If you're a baker, there's nothing worse than going to your pantry and finding rancid flour. When you open bags of flour at home, transfer the contents into an airtight container immediately. You can also store the flour in the freezer. According to the Wheat Foods Council, flour can last indefinitely if frozen. In the fridge, it can stay fresh for two years.

Conventional dairy milk can be loaded with synthetic hormones and antibiotics, so it makes sense to buy organic. Even though organic milk costs more, in the long run, it can actually save you money! It is sterilized at a higher temperature than regular milk -- 280 degrees Fahrenheit vs. 145 degrees Fahrenheit -- so the shelf life is around two months. That's double the shelf life of conventional dairy milk.

Quinoa has become a popular grain to use for healthy cooking, since it's high in protein and fiber. But there has been controversy regarding the ancient grain. Given its meteoric rise, prices have gone up, which may have forced families in poorer countries that grow quinoa -- like Peru -- deeper into poverty. To combat this, look for fair trade quinoa, which empowers farmers with increased wages, land ownership and access to things like technology and education.