Wondering how to build a healthy pantry? These 10 Life Hacks will help you organize and keep a healthy pantry so you'll always have good choices to eat!
I'd like to thank my friends at Orkin Pest Control for sponsoring this post. Sign up HERE and get $50 off your first service by using the code Orkin50. Thank you for considering supporting companies who support Running in a Skirt. As always, all opinions are my own.
Happy Friday everyone!
My nesting instinct is intense right now. I've decided my basement needs new carpet and paint, my closets need reorganizing and all my rugs need to go to the cleaners. And for some reason, all of that stuff needs to get done before I can work on the nursery... go figure. I know it will be a long time before I have time to get stuff like this done, so I'd rather get it done now. Please tell me I'm not the only one who did anything like this?
One part of the house I've always been good at keeping up with is the pantry. I pride myself on keeping a well-stocked pantry that usually has whatever I need to make a healthy meal... from oats, grains, nuts and pasta... I have it all. I truly believe that keeping your pantry and fridge stocked with healthy choices is the best way to set yourself up for healthy eating success.
While my pantry is well stocked it has gotten a little stuffed recently and was in desperate need of an organization overhaul. No matter how hard you try to keep up every once in a while it's time to pull it all out to check dates and make room for new! I decided to share my process with y'all so you could get a little inspiration on how to build a healthy pantry too. Babies or not a fresh start is sometimes what everyone needs.
I'm also including some of my favorite tips from Orkin Pest Control about how to help keep your fancy new healthy pantry and kitchen bug-free. Pests venture inside looking for food sources and the kitchen is their goldmine! No matter how organized your pantry looks... if you get bugs it's no longer healthy at all!
How to Build a Healthy Pantry
Pull it ALL OUT & Toss
If your pantry is feeling stuffed or disorganized the first step is to pull it all out. Next check dates on packages and start tossing. Even if something isn't expired... is it a good choice? Are you actually going to eat it? Be brutal and only keep what is good for you and/or what you want to eat. If you have any food that is not expired but you don't want to keep it, donate it to a local food pantry. If it's past its expiration date... just toss it.
Starting fresh means you can wipe down your shelves and have a nice and clean pantry. You can check for any problems including bugs, which is always nice! The cleaner your pantry the less inviting it is to ants, flies, and cockroaches. Doesn't that feel GOOD!?
Stock with Basics
Next, take inventory of what you have. Do you have what you need to make your favorite recipes? How to build a healthy pantry starts with putting quality food choices in it. Here are some of my pantry staples....
- Quinoa and Farro
- Oats
- Protein Pasta
- Low Sugar Jarred Pasta Sauce
- Nuts and Seeds
- Peanut Butter
- Canned Beans
- Canned Tomatoes
- Canned Tuna
- Salsa
- Almond Crackers
- Vegetable Broth
- Flour
- Coconut Sugar
- Honey
Everyone's pantry will be different depending on what type of food they enjoy so tailor this step to your own tastes. Don't feel bad for keeping your favorite treats either... I always keep the ingredients to make my Black Bean Brownies on hand. Just keep a lot more good choices than bad and be realistic about what you'd actually like to be eating. If you need to go to the store and stock up... do that now.
Airtight Containers
If you haven't already, now is also a great time to invest in some airtight containers.
After you’ve opened food, seal it in an airtight container. Keeping food in boxes can allow bugs to get in your food. Pantry pests can get inside packaged products after they are opened, which they use as a breeding site and food source. Crackers, cereal, nuts, pasta, and even flour and dried baking products are susceptible.
Clear Containers
Do yourself a favor and buy CLEAR containers. This is one of my best how to build a healthy pantry hacks. It makes it so much easier to find what you need. I love picking different types of glass containers with silver tops... that way they all blend and I can add later if I need to. These types of containers also make it easy for you to purchase food from the bulk aisle, which can save you a lot of money!
