Quickie snack organization

You may be thinking to yourself now what? We've got a diagnosis where do I go from here in the quickest, simplest way? Organization is key my dear girls! Plus it's time to put some routine into your life! Organizing your pantry, cabinets and fridge is going to save you sooo many headaches! Let alone, it let's visitors, babysitters, family members and Dad know what is. Here are some quick thoughts that will get you started in the right direction. Each of these ideas takes at the most 20 minutes to get into place so get started right away!

Sticker System

We have a sticker system in our home. The gf (gluten free) jars of peanut butter, mayo, butter, jelly, basically anything that could be "poisoned"(contaminated) or I didn't buy in a squeezy bottle gets a sticker. I bought a couple of boxes of the colored dots used normally at yard sales at Walmart. When the groceries come home Payson gets to put the stickers on his food. Gets too is the key word here. It's not a punishment to have celiac nor is it a punishment or a chore to assist in helping prepare his food for the pantry. He has told me he enjoys having his "own food", must be a middle child thing. I think he also likes being alone with me in the kitchen doing something that's all about him even if it is placing stickers on jars. It also gives him the freedom of being able to make some of his own food. I'm reminded daily that he's almost 7 and can make PBJ all by his self if he doesn't use the pokey knife.

Snack Jars

OMG! Why didn't I do this years ago with all of my kids! I had some huge Costco size containers from biscotti that i used to eat BFA ( before food allergies)
I was a Brownie Girl Scout Leader and thought some day I might use them for a craft. Being the scrapbooker that I am I covered the label and made HUGE snack jars. I only put a weeks worth at a time in them otherwise they seem to dwindle down faster even if they're only supposed to have X amount per day. One is the gf snacks the other one is for the non gf kids in the house. They have different colored lids so even my 4 yr old knows which is his.

Fridge basket

I know it seems a little too organized but prove me wrong girlies! So you get the cheap white baskets from the dollar store or walmart or use a tupperware container if you think the lid will actually get put back on. In the basket you put the fridge snacks for each kid or allergy type in your home.
Example:

Payson's GF basket has: gogurt, pudding,string cheese,fruit cup, and jello

Karson's EF/DF (egg free/ dairy free) basket has: jello, soy string cheese, and a fruit cup.

Ladies we all know what it's like when they're all screaming for a snack it' s so much easier to let them get it themselves after asking then having to stop and find a snack for each of them. This also is teaching them personal responsibility. They live in a world that does not cater to their "food disiabliliy" all the time and when they grow up and go on missions or off to college we can't go and cook and decontaminate their dorm rooms. The sooner you get your systems in place the sooner your life will get back to a new normal!