It’s amazing how much space you need for food storage. The pantry, the fridge, the freezer, the cupboards, the shelf space for drinks, and any other place you tuck away the food in your house! This is the time to sort through it all and declutter as much of it as you can!

Go through the fridge

Look for anything that needs tossing – especially check out sauces or condiments. Look through your crisper drawers for any old cheeses or meats and look for sad looking produce. Open every container to double check if the food can be used or if it’s from too long ago to remember. Examine your milk and juices or other drinks that linger in the fridge.

Go through the freezer

Look for anything that is covered in ice! If there is too much ice to even identify what the food is, it’s worth chucking it. Look for anything in the back or bottom of the freezer, like products you forgot you had, baked goods, or anything that is a mystery or unlabeled

Go through the pantry

Be thorough and realistic! Check expiry dates on everything. Make a plan to use up items close to their expiry date – it can make for easy meal plan idea generation! Check for doubles or more multiples of items. Ask friends or family if they could or would use it. Consider donating items you will not use if they are still within a while before expiring.

Go through the cupboards

Again, look at expiry dates closely if you also have food in a cupboard. Look at the coffee, the pasta, the canned goods, the sauce mixes, and the lunch snacks for kids. If there’s anything expired, decide if you will use it soon or toss it. Consider whether you will truly consume it or not. Don’t forget about the baking cupboard! Check over your ingredients like flour or vanilla, even ingredients like nuts and granola.

Go through the drinks

It’s easy to overlook that stash of juice boxes or pop cans or even drink mixes. Don’t forget about sorting through any alcohol if you have some at home. Decide if it’s still ok or if you will even enjoy drinking it.

A good way to force yourself to go through your food a little more closely is to skip your grocery shop one week. If you regularly grocery shop every week, pick one week per month where you skip out on the shopping and try to really use up everything that you have left. If you’re struggling to get fresh produce in that week, try frozen fruit in a smoothie or frozen veg cooked up with dinner. There are some ways around always heading to the grocery store as soon as you need something. The idea is that it will force you to go through the fridge, especially in more detail than you usually do.

Sometimes, going through your food in so much detail can inspire some rather interesting meals! You may even get lucky and discover a new family favourite!!

If you really have a lot of items close to expiring, have a party!! Invite some close friends over and warn them that it is an eclectic food and drink tasting party, then get creative with all your food and ingredients!

Thanks for coming home!