One of the biggest challenges of moving to a new home is managing food. Eating becomes tricky in your last week before the move and your first week at the new place.

You have cleaned out your old fridge and pantry, so you do not have all of your food, and the dining table, kitchen equipment and aluminum foil are packed for the next few days at least.

One of the first things I do when I know that we are going to move is try to use up everything in my refrigerator, freezer and pantry. That way, we travel lighter and do not have to throw away too many things.

There is something liberating about cleaning out cupboards but it can also be challenging. Why? Because you don’t really get to eat what you want, you eat what have in the house. Luckily, you then pack less on the move and throw away less. It is a perfect opportunity to start new and healthy diet regimens.

For all those last things in the refrigerator, I use a cooler with frozen ice in it too keep things cool or give away things from the freezer if I cannot take them with me.

The second thing I do is plan our meals for the last week in the old house, focusing on the last two days when most things are packed. If needed, I schedule meals at a restaurant as a celebration. To make it easier, I think of the house like a hotel: there is hot water in the kettle, so instant noodles are a great solution. There is an oven, so oven ready made food is easy, and there is a microwave so frozen meals are also a great solution. I do the same sort of plan for the first week in the new house.

For fun and to make it special, I usually schedule restaurant meals in the last week of the old house and the first week of the new house. It helps to celebrate the move. An ideal night for dinner out is the last night in the old place, because most of the things in the house are packed and the refrigerator must be cleaned out and ready to move. The first day in the new house is also a great time to eat out since you do not have much time to prepare food.

I discovered that my kids (and us adults as well) are very exhausted during the move and often crave sugary food. I make healthy snack choices or even small doses of sugary food they can nibble. It helps avoid unnecessary spending on junky fast food.

If you can plan the food for the week ahead and stick to easy to prepare food, this will make your move much easier.

Join me next time for some bills and services tips.

Happy moving,
Ronit