Start Solving the Lost Food Issue

Lost food is obviously food you can’t find. Lost food is a waste of time and money. Need some lost food examples?

• You know you have sage, you just know it, but where is it?
• You buy 10 cans of tomato paste because you think you’re out, but really you’ve got eight cans behind the cereal.
• Your food expires way before you find it.

This is lost food - and what it means is that your kitchen or your pantry or fridge could use some help.

Here’s a basic chore list that can help you to keep your food areas organized. Later this week, we’ll look at some more tools, but first you need a starter list.

1. Every two weeks clean your fridge and freezer. The goal is to avoid expired foods. If you only clean it once a month that’s not enough, because you likely go grocery shopping at least every two weeks, and you shouldn’t be buying doubles of an item.
2. ALWAYS make your grocery list in the kitchen. This way if you’re doubting that you’re out of an item you can check. If you absolutely must make a grocery list elsewhere, put little question marks by items you may already have and check before you go shopping.
3. At the grocery store don’t buy staples not on your list. I used to have issues with staple, because we make a lot of homemade breads, and use a load of spices. To avoid staple food issues I made a list of staples and tacked it to my kitchen wall. Before each shopping trip, I cross check the list with what’s in my cupboard.
4. Use clear containers in the fridge and freezer. If you can’t see it, it’s possibly dead to you - I know extreme, but you know I’m right. I don’t like cheese. Cedar, my son does. Because I don’t like it, I won’t think to serve it unless I see it. We used to have a lot of moldy cheese. I started using a clear container to store it, instead of the actual cheese drawer, and behold, no more moldy cheese!
5. In your dry food area store like-shaped items together. I.e boxes, cans, jars.
6. If you can’t find space for your groceries it’s time to re-think how to use what you have before you go shopping again. Make recipe lists around what’s already in your cupboard - use it up - then buy more.
7. Make your own pantry. I’ve always wanted a cool pantry, but never had one. I’ve used a shelf in the laundry room, a bookcase in the garage, and a hall closet to store bulk items and cans. If the only space you have is out in the open, you can tack a nice sheet or fabric over the shelf to hide the boring cans.

What’s your best tip for not losing food items in the kitchen zone?

[photo via stock.xchng - with minor Jennifer adjustments]