Does your fridge look like a toxic waste dump? How many times do you find yourself throwing away what used to be perfectly good food because it has gone stale, stale, or moldy?
Let’s face it. No matter what kind of food you choose to eat or what program you follow, who wants to consume food that isn’t delicious and at its peak of freshness? You? Probably not. Me neither. I would like to share with you my secrets to…
My Happy Tummy Binge Bustin’ Recipe to Keep Food Fresh and Delicious
Since making the decision to stop dieting and placing a new emphasis on becoming aware of when I eat under stress, I no longer consider myself a human garbage can, ready, willing and able to eat anything but Clavar. For the most part, I am in charge of what I eat and the food is not.
On the rare occasions when I notice myself falling into the pattern of consuming more junk food, eating more chips, or relying on takeout, it tells me I need more nutrition. For me, that means cooking and having the foods I love on hand.
Over the years, I have become a very picky eater, acutely aware of the extreme pleasure I get from eating fresh food. I have zero tolerance for eating anything that doesn’t taste absolutely delicious.
As a busy mom and working girl, I’ve learned a few tips that make it easier for me to enjoy having fresh, tasty food from home more often. Here are some of my secrets to saving food, preparing it quickly and preserving the pantry:
Clean up the mess – Sort by freshness. Every time you open your fridge, freezer, and cabinets, make a habit of throwing away any food that doesn’t clump together. If those cookies you bought taste like cardboard, it’s time to replace them. Get rid of anything that has gone stale, developed freezer lint, a case of freezer burn, and focus on preserving the foods you really love. Be honest and be willing to let go of some of the things you bought that you and your family don’t really want. That unsweetened cranberry juice you bought on sale that hasn’t been touched is taking up valuable space. Get rid of it.
Buy only enough: look for trends – In the same way that a savvy businesswoman looks for patterns and changes to stay on top of her market, it is essential to do the same with her supermarket when shopping for clothes. The time is gold. If she wants to spend more of the day doing the things she likes, she should use the time she spends in the kitchen wisely. That means having tasty foods ready and available for quick meals. If she has to go through a week’s worth of leftovers and unwrap everything to find out what she has, that’s a precious waste of time.
Take a look at what staple foods and types of meals your family eats and enjoys. What foods are you buying that no one is eating? For example: if your milk always goes sour, your cereal goes stale, or your cheese goes moldy, consider buying the smaller size or investing in a food saver system. Take note of the time it takes you and your family to consume different types of food and choose storage systems based on your individual needs.
leftover love – Dedicate a separate area of your refrigerator to leftovers from previous meals and label them. If you can freeze something to extend its shelf life, do so. Then, in another section of the fridge, place your larger items.
make easy – Fresh greens are always a great addition to any meal, but if you don’t spend time washing and preparing them properly, your hard-earned cash in the form of a head of cauliflower or a bag of celery will soon grow moldy and be thrown away. To avoid that unnecessary pain, I suggest taking a few shortcuts.
• Invest in bags of pre-washed vegetables and packets of fresh chopped vegetables available in your grocery store’s produce or freezer section.
• Choose a convenient time for you sometime during the week and prepare a few meals when there is no pressure. On the weekends, I love to cook stews and soups and bake a bit, then during the rest of the week I get to enjoy my fresh homemade treats.
• Make friends with your freezer: If you take the time to prewash, chop, and chop or slice your staples like onions, celery, and bell peppers, you can bag them in your freezer. Meal prep becomes a breeze. Note: To chop onions without tears: Chilling the onion in the freezer for about 20 minutes before chopping will suspend the gases that cause tears in the eyes.
• Buy perishables more often: If you love your fresh salad, buy smaller quantities and use them until you eat them.
• Ecological bags and food preservation systems: I love them. Invest in any type of food saving system that will extend the life of your produce. It’s worth it.
• Done, Done, Done: Make combinations of vegetables that your family likes and place them already marinated in sealed bags in the refrigerator. My family loves onions, broccoli, red and green bell peppers sautéed in garlic and olive oil or baked with potatoes. For quick prep, I keep my pre-seasoned veggies in the crisper drawer in an always-ready bag.
Now here is your mission if you decide to accept it. One of the things I’ve learned about making peace with food and being friends with my body is the importance of reclaiming spaces in my life where I’ve felt out of control in the past. I’ve learned that we often eat out of frustration because we feel out of control. If every time you open the fridge, pantry or cabinets you have the feeling that you are not taking care of yourself in the best possible way, it is time to update yourself and give yourself the star treatment.
Try these tips. See how reclaiming your kitchen space and making it a more functional and efficient place in your home affects your relationship with food. Notice how often you are settling for something you really don’t want. How does that feel and what are you willing to do to change it? Enjoy taking back control and reclaiming another part of your life. Remember in terms of happiness and peace of mind, no change for the better is too small.