As the back-to-school season approaches, it’s crucial to prepare your home, particularly your kitchen, for the new school year. A well-organized and efficiently set-up kitchen can make mornings less stressful, meal prep easier, and overall family routines smoother. Here are some ways to prepare your kitchen for back-to-school season.

1. Meal Planning and Preparation Station

One of the biggest time-savers is planning meals ahead of time. Create a designated meal planning station in your kitchen. Include a chalkboard or whiteboard calendar to clearly show when you’re eating meals at home or when you might need meals on the road. Keep your go-to recipes nearby for the days when you have less time than you expect, with your running grocery list on a nearby notepad (bonus points if your list is divided by grocery store section). By having a plan, you can avoid last-minute scrambling and ensure nutritious meals are ready when needed.

2. Efficient Storage Solutions

Efficient storage is key to a streamlined kitchen. While new bins for your kitchen may seem unnecessary, you’re more likely to use the food if you can see it and less likely to forget that you need a refill. Invest in clear, stackable storage containers for your pantry and refrigerator. Label them for easy identification. Everyone loves a Lazy Susan for vinegar and salad dressing bottles.

3. Lunch Packing Station

Set up a dedicated lunch packing station. Stock it with essentials like sandwich bags, reusable containers, napkins, and utensils. Pre-pack non-perishable snacks at the beginning of the week to make morning lunch packing quick and easy. Many families decide on a checklist o items that need to go in a snack or a lunch so children can start packing their own meals.

4. Breakfast Nook

When everyone is rushing around in the morning, you might find a specific breakfast nook area useful. Keep the area stocked with granola bars, or keep cereal options nearby along with a basket of fruit on the table. Group the items near each other so it’s easy to find, grab, and go.

5. Command Center

A family command center in the kitchen helps keep everyone on track. Include a family calendar, chore charts, a bulletin board for important school papers, and a place for keys and backpacks. If the kitchen isn’t the right place for all of this, try the mud room, garage entrance, or any place that all family members will see.

6. Homework Station

Some families like to have a homework station in or near the kitchen for parents to check on work while cooking the meal. Whether you have a single station or a supply box that moves to wherever the child is working, designated space and tools help a mind focus on the task at hand.

7. Healthy Snack Zone

Designate a drawer or a shelf in the refrigerator and pantry for healthy snacks. Pre-portion items like fruits, vegetables, cheese sticks, and nuts. This makes it easy for kids to grab a nutritious snack after school that won’t interfere with their dinner.

8. Streamlined Appliances

You probably have the slow cooker, air fryer, and Instant Pot hiding in a cabinet or basement. Start using them! These appliances are designed to save you time, so find some recipes and try them out. 

9. Family-Friendly Recipes

As we mentioned earlier, keep a running list of your family’s favorite recipes so you have choices. One option is choosing pantry-based meals with canned or dried products you always have in stock, or making a meal often enough that you always have the ingredients. The more you practice a meal, the faster it gets, and it’s even faster when you have the ingredients.

10. Morning Beverage Station

Whether you wake up before your kids and start your day with coffee and alone time, or your chasing children from the moment you wake up, your morning coffee station should be easy to navigate and pull together. Keep everything you need in one place, and your mornings will run smoother. Don’t forget your favorite mug or thermos!

11. Eco-Friendly Options

More and more great sustainable options are available for your kitchen, and they’re better looking than ever. With products from reusable snack containers to fabric napkins, you’ll cut back on waste faster than you realize. Start the transition slowly, so you actually use and re-use the sustainable items you bought.

Build Your Dream Kitchen

Preparing your kitchen for the back-to-school season doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By implementing even a few of these tips, you can create a well-organized, efficient space that simplifies your daily routines. If your kitchen needs an overhaul, call Garden State Soapstone, Slate, and Wood Countertops to visit our showroom and see the variety of materials available for your kitchen counters, tiles, and sinks.