Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day

Did you know that about 40% of the United States food supply goes uneaten?   This equals out to ~1,500 calories/person/day.  Discarded food in homes and foodservice accounts for 60% of this total food loss, and is avoidable!

Well good thing tomorrow, November 15^th is National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day! It may not sound like a thrilling holiday but it’s the perfect opportunity to revamp your leftovers and set yourself up for success.  Dress up those leftovers to create exciting and delicious new meals that everyone can enjoy.

By celebrating this holiday you can help combat our food waste problem!

Take Inventory

When your fridge is jam-packed it can be easy to lose sight of what you have on hand.  Your leftovers from two nights ago or food from your last grocery haul might be hiding behind recent food purchases.  Take a look at the leftovers in your fridge and see if it is salvageable.  Toss out anything that has gone bad or that you know you won’t reuse.  It is only taking up space!

Move older food products to the front of your fridge so you are more likely to use them before they go bad.

Now, you should make a list of what usable foods you have.  Keep this in mind when heading to the grocery store and thinking about what you should make for dinner, I guarantee you can use some of your leftovers for your next dish!

Get Inspired

Now that you know exactly what is in your fridge, you can look for a new recipe that includes a couple of items in your fridge.  Check out some of my recipes here.  You can also check out Pinterest or look in your favorite cookbook for ideas.

Here are 5 tips that can spark your imagination!

1. Leftover meats can be used as the centerpiece of a soup. If you have barley and some veggies also leftover you can make a delicious meat-barley soup.

2. Leftover chili can be used as a meat (or vegetarian) sauce over your pasta!

3. Fruit can spoil quickly, so if you’re looking for another way to eat it try adding it as a side dish to dinner. Try sliced, sautéed fruit, such as apples, mangos, pineapple or peaches for a delicious side!

4. Stale bread can be turned into croutons and used to top your salads or thrown into soups.

5. Leftover casserole can be made with any and all leftovers in your fridge. Here are examples of what you can use:

• Cooked pasta, rice or noodles

• Cooked ground beef, poultry or beans

• Frozen or fresh veggies

• A white sauce, sauce-like soup or diced tomatoes with juice for sauce

• Celery, onions, olives and herbs for more flavor

• Bread crumbs or cheese as a topping

Tips For the Future

Here are a few tips on how to keep your fridge (and pantry) clean and organized:

• Keep your food stacked and organized. When your food is piled in, it makes them less accessible and easier to forget what you have.

• Keep fruits and vegetables in clear containers at eye level. The first food you can actually see will make you more likely to choose them.

• Pre-portion and pack some snacks. Cheese, fruit, crackers, popcorn etc. can be kept in Ziploc baggies or Tupperware, pre-portioned, to grab in a rush.

• Precut your fruits and veggies. Having them on hand will make it less of a daunting task to cook when you’re tired after a long day.

• Keep processed foods or less healthy options in drawers. By doing this, they will no longer be the first food you see in your fridge (or pantry), which is usually the first food you grab.

These tips can also guide you to make better eating choices throughout your week!

Your turn to take action: Waste less and reuse more! Take a look in your fridge and try to come up with a new way to use your leftovers. Share your experience in the comments below.

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