Spring Cleaning: Pantry Edition

By: Carolyn Alecia Negley, MS, RDN

If, like me, this warm weather has you itching to declutter and simplify your life, read on for tips and tricks to clean out your pantry.

An organized pantry can help streamline nourishing yourself and your family.

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1. If you have a few hours to spare, a good place to start is to put all of your dry food on a clean counter so you can get a good look at the big picture. Go ahead and grab a piece of paper so you can make a grocery list if needed. Maybe snap a before picture because you’re going to want to brag to your friends about how organized you’re getting.

2. To toss or not to toss? The USDA FoodKeeper App is a great resource if you’re concerned with food safety. This is also a good time to taste test opened boxes and bags of crackers, chips, and cereal to see if they’re still enjoyable. Sometimes opened food goes stale before the food officially expires.

3. Donate if you can. Sometimes we buy a lot of one item because the price is right but then we end up not liking it. If the food doesn’t spark joy and isn’t opened, consider donating it to a local community pantry.

4. Consolidate, consolidate, consolidate! This is your chance to combine those half-used tubs of corn starch, baking powder, vanilla extracts, and other foods you accidentally buy too many of because you forget what’s in your pantry.

5. Group like items together. In my pantry, I have a baking section, a breakfast section, a snack section, and the rest of my goods are organized by what is often used together. Where each section lives in my pantry is dictated by frequency of use. Often it makes sense to have breakfast and snack foods most accessible with baking items tucked towards the back.

6. Get organized! Consider if smaller items can be put in a labeled bin (old packaging boxes work great if you’re on a budget). This is also a good time to put bulk products like popcorn and rice into clean jars you might have saved up for a moment just like this.

7. Assess your needs. You may have noticed that you’re out of foods you frequently eat. Go ahead and add them to your grocery list!

8. Find a place for everything. Now it’s time to put it all back in. Go ahead and wipe down your cupboard or pantry before stocking those shelves. Hopefully, everything fits beautifully now. If things still feel cramped, consider if it may be appropriate to have another long-term storage space in your garage or basement if you have a large quantity of canned or jarred goods. Don’t forget to take your after picture!

9. Take a few moments to relax. You just made a lot of little decisions in a short amount of time. That can feel a bit overwhelming mentally, physically, and emotionally. Give yourself a pat on the back.

   
   

   You might be wondering what’s in our pantries as dietitians? Here’s a quick peek:

   
   

   • Our favorite grains like oats, rice, and pasta – whole grain versions of these are great, but it’s important to buy what you like.

   • Beans and lentils for quick protein and fiber.

   • Prepared sauces (marinara, curry, etc.) and soups because we don’t have hours to cook every single night.

   • Canned fruit and apple sauce – they’re always in season!

   • Popcorn, granola bars, and whatever snacky foods strike our fancy.

   • Nut butter of choice.

   • Evaporated milk or shelf-stable milk for when we accidentally run out of fridge milk but still need our morning coffee.

   
   

There can be a lot of mental, emotional and time barriers to nourishing ourselves. Having an organized pantry helps reduce our daily mental load and makes planning easier for everyday meals. I hope this helps you on your food journey.