When was the last time you gave your pantry a good look? We’re willing to bet it’s been a while. Just like the basement becomes a dumping ground for boxes, old clothes, and toys, the pantry often becomes the dumping ground for food—especially non-perishable items.

When it comes to moving, our professional movers recommend making the entire experience as easy as possible, which means packing less stuff. But, that doesn’t mean you should throw all those pantry items in the garbage! Here are a few tips for clearing out your pantry before you move:

Toss Expired Items

You don’t want to throw out pantry items that are still safe to eat, but there’s probably a few items that have been pushed to the back of your pantry that need to be tossed. Go through your pantry and get rid of anything that is expired. That way, you can focus on the remaining items for the next tip.

Get Creative With Dinner

Get creative with the non-perishable ingredients gathering dust in the back of your pantry. Homemade soups are always an excellent option since you can use up a lot of holdover food items, like canned corn, beans, and lentils. Many items can easily be tossed into a casserole, like cream of mushroom soup and rice. If you want to try something new, blend canned veggies and beans into a dip. Throw a going away party and all your friends and family can help you gobble up what’s left in your pantry too!

Reducing your pantry stock requires a commitment. It means making a meal, like chili, even though you’d rather have a pizza delivered. You may not be able to satisfy those day-to-day impulse cravings, but you’ll be grateful for your conviction come moving day.

Donate What's Left

No matter how hard you try, there’s likely to be a few pantry items left. And who knows? If you’ve been living in your home for years, you may not have enough time to get through it all before moving day!

Of course, you can pack the rest of your food items in a box, but why not donate them to your local food pantry instead? Not only will you make your load lighter on moving day; you’ll also be helping hungry people and families in your community.

Make Moving Easier With the Help of Local Fresno Movers

Whether you choose to lighten your pantry load with our moving tips or not, moving poses many challenges. That’s where our professional moving team comes in. Hire Courtesy Moving local Fresno movers for the job and we’ll make sure your move goes smoothly. Call us today or fill out our online contact form to request a free estimate and learn how we can customize our services just for your family.