I was at a friend's house the other day when her teenager came home, opened the pantry, and said to his mom, 'Mom, would you like me to organize this mess for you?' Teenagers...sigh. Sometimes they have no filter. My friend was mortified, of course, and responded to her son, 'We'll talk about it later.' When he shrugged and went to his room, she said to me, 'I'm so embarrassed, but in my son's defense, he's right. That cabinet is a mess. It's filled with unhealthy choices...most of which are likely stale because it's so cluttered. I am going to empty it out today. Any ideas on a strategy?'

Here are the tips I gave her.

1) Empty it out completely...to the bare bones. Clean each shelf. Discard anything that has gone bad. Consolidate two or more packages of the same exact item...like if you have two half empty boxes of rotini pasta.

2) Designate shelves (or different sections of shelves) for different purposes. (This applies to cabinets too if you don't have a pantry). For example:

Baking (Flour, Baking Soda, Baking Powder, Extracts)
Rice, Pasta and Other Grains
Bread Crumbs, Crackers
Dried/Canned Beans and Prepared Mixes (contain tiny mix envelopes)
Nuts, Dried Fruit, and Granola
Canned Vegetables/Canned Fruits
Oils, Vinegars, Cooking Spray
Junk Food (Chips, Cookies, Candy), etc.

When everything is sorted into categories, it's more easily found.

3) Make it visible. It's up to you whether you leave food in it's original box or container, or you transfer it to clear, labeled mason jars like I do. If you transfer to mason jars, cut any cooking instructions from the box or bag and tuck it into the jar.

4) Then start thinking 'health.' Assess the items in your pantry. Ask yourself questions like:

How many shelves are being taken up by junk food? Is that number meeting my family's health goals or is the volume of junk food sabotaging those goals?

Does my pantry have lots of empty calorie foods that aren't doing anything positive for our bodies nutrition-wise?

Could some of the current choices in my pantry be replaced with something that is more nutritionally sound?

Do I see items that are marked whole-grain, low-sodium or salt-free? Are there items that contain low or no trans-fats? Or is pretty much everything in there high in fat, salt, and sugar?

Take notes so on your next grocery run, you can begin switching out some of the current choices with those that match your family's healthy-living goals.

5) Let family help. Finally, I also told my friend that when your teenager (or any family member) asks if you'd like his or her help in organizing clutter, there is only one answer: YES! It's important to be encouraging to anyone who wants things to be more organized.

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Having self-confidence and being healthy are both vital components for living a productive, happy, organized life. My resource, GON GLOW (Get Organized Now to Get Healthy, Lose Weight, Outshine Yourself, and Wake the Wow) helps you build and maintain that self-confidence by guiding you on your weight loss journey.

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* lose weight, without going hungry

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* make meals that are delicious and easy to prepare

* stay motivated and inspired...the most important component to sticking to healthy living

With GON GLOW, you will get sound advice, motivation, and (most important) support and guidance...ALL FROM ME...to help you throughout your journey to a thinner, healthier you. And you'll be able to do this WITHOUT starving, WITHOUT food restrictions, WITHOUT smoothies/supplements/vitamins, and WITHOUT intense exercise.

P.S. It gets even better and brighter! When you get GON GLOW BEFORE Friday, September 10...you will also AUTOMATICALLY get 5 COMPLIMENTARY bonuses valued at over $100. For details, visit:

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___ 1. Do today's task on my September Monthly Organizing Checklist. The September 5 TO DO focuses on kids and their backpacks. Visit GetOrganizedNow.com to access my September Monthly Organizing Checklist.

___ 2. Sort your pantry. Organize your shelves, being sure like-items are with like-items.

___ 3. Prevent bad breath. Bad breath is caused by the bacteria that gathers around the pockets of your teeth. Eventually these bacteria lead to bad breath and other serious health issues like gum disease. Visit GetOrganizedNow.com to access my Organizing Quick Tips article on 10 ways to prevent it.

'Your pantry is your first line of defense against food-borne illness and things like high blood pressure and cholesterol.' (Joe Bastianich)

I'd love to hear from you.

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And remember...there's no better time to get organized, than to Get Organized Now!

Warmly,

Maria Gracia
Get Organized Now!
getorganizednow.com

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