I don’t know about y’all, but when I finally take a minute to fix something to eat, I am already starving! The only way that I am going to make smart and healthy choices at that point, is to have a well stocked fridge. The trick is that it has to be arranged in a way that you can see the fresh and prepped items that are ready to go. So without further ado, let’s break down the task of getting your fridge organized.
Meal Planning: So I feel like you have to have some sort of plan in mind if you are going to succeed. I have mentioned before that I am focusing on our finances in 2019 so that means having a budget for weekly grocery trips. If I don’t have an idea of what we are going to need for the week, there is no way I will be able to stick to that budget. Just like you should NEVER go to the store on an empty stomach! LOL!
Food Prep: The next step once you return from the store is to make sure that you prep everything out. I don’t always do this right away. I usually will have an hour or so to put everything away and start prep. Then I will take Sunday evening to prep most items so that they are ready to cook. Some people even prepare all of their meals for the week in one day. That would take WAY too much time for me. I take my sweet time in the kitchen and dirty every pot and pan I own. It would be a disaster area! I am getting better about cleaning as I go (new dishwasher is a game changer) and having prepped and portioned produce is a huge part of that!
What my meal planning week looks like:
- Thursday: Our trash day is Friday morning so I will clean out our fridge of anything that needs to go and will also do a light cleaning while I am at it. Tip: This is also the night that we eat any leftovers that are still in the fridge from last Friday-Wednesday.
- Friday: Take a look at the week ahead and write down any meals that I have spotted on Pinterest throughout the week or cookbooks I want to peek through. I also like to ask my husband if there is anything he has been craving.
- Saturday: Write out a weekly plan for meals and create a grocery list. I like to keep a running list of our pantry staples and as soon as we need more of something, it goes on my grocery list for the next week. That way, if I see it used in a recipe, I know I have it and don’t have to take the time to check and make sure we have enough.
- Sunday: Shopping Day!! I take my list and head to the store with a plan of attack right when they open. I can get in and out so quickly and then I have the rest of the day to play or prep!
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Tools for a organized fridge: So I like pretty things. I know this about myself and there is just no way around it. I am a sucker for packaging! It has nothing to do with it being Insta or Pinterest worthy. It honestly brings me joy (thank you Marie Kondo) to see healthy, fresh food on display in my fridge. Then of course I want to choose those beautiful items when making meals or snacks. Some of the items listed below are not a must, but I love how they work in my fridge. Others are really inexpensive and you probably already have some lying around.
Tools:
- Mason Jars: Such an obvious choice. These kitchen powerhouse jars are used for so many things in our home. From storing sauces, dry goods, fresh juices, drinking glasses, pickled and canned veggies to jams. They do it all! And who can resist the beauty of a Weck jar?!
- Glass containers: There are so many types of these. The ones we have the most of are from Ikea so you don’t have to break the bank to use glass instead of plastic.
- Fruit and Veggie containers: These are not a must for everyone, but they make a huge difference for me. It prompts me to wash and prepare all produce and it keeps them fresh for so much longer.
- Bins: These are another added bonus but really help me keep items organized.
Honestly, this is an ongoing cycle of weekly dedication. It’s like cleaning my house. If I do just a little bit each day and make sure everything has a home, it is SO much easier to maintain. I hope that this has been helpful for everyone in getting your fridge organized. When certain places are cluttered in my home, I just don’t even want to deal with them. Your fridge does not need to be one of those places! Let me know in the comments below if you have any tips that I can add to my plan. I want to keep this momentum going in 2019. I am starting to see how my healthy daily habits are working toward a much bigger picture! Feeling super proud and encouraged!! Thanks for reading!
XO
Callie