouches. Vitamin-rich, made from fruits and vegetables like kale, spinach, spirulina, strawberries, each eight-gummy pack contains 100% of your daily recommended value of vitamins A, C, D, and E, folate, biotin, and doses of iron, zinc, and other nutrients.

While gummies are great for on-the-go convenience, greens powders are an excellent way to pack in all the good stuff—vitamins, antioxidants, adaptogens— into one tall glass of water. If you’re not into the strong taste of grass, Live it Up’s Super Greens may be the powder for you—especially if you’re a fan of sweetened peppermint tea. AG1 is also a top contender in this space, a powerful and nutritionally dense powder with 75 vitamins, minerals, and food-derived nutrients per serving, though the slightly grainy texture is not for everyone.

Protein is an essential nutrient that plays a number of important roles in the body, including supporting muscle growth and maintenance and aiding in recovery after exercise, so it’s no surprise that protein powders should be an essential part of your wellness journey. There are a number of whey protein varieties—but our favorites are Factor Form and Thorne Whey Protein Powder; if you’re looking for a vegan powder try Form Pureblend Protein, made with a mix of pea, brown rice, and pumpkin protein.

Finally, hydration and balance are important, particularly for those of us who like to have a good sweaty workout. Electrolyte powders help with the fluid balance in our bodies, replacing lost sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and chloride, making sure your body stays in sync after a strenuous workout. If you’re a longtime Gatorade devotee looking for an alternative that may be better suited to the average active person, the doctor-developed electrolyte packets from DripDrop should be in your arsenal. With seven grams of added sugar and a more modest amount of sodium than some of the other options on this list, they’re an ideal pick for anyone who’s exerting themselves to a decent extent, but not at the intensity level and duration of a pro athlete. They’re also tasty–sweet but not overly so, incredibly refreshing to down post-workout, and available in 13 different flavors.

Appliances, tools & accessories

Now that you’ve got a pantry properly stocked with a roster of powders, broths, tonics, and supplements, a few home appliances and cooking tools are key to bringing it all home. First, consider an air fryer if you have the counter space which can deliver crispy results without the deep dive into oil. A favorite in our text kitchen is the 6-Quart Cosori Turboblaze Smart Air Fryer which produces evenly browned and crispy fries, alongside juicy chicken breasts, and perfectly cooked Brussels sprouts.

If you like to make your own juice, don’t be deterred. We know juicers have a reputation for being messy, bulky, and more trouble than they’re worth, but the best juicers available today tell a different story. Modern machines have made big strides in design and efficiency, and juicing at home has never been simpler. A staff fave is the super quiet super powerful Nama J2 Cold Press Juicer. And while a nut milk maker might seem like overkill, machines like the Nama M1 Plant-Based Milk Maker. are surprisingly simple; they not only save money on buying carton after carton of alt-milk, but also allow you to choose exactly what does (and does not) go into your morning milk.

A good blender, or smaller personal blender, is key if you’re planning to make protein shakes and breakfast smoothies. While older models struggled to get the job done, today’s crop of blenders—like the high-powered Vitamix 5200 blender—make velvety soups, the best-tasting smoothies, and pulverize solid ingredients without overheating.

If you’ve got the space, a few other options to add to your home appliance repertoire are an ice cream maker for whipping up a batch of protein ice cream, a matcha set, and a nice milk frother, for lattes and such.