Remove Cardboard
Pests like to use paper and cardboard boxes for harborage. Recycle junk mail immediately and don’t leave those Amazon boxes hanging around. Plus it makes your pretty glass jars in your new pantry even more practical.
Keep Similar Items Together
When you are deciding how to put the food BACK in the pantry group all your similar together. Your food will be easier to find if you store them in groups. Think grains, breakfast items, cans and snacks.
Also consider using baskets for snacks or packaged items that can be pulled out of a box, especially if it's something you will be grabbing for often.
Take your time putting your food back in your pantry, and make sure the organization system works for you and your family.
Wash Veggies
This life hack is not just for the pantry... but it can help with those awful fruit flies that can get stuck in the kitchen and pantry.
Make sure you wash fruits and veggies as soon as you get home from the store to keep from bringing bugs into the house with you. Also, all the fruits and vegetables you store in the pantry or fridge should be stored inside sealed bins as much as possible. This can help keep bugs out of your healthy kitchen and pantry.
Keep it Tidy & Bug Free
You are already one step ahead with a clean and healthy pantry... but also clean crumbs and spills all around the kitchen immediately. After cooking wash down surfaces with cleaner or soap and water. Don’t leave dirty dishes out overnight.
Bugs can spread food contamination in your pantry and on your counters. Ants and cockroaches carry bacteria on their bodies, which spreads when they crawl in pantries and across counters. EWWWWW!
Pests are also attracted to the foods and odors coming from trash cans. Keep them out by covering all trash cans with tightly sealed lids, emptying them at least daily – but even more in the summer – and lining them immediately. Also, wash down trash cans regularly to help prevent any lingering food debris and odors
How to Handle Pantry & Kitchen Pests
Even after doing everything right to keep a healthy pest free pantry, kitchen and house, you still might have problems! Do-it-yourself pest control almost always challenges the average homeowner and more often than not leads to frustration and failure... which isn't healthy at all.
If you have a pest problem or want to protect your home from future invaders, it’s best to seek expert advice and service from a licensed pest management professional. I'm a fan or Orkin Pest Control. Their highly-trained specialists will inspect your home from top to bottom and design a custom solution to fit your home’s unique needs. If you are going to take the time to build a beautiful healthy pantry, it's worth the extra effort to help make sure it stays pest free!
Rework the Space
Finally, don't be afraid to constantly rework your space depending on your needs.
Replace what you use regularly and if you buy something new make an actual spot for it, don't just shove it in there. If you keep up with your pantry you will have much better luck keeping up with your healthy goals. Reworking your pantry like I did also allows you to clean it all out and check for bugs.
$50 Off Orkin Pest Control
If you have a pest problem anywhere in your house call my friends at Orkin Pest Control. They can help you stay healthy by helping to keep those nasty bugs out. They are offering $50 off your initial pest control service when you sign up HERE and use the code Orkin50!
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I'm heading to Deep Creek tomorrow to spend the week with the Hubs family! I'll be sharing updates via Instagram. 🙂
Your turn!
What's in your healthy pantry?
Jennifer says
I stopped reading when you suggested to toss food out instead of donating what you don’t want. Come on, it’s 2019.
JulieWunder says
The exact line in my post says... "If you have any food that is not expired but you don't want to keep it, donate it to a local food pantry." Not sure where you read that I thought you should toss out good food. I said to toss out expired food.
Alisa Fleming says
Oh my, I wish my pantry looked even close to that clean! I have probably 10 times that amount of stuff. Time for a clean out.
JulieWunder says
haha! I didn't show the before- lol!
Emily Kyle says
I bet you're nesting instincts are crazy right now - and that's a good thing! I always loved that feeling. Now that I have your three year old, I can only dream of a pantry as beautiful as yours 😉
JulieWunder says
haha! I'm sure I'll be there soon.
Maria says
Can you come over!! Haha I will organize and then it turns into a disaster, I definitely don't have enough canisters and baskets. I'm on it!
JulieWunder says
Haha! On my way!
