To start on organizing your pantry, take every single thing out. Yes, every single thing. Put them on your kitchen table. Then vacuum or sweep up all the crumbs, wipe it down with a wet sponge or rag and some all-purpose cleaner. 

Now do the first quick toss. Expired, gross, infested with weevils = trash. Stuff you just know you and your family will never freaking eat? Donate*, if you have the mental energy and time. If not? It's okay to throw out! 

Then you're gonna group like with like, as always. I generally group pantry items into these groups, but your experience might vary:

• Baking supplies: Flour, sugar, baking powder, canned pumpkin, sprinkles, cornmeal (I also include my cookie cutters, piping bags, pie beans and other baking supplies)

• Grains: pasta, rice, quinoa

• Meal ingredients: Canned vegetables, broth, special seasonings or sauces, beans

• Ready-to-go meals and sides: Mac n cheese, Rice-a-roni, canned soup and chili, instant mashed potatoes

• Snacks that come in a big container: Pretzels, chips, crackers

• Snacks that are individually packaged: Granola bars, fruit snacks, peanut butter cracker packs, applesauce cups

• Nuts and seeds: I have a lot of these, so they deserve their own category and pantry zone. 

• Desserts: Cookies, pudding mix, candy

Now that you've put "like with like" and eliminated anything you can, it's time to get them contained. But try to avoid buying a bunch of containers. Use what you have - even boxes from your last Costco trip will work! And go to the dollar store if you needs something for the grains and baking supplies. Once you know your system is working, you can replace them with the good containers. 

Now you get to Tetrus all of this in your pantry. 

The most important advice? You MUST leave 20% of the space empty. There needs to be breathing room for when you have more food than usual. If not, you are totally screwing Future You. 

Put it all together and six weeks later reevaluate. What's working? What isn't? What state is it in? Now you get to go buy some fun jars and baskets! Yay! 

Now here's the most important thing to remember. The reality check I named in the title? It means that you'll have to redo your pantry frequently. You'll need to do The Big Pantry (all of the steps mentioned above) at least once yearly. You'll need to do a mini spiff up at least quarterly, but many will benefit from a monthly check-in. 

The reward? It will make feeding yourself and your family so much easier, healthier and more economical. You'll waste less, cook faster, and spend less on restaurants and convenience snacks. 

So don't give up on your pantry!

*Where to donate the food you don't want? A few options:

1. Local food bank: A quick google search and you'll probably find a nearby group that's serving your community.

2. Free Little Pantry: It's just the like those little libraries, but with food! A lot of churches have one. Drop off your unwanted pantry items. You can also drop off seasonings, fast food condiments, grocery bags, fresh produce, disposable cutlery, and anything that might help.

3. Buy Nothing Groups: You can find your local Buy Nothing group on Facebook. You can post your unused food items there and many locals will be thrilled to stock their pantries with your castoffs.