Tips for Saving Money, Keeping Your Pantry Organized, and reducing your environmental footprint.
I love being an organizer, but over the last few years, I have learned that I can address much bigger issues and keep homes organized. I am always on at my husband for using all the parts of the chicken and to not throw out food in an effort to reduce food waste. I have started to make chicken broth from our leftover chicken carcass and vegetable cut-offs; it just makes me feel so good knowing I am not wasting healthy, nutritious food. I am not saying we are perfect because we have a long way to go, but I do try.
Did you know that according to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, 30% to 40% of food in the United States is wasted? It's not just a financial issue, but also an environmental one. By making a few changes, you could save $1500 per year by eliminating some of our food waste. That's a significant amount of money, but it's also a significant reduction in our environmental footprint.
Now, I know you're thinking, what does this have to do with keeping your pantry organized? Well, here it is.
Keeping your pantry organized and full of food items you will eat and finish has so many benefits. So here is how you can do it:
PLAN YOUR WEEKLY MEALS
Taco Tuesday, Meatless Monday, Salad Sunday—you get it. Not worrying about what you're having for dinner every night makes cooking much more fun. Create a grocery list of the ingredients you need and stick to it. It's okay to buy one pumpkin-related snack, but don't overbuy. That's how you end up with tons of things in your pantry that you don't eat. You will also save money and chaos this way.
We make a little extra at dinner so I can take leftovers for my lunch the next day. My clients are always impressed with my husbands cooking. If we make too much, I will freeze smaller portions for my son to have for his dinner so I try to plan that in when I am planning my meals for the week.
TOP TIP FOR WEEKLY MEALS: Start a new note on your phone to keep track of successful meals. It will make meal planning easier as you won't have to think of new options every week.
2. SHOP YOUR OWN PANTRY!
Before you grocery shop, take inventory of the food you already have. Can you use something from your pantry instead of buying something new? Do you have leftovers in your fridge that you can use for dinner one night? I try to pantry shop for one meal a week. This is also a great way to start working through your pantry if it is overflowing and getting hard to manage. This is one of the first steps I tell all my clients to take before I arrive to organize their pantry. Get creative!
TOP TIP FOR PANTRY SHOPPING: Head to Supercook, type in the ingredient you're struggling to use, and it will generate awesome recipes for you to try.
3. HAVE APPROPRIATE-SIZED CONTAINERS FOR EACH FOOD CATEGORY.
I love these bins. They are big enough that you can have enough of each food, but once they overflow, you should know that you need to start eating some of that food. Don’t just stick it in a different bin, do something about it.
Be realistic with the size; if you have three kids, you're going to have way more snacks than a smaller household, so choose a larger bin. If you are a two-person household, you could split a bin for snacks and chocolate or pasta and rice because you don't consume as much. Use the container as a guideline for how much food you have on had.
TOP TIP FOR CONTAINERS: Use lazy susans in the corners of your pantry to hold condiments, most used breakfast items, and vitamins.
4. GIVE AWAY WHAT YOU ARE NOT USING BEFORE IT GOES BAD.
Don't let food build up in your pantry; that's how it became chaotic in the first place.
If you buy something and you try it and don't like it, give it to someone else to try. If you buy a box of waffles and your son eats one and declares they are not for him, give it to your friend. Post it on your local mum group.
Donate the items that are not being eaten to a food shelter, give them to your local church, or post them on a buy-nothing group. Just don't let them sit for months in your pantry. If you're local to Denver, donate to Bienvenidos food bank; they have drop off locations all over town.
Even better, don’t buy the bag of 25 before you know you love them. Control the urge to buy unnecessary items every week. I give myself a limit of 1 fun item a week if I have to. That way, the thing I thought I wanted last week, I tend not to like this week. AND DO NOT GO SHOPPING HUNGRY!
TOP TIP FOR SPICES: Don't buy the jar or dill weed you'll use only once. Go to the bulk section in your grocery store and buy what you need for the recipe.
Overbuying leads to overflowing pantries, which frustrates us. By not overbuying, consuming what we have, and wasting less, you not only give yourself peace of mind but also save money and the environment.