Let’s get your kitchen ready for summer
Summer is here, y’all! And this can be the perfect time of year to take a minute and give your kitchen a quick and easy refresh. Honestly, this can happen at anytime of year. But, I think the beginning of summer brings a lot of transition and changes, and it can be a great chance for us to clear things out and get our kitchen ready for the busyness that is to come.
You’re probably about to have your kids home a whole lot more over the next three months and that is a pretty big deal. And you know that when they’re home more, they're going to be in the kitchen more too! Their friends may even be over a lot more, and taking the time to prepare for that is a really good idea.
Summer break looks a little different for everyone. For some families, summer is a busy time of year, meant for running to the pools, parks, the beach and out on vacations. Others prefer to take things a little slower and enjoy a little more relaxation. Some are a little bit of both (like my family!).
Whatever your summer looks like, it's going to be unique to you and your family, and the same goes for how you're going to prep your kitchen.
I'll walk you through my process as best as I can and help you get some ideas flowing, and then you can take what you need and leave what you don’t.
Okay, so let's get into it!
Step number one: The first thing I want you to do is take 10-ish minutes or so, go through your refrigerator, freezer, and pantry and clear out anything that's expired. This is a super simple, “yes” or “no” choice and it's a great place to start and get some momentum. Go through that top shelf in your refrigerator where all the sauces are that you've probably forgotten about and pull everything out. You probably still have a jar of cranberry sauce from Thanksgiving that's kind of just been pushed aside and forgotten about. Dig way in the back of your cupboards and the freezer, and pull out anything that’s been hanging out for too long. Take it out and toss it.
Now that we've made ourselves some space, the next step is to restock.
So let's start by refilling our kitchen with some in-season produce. Summer is the best time to stock up on produce since just about everything is in season. There's so much available and it's easy to get your hands on a variety of things to keep everyone happy.
In-season produce not only tastes WAY better than out-of-season produce (have you ever really enjoyed a tomato in December the same way you do in July?) but it’s also packed with more nutrients and antioxidants. Plus, it’s always going to be cheaper than out-of-season produce, which is always good news!
I love to take advantage of the bounty of summer, and always stock up on TONS of produce this time of year. And since I’ve finally learned how to store all of those berries and cucumbers the right way, they last so much longer than they used to and I actually get a chance to use them before they wilt or turn mushy.
(psst… if this sounds like you, too, I’ve got you! I have a produce storage guide you’re gonna love. Grab it here.)
Next, let’s get your kitchen ready for hydrating. It’s a great idea to keep a few extra things on hand to make hydrating a little more exciting and easier during the warm summer months.
Water is always going to be the best choice over juices and sodas, although I totally agree that it’s definitely not as exciting. But, there are a couple of tricks to making your water a little more enjoyable.
Extra fruit can be frozen and added into glasses of water for extra flavor (and color!). Herbs like mint can be great flavor add-ins too! And of course, citrus is always a winner. Fun shaped ice cube trays can make things a little different, and can especially encourage the kids to drink more!
And if you’re looking for something with a little bit of fizz, sparkling water is easy to find this time of year. My favorite brand is Spindrift because of the minimal ingredients and TONS of delicious flavors! Plus, you can find them easily at Target, where I’m already at once or twice a week anyways.
And lastly, make sure that you stock your fridge and your kitchen with some protein. It's going to keep everyone full and happy and out of the kitchen for a little bit longer. If your kids are anything like mine when they're bored, they find themselves in the kitchen almost constantly. They get a snack and they leave… and then they're back again! So if you've ever felt like you just fed your kids and now they're back already, try adding some protein into that next snack and I bet you it will keep them away for a little bit longer.
If you’re planning on going out of the house and on lots of adventures this summer, protein is another way to keep everyone happy longer so that you don't end up having to buy food while you’re out, or just end up really hungry with a cranky kids and a cranky mom.
Some of my favorite quick and easy protein recommendations are:
String cheese or cubed cheese squares
Hard boiled eggs
Jerky
Nuts, seeds, and nut/seed butter
Hummus
Yogurt (full-fat, plain yogurt without fruit on the bottom)
Wild caught canned tuna
Leftover/extra bbq
That’s it! Your kitchen is cleaned out, restocked, and ready for all that summer has to bring. I hope you have a wonderful and nourishing summer.
Want to get to know me a little more and see how we fit wellness into our busy family life? Head on over to instagram and connect with me there.
And don’t forget to check out my podcast. It’s all about how to reconnect with yourself and learn exactly what you need to make wellness work for busy mom life.
