Having a well-stocked kitchen and dining area is important for any household. Not only does it make mealtime easier, but it can also help you save money and time by having everything you need on hand.

How to meal plan in the kitchen and dining area?

When it comes to stocking your kitchen, meal planning can be a huge help. Not only will it save you time and money, but it can also help you eat healthier. Start with a list of meals that your family likes to eat. This can be anything from spaghetti and meatballs to chicken stir-fry. Make a list of the ingredients you need for each meal. This will help you make sure you have everything on hand when it’s time to cook. Create a weekly or monthly meal plan. This can be as simple as writing out what you’ll have for breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day. Or you can get more detailed and plan out specific meals for each day. Stick to your meal plan as much as possible. Of course, there will be days when you have to make substitutions or eat out. But sticking to your meal plan will help you stay on track.

Here is a basic checklist of items to keep in your kitchen and dining areas:

Pantry staples

Rice: long grain, basmati, Arborio, jasmine, sushi

Pasta: spaghetti, linguine, fettuccine, shells, macaroni

Flour: all-purpose, bread, self-rising, whole wheat

Sugar: granulated, brown sugar, powdered sugar

Salt: kosher, sea salt, table salt

Pepper: black peppercorns, white peppercorns, green peppercorns, red pepper flakes

 

Canned goods

Fruit: pineapple, mandarin oranges, pears, applesauce

Vegetables: corn, green beans, peas, carrots

Soup: chicken noodle, tomato, vegetable beef

Beans: black beans, kidney beans, lentils, chickpeas

Tomatoes: diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste

 

Condiments

Sauces: ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, BBQ sauce, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce

Vinegar: white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar

Oil: olive oil, vegetable oil, canola oil

 

Baking supplies

Yeast, baking powder, baking soda

Chocolate chips, nuts, dried fruit

Vanilla extract, almond extract

 

Dairy

Milk: whole milk, soy milk, almond milk

Eggs: large eggs, extra-large eggs, jumbo eggs

Cheese: cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese

 

Other

Coffee, tea, hot cocoa mix

Juice: apple juice, orange juice, cranberry juice

Soft drinks, bottled water

Snacks: cereal, granola bars, crackers, pretzels, chips

Pet food and supplies

Paper towels, napkins, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, sandwich bags, storage bags

Dish soap, hand soap, dishwasher detergent, laundry detergent

Light bulbs, batteries

 

Cleaning supplies

all-purpose cleaner, glass cleaner, furniture polish, air freshener

This is just a basic checklist to get you started. You may want to add or delete items based on your family’s needs and preferences. For example, if you don’t have any pets, you won’t need pet food or supplies. If you don’t drink coffee or tea, you can omit those items as well. And if you have small children, you may want to keep more snacks on hand.