M says
Love your tips. Wondering where you found your glass round jars with silver lids? Thanks!
JulieWunder says
Hi M! Big Lots!
CourtneyLynne says
Oooo so many awesome tips!!! This is definitely something I have on my to do list for when I star all my back to school organizing!!
JulieWunder says
Thanks!
Dogvills says
Your pantry is so neat and organized! The jars are a good idea. You can see what you need easily. I will have to copy this idea and start organizing my pantry too!
JulieWunder says
Thanks!
Libby Haire says
Good post, great ideas. I use a lot of clear containers which makes finding items easy for whomever is looking for something. There are some family members, who no longer live with me but in their own homes, who can not find things if they are not on "the first shelf". Just a grin from my memory.
JulieWunder says
Haha!! I have one of those that lives with me! lol
Natalie says
I totally agree with you. Well stocked pantry with healthy products means healthy meals for a family. I love these organization tips. My pantry isn't nearly that well organized as yours. But it's loaded with only healthy stuff, that's for sure 😉
JulieWunder says
That totally counts too!
Farrah says
I really really really need to do this--the problem is finding a free weekend/spot of time to do it! Thanks for all these great tips! I love those containers! I need to do a decluttering soon!
JulieWunder says
Feels so good! Thanks Farrah!
Blane Sherer says
Good tips.
Sure, it makes sense to get other projects done
and then get to work on the nursery ( smile ).
JulieWunder says
Totally! lol
Emily @Sinful Nutrition says
These are such great tips! Definitely need to get some of those jars now!
JulieWunder says
You do! Thanks Emily!
Annemarie LeBlanc says
Oh I wish my pantry was that organized! Sometimes I forget I already have two or three of the same item and I go out and buy more because I couldn't find them when I need it. Glass jars are a good idea. I will just have to make labels to remind me of their expiration date.
JulieWunder says
Great idea!
Gingermommy says
That is a great looking pantry. These are great tips
JulieWunder says
Thanks!
valmg @ Mom Knows It All says
Your pantry looks so neat! Using airtight jars is the way to go if you have room, they let you see what's in there and don't attract bugs like unsealed plastic bags do.
JulieWunder says
Exactly! Thanks!
Whitney E, R.D. says
Thank you so much for all of these wonderful tips and tricks to keeping your pantry healthy and organized! I can't tell you how good of an article this was for me with a newborn at home 🙂
JulieWunder says
Yay! Thanks Whitney!
Carrie A Groff says
Our pantry is the worst designed pantry ever! lol We live in an apartment so there isn't much I can do about it but constantly organize it every few months! These are great tips! Thanks for sharing!
JulieWunder says
Ohh that's the worst! I wish I had one of those big walk in ones!
Rachel says
I have to reorganize my pantry once every two months or so. I'll buy things I don't have for recipes, and it piles up! I need to get some of those airtight containers, too. I think I'd do less double purchases that way. All too frequently, I buy something I already have and don't realize until it's clean-up time because it was in a rolled up bag somewhere in a corner. Great post!!
JulieWunder says
Thanks Rachel! It definitely helps keep it longer!
Ana Alarcon says
LOVE THIS TIPS! I also use jars to store everything so is easy to see.
JulieWunder says
Makes it so easy!
Deborah Brooks says
I do like to reorganize mine from time to time and throw out all the old stuff. True you will not have as much time to do it when the babies come 🙂
JulieWunder says
So true!!
Maureen @ Maureen Gets Real says
I love the look of your pantry with the containers. I can't wait for a bigger space to get those containers. Also those black bean brownies look delicious!
JulieWunder says
You have to try them!
Annmarie says
Yesssss. You've inspired me to give my pantry the overhaul it needs!
JulieWunder says
Yay! It feels ggod!
Kristy from Southern In Law says
Your pantry is so neat and tidy and lovely!
I’m a little bit weird bc I love reorganising my fridge and pantry so I do it quite regularly ????
JulieWunder says
ME too! Thanks Kristy!