Forgetting Fridge Foods?
Channel: Happy Holistics
Date: 2017-09-21

Hey everyone!  My name is Judy and I am from Happy Holistics.  I’m a nutritionist and yoga instructor in Toronto, ON and here is one way I reduce food waste.

*The Background Story*

I live with two other people who don’t eat the same things I do, which means that our fridge is often packed with their food and my food.  Things are behind one another, some things are underneath other things, and some things get nestled in there and lost in that mess.  While I am really an organized person, our fridge is shared space and looks like a disaster zone most of the time.  

Which means that if I put something in there, and it’s moved to make room for other stuff, I will likely forget about it because it’s disappeared into the abyss and it’ll go bad and be tossed out.

*The System*

I create inventory lists and tape it to my planner.  You can tape it to your fridge, or whichever place you see often so that it’ll give you reminders as well as make it easy for you to update.  When I finish something, I’ll cross it off.  And when it gets too messy or is done, I’ll make a new one.  

Instead of writing it directly into my planner, I keep it on a card or sticky note, so that it’s detachable and I can bring it with me to the grocery store 1) to make sure I don’t buy more of something I already have and 2) I can pick out foods that go well with what I have already.

If writing out all the foods you have in stock is too much of a hassle, you can always tape your food receipts and cross it off as you go.  I file receipts in another section of my planner to remember to pay them, so I never use it as my inventory.  Another option is simply re-using your grocery list before its tossed out.  Instead of crossing it off when you buy an item, just do a check mark.  Once you’ve actually eaten it, then cross it off.

I’m a visual person, so having that physical reminder is really helpful.  Let me know if this helps you keep track of your produce and whether it helps you finish it before it goes bad!  I’ll see you next week.  Please subscribe to my channel if you’d like to see more of me.  

Song: Free Dog from Creative Commons
Cover image designed by Freepik: http://www.freepik.com/free-vector/fridge-with-food_796412.htm