Cup of Inspiration

Today, November 29^th, is Throw Out Your Leftovers Day here in the United States. Today is the day to take a few minutes to pull out those leftovers which are just taking up space and throw them out before you consume something which may be past its expiration date.

I am a fan of leftovers. There are some foods which taste better the next day after the seasoning has really had a chance to soak in. Leftover homemade meals may very well contain far less sodium than the convenient frozen dinner you purchase from the grocery store after a long day at work. There is certainly a time and place for leftovers. However, food put away in the back of the refrigerator can very easily be forgotten. That turkey from Thanksgiving may be fine for a couple of days to provide tasty turkey sandwiches. However, a week later can mean a turkey sandwich with a side of food poisoning.

We should regularly take stock of what we have put away in the refrigerator. How long has that leftover pot roast been sitting in there? Is that leftover sauce from the last family dinner party still safe to pour over that leftover dressing? We can reduce wasting by simply cooking in smaller quantities if we are consistently putting away large amounts of leftovers each week. We can make sure we eat leftovers before we go out and purchase more food to add to the inventory. These strategies will help us eliminate food waste and perhaps reduce the food budget.

While we’re taking stock of what we can throw out from the refrigerator, we can also look at what else we can throw out in other areas. Are there any household items which are long past their use, but you’re keeping around because you just haven’t gotten around to throwing them out? Are there any items, such as clothes, which you’ll never wear again (or never worn at all) that are just taking up space in your closet? Perhaps pull them out and donate to a homeless shelter, providing those in need with clothes along with more room in your closet to help get organized.

Today is a good day to start fresh in your kitchen, with fresh (and safe) food to prepare for a good nutritional meal. It is also a day to consider what other areas could use a fresh look. Don’t let hoarding material possessions overwhelm your household, and don’t let hoarding food put you at risk of a trip to a doctor’s office during the holiday season.