Keeping the food storage center organized can help stamp out mealtime stress. When you know what you have on hand, you can streamline food preparation, eliminate over buying and reduce your trips to the supermarket. The following tips can help you organize and perhaps improve the healthfulness of your food supply.

Perk Up the Pantry
Pantry and non-perishable food storage centers often need the most organization. Use this step-by-step guide to give your pantry a makeover.

Store and Organize:
1. Arrange foods so that you can see them. Keeping your food inventory in plain sight can help you make shopping lists, put groceries away efficiently and find items faster.

2. Designate storage space and group similar foods together. Stack canned vegetables, fruits, soups, meat and fish grouped by category. Place boxed food items, such as pasta and cereal, as well as cookbooks on shelves with names facing outward for easy reading.

3. Save space. Install a door or wall rack for cans and bottles. Use tiered shelf risers so you can see the back row of cans, herbs and spices as easily as those in the front.

4. Use bins, baskets and drawers. Place flour, sugar and other bagged items into airtight storage bins making it easy to stack them and keep them fresh longer. Baskets also can keep bags together especially for storing items that don’t need to be refrigerated, such as potatoes and onions. Sliding mesh drawer units can keep packets of hot chocolate, dip mixes and tea bags organized and easy to grab.

5. Make it easy for your family to help. Label shelves and drawers to show where food is stored so your family can easily help with meal prep and putting away groceries.

Shelving Solutions
Eye-Level Shelves: Store the foods you use most often here.

Lower Shelves: Store heavy containers (flour, dog bones), paper plates, napkins, plastic bags, self-serve snacks for the kids (e.g., cereal, rice cakes) here.

Higher Shelves: Place snacks that require parental approval (e.g., candy, cookies) and foods that are used less often here. Keep foods from getting lost by storing them in bins and posting a list of those items so you know what you have on hand.

Not sure what to stock on the pantry shelves?
The Perfect Pantry Checklist shares all the must-have items for quick wholesome cooking. 


*Above copy adapted from “Development of a Self-Directed Home Kitchen Makeover for Mothers of Young Children,” The Forum for Family and Consumer Issues, by C. Byrd-Bredbenner and J.M. Abbot, 2009.