This Week’s Tip Sheet: Organizing the Refigerator and Freezer

Hello beautiful friends and welcome to Week 9 of the Simplified and Organized Home Challenge.

This week we’re organizing the refrigerator and freezer, which I know can be a bit overwhelming given it seems like there are as many different ways to organize those spaces as there are products on the market.

Before you start placing an order for supplies though, open the doors of your refrigerator and freezer and take stock of how you’re using the space based in this season of life.

We prioritize eating fruits and vegetables, so we keep them front and center in multiple clear bins.

That said, this system would probably not work well for my sisters because they live in households with littles who need things to be as easy and as convenient as possible.

It doesn’t make one system better than the other.

It simply highlights the differences in our priorities and the time we have to maintain the system.

Always remember, creating systems isn’t about what looks good, but what works best for you and your family.

Now, on to this week’s Tip Sheet!

This Week’s Tip Sheet…

Quote of the Week:

“Now is just as good as tomorrow.” ~Rebekah Lyons

This Week’s Big To-Do’s:

• Organize the Refrigerator and the Freezer
• Order Supplies, and Labels, if needed
• Buy Nourishing Foods
• Prepare for Fat Tuesday, Ash Wednesday and Lent Season
• Plan Spring Home Décor and DIY Projects

This Week’s Tidy Tips:

As you’re organizing the refrigerator and freezer, it’s important to keep your health and wellbeing in mind.

Here are a few things that have helped us continually maintain a tidy refrigerator and freezer…

• If you’re easily overwhelmed or don’t know where to start, start small and declutter by category.
• Throw away expired items.
• Deep clean the refrigerator and freezer.
• Create zones to help keep things simple. For example: the first shelf in our refrigerator is for leftovers, grab and go lunches, and meal prep items. It’s a visual reminder we need to eat those items first.
• Decant fruits and vegetables in fruit and vegetable safe containers where possible to help cut down on food waste. Be sure to add an expiration label to each container!
• Choose the right food storage containers for the way you currently live and the amount of time you can devote to maintaining a tidy system.
• Label everything so it will be easier to put items away.
• Optimize your refrigerator and freezer space by using risers, clear bins, turntables, and pull out drawers where needed.
• Consider creating grab and go stations in your refrigerator. These simple stations make packing lunches or grabbing quick snacks between after school activities (or meetings if you’re working from home) super easy.
• Meal prep when you can. We typically meal prep on Sundays and Wednesdays but we also prep breakfast and lunches as we’re cleaning up from dinner since the kitchen is already a mess.
• Double batch recipes. It will make stocking your freezer with ready-made meals so much easier.
• Hang a magnetic calendar and shopping list on your refrigerator if possible. It will make putting your grocery list together super simple.
• Clean out your refrigerator the night before your trash gets picked up. That way, you won’t mix fresh and expired items together.

This Week’s Wellness Tip:

I’ll freely admit starting a journey to a healthier lifestyle isn’t always easy.

Particularly where food is concerned.

One mindset shift that has really helped is to look at the contents of the refrigerator and freezer in the same way you look at your walking shoes and workout gear.

For example, when you go for a walk, you know in advance how important it is to have good shoes and socks, a comfortable outfit, a water bottle and sunscreen.

After all, those elements come together to help ensure you’re able to safely nourish your mind and your body well.

Our refrigerator and freezers are much the same.

When we stock them with healthy choices, we’re more likely to make healthy choices consistently.

Choices that will help nourish our mind, body and spirit well for years to come.

So, start small if you need to.

Get good at reading labels.

Remember to eat the rainbow.

Look for healthy swaps where you can.

And find a way to limit or eliminate temptations.

Your health and wellbeing are worth the effort!

Cheering you on as you create a life you love,

CoCo

PS: You can find last week’s Tip Sheet here if you missed it.

More on Organizing the Refrigerator…

How to Organize the Refrigerator