Couscous is EASY and always a staple in our pantry. You can put all kind of veggies in it, too. Other things always on hand: wholegrain pasta (you can throw whatever's on hand in that with some Parmesan & ground pepper, and it's a meal), soups, canned tomatoes & tomato sauce, Hamburger (buy the meat, make up patties, wrap them and put them into a ziploc & freeze to be used whenever), boneless, skinless chicken breasts (same-separate, wrap, ziploc, freeze), prepared pizza shells in the 'fridge (can be topped with any veggies, meat, cheese & spices on a moments notice), eggs (anyone can make an omelet & it's not just for breakfast!), cheddar cheese & parmesan cheese, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, onions, green beans (and other veggies, but these keep a little longer), whole grain bread, oats (to be used as oats, as well as added to ground beef for meatloaf), chicken broth...and of course, salt, pepper, garlic, butter, vegetable oil, vinegar, basic italian dressing (the universal marinade). That's all I can think of at the moment. Good luck!