 Last week, as I was cleaning out the refrigerator, I found a couple of containers of yogurt that were past their 'sell by' date. It got me thinking about how much food is wasted (and whether or not I could still safely eat the yogurt); I did some research, and this is what I found. According to the EPA: 1) Americans waste approximately 100 billion pounds of food a year. 2) This equates to roughly 14% of food purchased in an average household. 3) 15% of the waste comes from unopened food (which includes untouched produce). 4) On a daily basis, we throw away, on average, about 1.5 pounds of food. We waste a staggering amount of food each year. Why, I wondered, are we throwing out so much food when so many of us try hard to save money at the grocery store? There are several reasons, but the biggest one, I believe, is because of disorganization. Here's what happens: As we bring home new food, the older food gets pushed to the back of the refrigerator. Often it languishes there, because it's out of sight and, therefore, out of mind; we buy more food because we forgot what we already have (or we simply didn't bother to plan the week's meals in advance). We buy food on impulse; we buy in excess (that's where meal-planning is crucial!). We buy things we don't need because we failed to take a quick inventory before we went grocery shopping, or we buy food because we're too tired to cook. As more food comes into the home, the easier it becomes for refrigerator chaos to ensue. Keeping your refrigerator well-organized can reduce food-waste dramatically. You'll be able to see what you have, buy what you need, and prevent over-buying. You may even find yourself eating healthier meals, and you'll definitely $ave buck$ at the market! STOP THE CYCLE OF WASTE! ORGANIZE YOUR REFRIGERATOR (AND FREEZER). Clear the counters and take everything out. Toss anything that's moldy, expired, unusable. Consolidate like items (Two half-full jars of olives? Consolidate them.) Toss packets of soy sauce and ketsup. Organize by group: dairy, meat, produce, condiments, etc. Take out drawers, shelves and clean vigorously ( I use vinegar/water solution, but water/baking soda is also fine.) Produce goes in drawers, meats on lowest shelf possible, because that's the coldest area of the refrigerator. Produce needs humidity, so crack the drawer a bit (or set the humidity control a little higher). Assign a specific area of the refrigerator for each category of food, and try to stick to the system; you'll always know if you're running out of something. Don't over-stuff the refrigerator. Unlike the freezer, which operates most efficiently when stuffed to capacity, the refrigerator needs air to circulate in order to work best.
STORE FOOD IN SEE-THROUGH CONTAINERS whenever possible to preserve freshness - and also so that you can identify what's in the refrig. with a glance. I like Stay Fresh food storage containers, because they help seal in moisture. Consider using Fridge Bins, which take advantage of your refrigerator's depth and can be used like drawers. Group like-items within them. The benefit - no more food lost in the back of the refrigerator, and that means no more forgetting about the yogurt you bought a month ago. .....Ooops! I almost forgot. YES! You can eat yogurt after its' 'sell by' date. The National Dairy Council recommends a one-week refrigerated shelf-life for yogurt, but both Dannon and Stoneyfield Farm say that the stamped date isn't the date the yogurt will go bad or expire. It's more an optimum eating period, and that yogurt usually lasts 2-3 weeks after the date stamped. You'll know it's time to toss the yogurt if you notice signs of spoilage, such as a bluish-green tinge or a particularly sour smell or taste. So now, Dear Readers, resolve to decrease the amount of food you waste by re-thinking the way you've been buying and storing food. As always, be well, be safe, be organized! xxx's, Nancy | 
