There is a pleasure that comes from an organized space. I find it calming and inspiring to look at a system that works, where each item has its role and the arrangement evokes clarity and ease rather than stress and confusion. It's satisfying. It's also better for our minds and creativity, as research suggests.

Of course, organizing some areas requires a bit more effort than others. Thankfully our digital world has given the office a reprieve from less paper clutter. The kitchen pantry, however, is still a challenge. All those spices, cans of beans, and cereal boxes warrant a place—but what's the best system? In the past, I have hired someone to organize my pantry. I gave input and then happily entered the finished product. This time was different. I did the full pantry clean-out myself—and I learned a lot. I have to admit that the finished product is not as pretty as I had envisioned, but it is much more functional—and sustainable—than ever before, which is why I'm sharing my takeaways.

Pantry Clean-Out: A Step-by-Step Guide

1.) Clear out a space in your kitchen or another area of your home to store your pantry items for at least a day (maybe two, to give yourself a buffer).

2.) Take everything out of the pantry. EVERYTHING. As you’re hauling stuff out, try to keep it in categories, e.g. flours, sweeteners, snacks, beans and legumes, etc. This will allow you to see how much you have of everything.

3.) Wipe down pantry shelves. Remove any old tape residue with a razor blade.

4.) Take inventory. Think of this as your Marie Kondo phase. Keep a damp cloth on hand to wipe down items. Check the dates on packages and discard all expired products and items you don't use regularly. Do you have three pressure cookers and you haven’t used one since 1982? Do you have a stack of mismatched cutting boards that you dislike? Get rid of them. They have served their purpose and now are more of a burden than a joy. Certain items that are sitting unused in your pantry may be useful to someone. Consider donating or giving them a new lease on life. I recently repurposed our old baking sheets for my daughter to use for her art and science experiments. She is thrilled and we love our new, un-warped baking sheets. Win-win.

5.) Make a decision about gifts and other miscellaneous items. The inventory phase will likely unveil some forgotten things. It also might stir up some questions, like: What about items that you won't buy again but you don't want to throw out, such as gifts or things family members have brought in? If they won’t get eaten, don’t keep them. It’s more likely they’ll expire before you serve them to some other dinner guest, if you even remember.

6.) Create separate sections or shelves for family members, if needed. This is important if you have someone in the house who is not on board with your eating program. My husband has things that my daughter and I can’t or don’t eat, such as gluten and refined sugar, so I've created a certain section for him. (Even his keto cereal is not something I endorse, but I respect his choices and believe it’s important to make room for them.) For people with allergies, extreme food sensitivities, or on a long-term healing protocol, separating these things makes it easier and more supportive for them. This requires a conversation in the house and a decision as a family. In our case, my husband only eats those things in moderation and generally on Saturday (his cheat day). They don’t take up much real estate in the pantry, so it makes sense to have them be combined and clearly separated, ideally in a basket or with a shelf divider. This way I know that everything outside of those sections is safe to eat.

5.) Make a list of things to buy. This will be your CONSCIOUS purchases list. Think quality and longevity. Trust me: It makes all the difference. When you buy an item you love, you will keep it and use it forever or until it breaks or wears out. This is clean living.

6.) Think about your kitchen work flow. Literally stand in your pantry and daydream. Walk back and forth between your kitchen and pantry and think about your daily movement and flow.. What do you use most often? Least often? What are the little annoyances that pop up so often that you tune them out? This will help you recognize your habits and to find the best home for the most-used items:

· Bulky items you don’t use much can go up top. Make sure you can lift them when you do need them. Otherwise, move them lower.

· Items that you use regularly or want to use regularly (at least once a week) can go on lower shelves. This includes heavy appliances that don't live on the counter or elsewhere in your kitchen. At this point in my life, I am accessing supplements multiple times throughout the day, every day. I wanted these front and center and without having to get a ladder or bend or pull my back.

· Put spices in an easy-to-reach spot. I put ours right next to supplements. We use them a lot and I also want to encourage using them a lot, so I made them accessible.

· The same for oils and cooking fats. We use ours often. I don’t like how they look on the counter so I like them in one easy section in the pantry.

7.) Dedicate an area to backstock. Right now I have a lot of extra food. This isn't because I’m hoarding but rather because it's been hard to satisfy my normal Instacart orders due to extraordinarily high demand. (I also avoid going to the store where many people do not follow social distancing recommendations.) For someone with specific restrictions on an SCD and low FODMAP diet, I don’t have a reliable source for many of the items I need. Therefore, if I find something online that I have to wait for, like macadamia nuts, I won’t buy just one or two bags, I’ll buy six or eight. I took this extra inventory into account and gave it a section on the bottom shelf.

My Tidy Pantry Manifesto

The reason this pantry clean-out was so successful is because I had to let a few things go—and embrace the new.

1.) I got real with perfection. Years ago, I transitioned from mostly plastic containers to all glass storage. I didn't want to bring any more plastic into the house. However, to get that beautiful, streamlined look in the pantry, there really is no getting around it, at least not in an efficient way. Plastic is easier to manipulate into unique container shapes and sizes that sit flush, stack easily, and maximize space. The material is also cheaper to make and ship. Therefore, there are more size and shape options in plastic. So, I had to come to terms with the fact that if I wanted to honor my values and continue to go plastic-free, I may not get that “ahh” moment of having a perfect-looking pantry. And that is okay. But I also realized that I would need to embrace some of the packaging our foods comes in, however unappealing it looks. That is because glass containers are often clunky and you end up having to choose form (beauty) at the expense of function (more storage space and possibly more easy access to things).

2.) I leaned into a better system. I used to remove things from their original packaging and put them in pretty, labeled, hermetically sealed glass containers. Six months later? I'd have half of the almond flour stored in the streamlined glass, and the excess half in opened bags, squeezed in between the containers. The system was inefficient. (The process of pouring a new bag of something into a jar can be disruptive and time-consuming.) I have found that the most efficient storage method is to use the original packaging—and to only open something when you need it. I still use glass containers for items I use in higher quantities and on a regular basis.

3.) I remained strict on the kids snacks. A general rule of thumb is to broaden and diversify your food— especially if you’re eating traditional packaged food products. It kills me when I see beautiful pantry clean outs and drawers specially fitted for the kids’ snack-size chips and candy. These food-like products marketed to kids are completely devoid of nutrients and filled with potential cancer-causing, addiction-creating, obesity-encouraging chemicals. Giving these the perfect pantry spot only encourages kids to eat them regularly. The point is, I keep very few things that are “snacky” in our pantry, or at least I don't warrant a permanent assigned parking space for them.

4.) I got creative with other storage containers. Even if they weren't the prettiest. I ended up using some wicker baskets that I had on hand. When I needed more containers, I got creative and reused some shoe boxes. Unexpected? Yes. But totally efficient.

All in all, a pantry clean-out is a project—but it actually can be enjoyable. It’s a fun way to lean into what does and does not work for you and your family. This process has taught me that there really is no right or wrong way, only what feels best for you. So don’t be afraid of getting it “right.” And aim for functionality over aesthetics. Yes, a perfectly pristine pantry is beautiful to look at, but it won't last if the system is too rigid and hard to maintain. Sustainability is found in creating something that works with ease. That is the beauty—the point, really—in tidying up.

With Love,
PrimaFoodie