Homebodies.org - A network of resources for Stay at Home moms and dads. Parents will find help, support, guidance, Articles and message boards on a variety of topics

There is nothing more depressing then opening up your cupboards and not have what you need to put a meal together. I've said it many times: a well-stocked pantry is a gal's best friend. I mean it-you have to have your pantry stocked. And don't forget that in today's modern world, a pantry is more than a cupboard of dry goods. It is also your fridge and freezer.

A lot of people have emailed me asking for a Menu- Mailer for lunch and breakfast. I've thought about this a lot and tried to think how I handle these two meals, because I don't make up menus for those meals. It finally dawned on me that the key again, is that well- stocked pantry. Here's how I do it.

I pack one lunch (one child is homeschooled, the other goes to school). So I keep on hand things for lunches. First the non-perishable tools: plastic spoons, napkins, little containers, blue ice packs for the lunch box (frozen and ready to use) or lunch bags if you use them. I buy in large quantities, usually taking advantage of sales. I have two drawers I use for wraps and bags: one holds my rolls and the larger gallon zipper topped bags and the other holds all my zipper- topped bags. I have quart sized, sandwich sized and snack sized. There are back up boxes in the pantry.

Next, I consider the actual pantry itself. I pack rice chips (like a thin toasted rice cake), healthy ginger snap cookies, and a case of bottled water. I have all of this bought weekly or semi weekly and these things stay on my perpetual shopping list so I am sure to pick them up. In the bread basket, whole wheat bread, whole wheat bagels and fruit leathers (I get the natural ones without the sugar).

Then comes the fridge. Again, this stuff is all on my perpetual shopping list: string cheese or cheese twists (cheddar & mozzarella together), individual yogurts, Ranch dressing (ugh.this is where I cave to kid pressure), baby carrots, celery sticks, apples. I also have whole-wheat tortillas, cream cheese and homemade muffins (not all the time). I don't pack it all. I choose a few things each time and they take me five minutes to pack, tops. Sometimes I will have the kids help, sometimes they are doing other things themselves to get ready.

The sandwich is usually almond butter and a fruit conserve (like preserves, but sweetened with juice). I will do cream cheese and bagels, or a wrap made with the tortilla, cream cheese and maybe leftover chicken from the night before. My kids also like almond butter in a little plastic container to dip their celery in and I give them a different sandwich that day. Apples cut up and dipped in almond butter is also a favorite. I don't use peanut butter because they prefer almond butter. I get most of these things inexpensively at Trader Joe's. If you live near a TJ's, this is an awesome resource for healthy foods.

Breakfast is even easier-I keep two cold cereals in my pantry, plus two hot cereals: oatmeal mixed with oat bran (I do this myself) and grits (I have to go to the health food store to get grits now!). I also have honey or brown sugar for the hot cereal. (I also recommend sucanat-evaporated dried sugar cane juice). Whole grain frozen waffles and whole grain French toast in the freezer (you can make and freeze or buy). In the fridge, I have the usual suspects-eggs and milk. We don't drink juice, but instead opt for whole fruit. There are always bananas in the basket and oranges off our tree right now. So take a peek: breakfast is there!

My morning routine is typed out and in a plastic sleeve and sits on the kitchen island with my timer (if you don't have a timer, you are missing out on one of the most important tools!). I put it out at night when I am doing my evening routine. We are out of the house every morning for school at 7:50 (school starts at 8:15, check in begins at 8:05 and it's a 10 minute drive) and there has only been ONE tardy since school started in September and that was beyond our control. When we leave, my son is showered, lunch is packed and he has had a good breakfast (I give him a choice between TWO breakfasts while he is getting in the shower). It's a cinch and I'm not stressed.
So there you have it-breakfast and lunch perpetual pantries. Your pantries don't need to look the same as mine, but I bet you can draw some similarities or at least, find a place to start. Let these ideas be a beginning place for you to make your own perpetual pantry based on your family's preferences.

You can make your own perpetual grocery list. Mine is on the computer. I just tweak it as I need it for the week and then always return the document back to it's original state after I have printed it. That way, it is ready to go for the next time.
That's it! It's that simple and keeping a perpetual pantry (via your perpetual shopping list) keeps you stocked up and ready. Are you ready to be prepared with all your mealtimes? Pack lunches that are easy, healthy and good? Send your tribe off with full tummies in the morning? Then get moving and let's get those pantries cleaned out, decluttered and then fully stocked with what you need to make it happen.

*****

If dinner is a hassle at your house, you need Menu- Mailer. Go to www.savingdinner.com and get your menu and check out the low carb menu while you're there. My book, Saving Dinner: The Menus, Recipes and Shopping Lists to Bring the Family Back to the Table (Ballantine) is available everywhere and Amazon!

If dinner is a hassle at your house, you need Menu-Mailer. Go to http://www.menumailer.net and get your menu and check out the new low carb menu while you're there. Watch for my new book, Saving Dinner: The Menus, Recipes and Shopping Lists to Bring the Family Back to the Table (Ballantine) available on Amazon!

***

Leanne Ely is the editor of Menu-Mailer. If dinner's a hassle at your house and you need some help, go to http://www.menumailer.net Watch for her newest book, Saving Dinner (Ballantine) coming this September!

What's for dinner? Need some help? Menu-Mailer will send you menus, recipes and a shopping list for the week for pennies a day! For more information,
check out http://www.menumailer.net or mailto:leanneely@aol.com

Got a question or comment, talk to us: comments@homebodies.org
Site designed and maintained by: Redlogic Communications, Inc.