Start with what you rarely use
Pack the good dishes, the seasonal bakeware, and the small appliance you use twice a year first. That leaves the everyday plates, mugs, and pans usable right up until moving day.
A box labeled with the room name and a short list of contents saves time at the other end. Coffee maker, mugs, and filters written on the outside means breakfast is easy on the first morning.
Protect what actually breaks
Wrap glassware and dishes individually in packing paper, not newsprint, since ink can transfer onto light coloured plates. Pack plates on their edge like records rather than stacked flat, which spreads the weight more evenly.
A dish barrel with cell dividers is worth the cost for stemware and anything with a thin stem or handle. A grocery store box softens under weight and gives no protection at all.
Small appliances and cords
Wrap cords and tuck them into the appliance itself where possible, or bag them and tape the bag to the item so nothing gets separated during the move.
Leave a kitchen box for the first night
Set aside a kettle, a couple of mugs, cutlery, a pan, and basic seasoning in a box that travels with you rather than on the truck. It sounds small until you are standing in an empty kitchen at eight in the evening.
Pantry and fridge items
Non perishable pantry items can be boxed a week ahead, but plan to run the fridge and freezer down over the days before a move rather than moving them full. A cooler with ice handles what is left over on the last day.
Open bottles of oil or sauce travel better sealed inside a resealable bag, since a shifted box on a Strathcona County gravel road can find a leak you did not know existed.
Knives and sharp items
Wrap knife blocks or loose knives in a folded towel before boxing, and mark the box clearly so whoever unpacks it knows to reach in carefully rather than by feel.