Plan, Prep, and Create While You Spring Clean!

 The best part about spring is... cleaning and rearranging your kitchen and pantry! This is one of my favorite times of the year. I love to go through all of my spices, flours, and take note of what I have and don't have, plus toss any expired foods. We may have forgotten about that container of coconut flour that accidentally got shoved behind another product. Out of sight and out of mind, right?

1.  PLAN: Your first plan of action should be to DECLUTTER your refrigerator (including freezer), cabinets, and pantry. You need to take inventory of what you have. And purge items that you haven’t used in years! This will enable you to find items that could possibly help with meal prep or planning. You must be strategic.
2. PLAN: Decide how you want to tackle planning out your meals. Paper and pencil? Meal planner workbook? Word document? Notes on your iPhone
3. PLAN: Are you a coupon clipper? Search sales ad’s? Use a store app.?
4. PLAN: Do you want to plan for a few days or for the entire week?
5. PLAN: For success! The most important thing you can do to save time, money, and frustration is to MEAL PLAN. This decreases the temptation to add extra’s to the cart. There is no right or wrong way, you just need to develop a process.
6. PREPARE IN ADVANCE: Prepare breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinners in advance. This will greatly cut down on your food costs and on purchasing unhealthy snacks.
7. PREPARE: Pick a PREP and shopping day
8. PREPARE: Chop veggies for the week. Cook protein for the week .Make a frittata for breakfast the next few days. Hard Boil eggs for the week. Mix seasonings and store in an airtight container for the week. Make any sauces that will be used. Overnight oats are a good prep!
9. Create: Start creating easy weekday and weeknight meals!! You can store premade, or put together, in glass storage containers for the freezer!

Below is a good check off list to get you started on your kitchen clean out and restock!

Refrigerator Clean Out:

• Pull everything off shelves.
• Check expiration dates & toss items outdated or that you’re unsure of!
• Take inventory of staples & needs.
• Wipe off all shelves before restocking.

Freezer Clean Out:

• Pull everything off shelves/drawers.
• Toss any unmarked or frozen meats, unsure of items, etc.
• Take inventory of staples & needs.
• Wipe off all shelves/drawers before restocking.

Pantry Clean Out Part 1:

• Clean out spices, tossing outdated.
• Take inventory of spice needs.
• Clean out oils. Toss oils that are outdated.
• Clean out canned goods. Take inventory and donate any that you won’t use.
• Flours and sugars. Check dates & think of switching to healthier sugar sources such as honey or maple syrup.
• Check dates, toss or donate, and take inventory.
• Check dates on all pre-packaged foods and snacks. 

Pantry Clean Out Part 2:

• Pull everything off shelves.
• Wipe off all shelves.
• Restock products and designate areas for restocking new purchases.

Restock Pantry:

• Grocery shop with your inventory list for the pantry.
• Also take note of any "better choices" you could make upon restocking.

Storage Container Clean Out:

• Clean out all plastic storage containers looking for matching lids.
• Take inventory of any glass storage containers.
• Toss or donate any mismatched items or no longer needed items.

Baking Dishes, Pots & Pans:

• Take inventory of pots, pans, bakeware.
• Toss any rusted, worn, or broken pieces.
• Check for matching lids.
• Take inventory.
• Donate 

Utensils large and small:

• Purge broken utensils.
• Take inventory, donate unused.

Declutter Countertops:

• Remove all countertop items.
• Wipe down countertops.
• Check all small appliances on counter or in shelves. Do they still work?
• Wipe off all small appliances before replacing.
• Dontae or sell any not used or needed.
• Take inventory.

Clean out under sink:

• Remove all items.
• Take inventory of needs.
• Wipe out underneath.

Oven, Stove, and Microwave:

• Clean out inside of oven and microwave.
• Clean outsides.
• Wipe off stove top.

You will feel SO good knowing that everything is nice and tidy and you'll be prepared for the week with some easy make and prep ahead foods.