Here’s the thing — we all have great intentions. But when it comes to eating healthy and filling our refrigerators with the best foods, I’ve seen my clients make some common mistakes over the years.

Most often, we use those good intentions and motivations to stock the fridge full of all sorts of healthy foods and more than enough fruits and vegetables. But then it all goes bad before we even get to use it.

One of my favorite things to do with my clients is to help them clean out their kitchens and refrigerators. That means trashing all of the things that didn’t align with their healthy living goals and teaching them tricks for organizing all of it. Plus, I help them choose the right foods based on their goals and preferences to stock it.

Your refrigerator should match your meal planning strategies. Otherwise, even with the best intentions, you end up tossing away all of the healthy (and spendy) foods that you didn’t use in time (or couldn’t easily find), creating feelings of defeat and demotivation.

If you are looking for ways to organize and set up your fridge so that it makes it easier for you to stick to your healthy eating plan, this guide is for you.

If you have great intentions, but constantly feel like you are throwing away good food because it goes bad, this guide is also for you.

Or, if you aren’t that motivated just yet, but want basic tips on what foods should be prioritized in your fridge — and where they should go — this guide is also for you.

Table Of ContentsFirst Things FirstClean It OutUp Your Organization GameHow to Line it UpTop ShelfMiddle ShelvesLower Middle Shelf/Meat DrawerBottom DrawerSide Door

First Things First

When it comes to coaching clients, I start every program with a battery of assessments (lab testing, movement screens, nutrition, food journal, etc.), because I want to know as much as I can about them.

When it comes to their refrigerator, I tell them to open up the door and take a good hard look. How do you feel when you look in there? Does it feel full and overwhelming? Overstuffed?

In my opinion, the inside of your fridge should feel fresh, clean and appropriately filled with appealing and easy-to-grab healthy foods. If you look in there and feel like you can’t find anything to eat, that’s not optimal. It should always feel like it’s full of plenty of options while matching your current meal prep and eating strategies.

You also don’t want it to feel overstuffed. Besides being difficult to find things, it’s harder for cool air to circulate (and keep your food fresh) when everything is jammed in there. Try to keep plenty of breathing room in-between foods or consider going shopping more frequently (with smaller grocery runs).

Next, and before we get to cleaning, it’s a good time to find out what temperature your fridge is at. The ideal temperature is 40°F (5°C) or below. Anything warmer than that runs the risk of growing harmful food bacteria. And if it’s too cold, you might see some things freezing.

Clean It Out

Here’s the fun part. First — and the easiest in my opinion — get rid of the stuff that’s expired. Condiments or the side door is usually the first place I start.

At the same time, get rid of any clutter. If you have a ton of individual ketchup packets (from restaurants) or two of anything (I recently had three mustard containers), throw them out.

If you’ve got leftovers, either love them or leave them. If you constantly find yourself throwing them away because they don’t sound appealing the next day,