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6 easy foods to DIY

A hand pours a homemade vinaigrette onto a bowl of salad.

March 30, 2026—Salt and sugar have a sneaky way of hiding in our diets. They're not just in the saltshaker or candy dish. They're also lurking in store-bought pantry staples like condiments, cereal and pasta sauce.

Here are six staple foods that are worth the effort to make at home:

1. Salad dressing

A bowl of naked vegetables can be a snooze, but popular bottled dressings often contain a surprising amount of sodium, warns the American Heart Association (AHA).

DIY: For a quick customizable version, whisk olive oil with an acid like vinegar or lemon juice, plus mustard or other ingredients to taste.

2. Mayonnaise

This high-calorie topping contains a lot of saturated fat. But fat-free versions are typically higher in sodium, sugar and other additives, reports the National Kidney Foundation (NKF).

DIY: Experiment by blending your own mayo at home so that you know exactly what goes into it. You can cut calories and saturated fat by mixing your mayo with Greek yogurt in a 50-50 split, says the AHA.

What's even better? Swap out the mayo entirely. Greek yogurt with salt-free seasoning (like cayenne pepper) makes a flavorful replacement, says the NKF. Sliced avocados or homemade guacamole make for tasty toppings on sandwiches and burgers—and they're a great source of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats.

3. Breakfast cereals

Packaged cereals, pastries and other commercial breakfast foods can be a colorful start to the day. They're also often loaded with added sugars, which can contribute to weight problems, diabetes, inflammation and a range of chronic conditions, according to the Arthritis Foundation.

DIY: This overnight oatmeal keeps you fueled all morning—and the added fruit gives your day a naturally sweet start. Batch-prep and freeze individual portions to make your homemade oatmeal as convenient as the boxed stuff.

4. Hummus

Hummus makes a delicious dip or sandwich spread. If you have a food processor, this five-ingredient blend of chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, lemon juice and garlic is magical in its simplicity. And making it yourself from pantry staples bought in bulk might help you save some money at the store.

DIY: Start simple with our crowd-pleasing hummus recipe. Then experiment with your own added flavors—savory or sweet.

5. Peanut butter

Protein-packed and rich in nutrients, peanut butter is ideal for healthy on-the-go snacking. But store-bought peanut butter is often high in sugar and salt—and it can be pricy. If you have a food processor or a high-powered blender, try making a batch at home to save.

DIY: Process peanuts at high speed as they go from whole to crushed to creamy. Add salt, honey or other flavors to taste.

6. Pasta sauce

Although processed marinara sauce may not taste overly sweet, some brands contain 7 grams of sugar per ½ cup to make up for subpar tomatoes, according to the NKF.

DIY: You can whip up a much tastier and heathier version in about 30 minutes with high-quality, whole, canned tomatoes; olive oil; garlic; and (optional) basil. Let it simmer as you adjust the flavor to taste.

Make what you need, when you need it

Because homemade versions of these foods don't include preservatives, they often have a much shorter shelf life than their packaged counterparts. So, unless you plan to freeze it, only make the amount you need for a few days.

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