Last week we talked about eliminating food packaging in the kitchen by storing grains, cereals and other dry goods in jars.
If you actually scoured your kitchen for these items and have them now stored beautifully in sparkling glass jars, it’s likely that there is a whole other category of foods that may still be lurking in your refrigerator or pantry; old condiments, rarely used baking powders and spices, forgotten tea bags and biscuit mixes.
Come on, admit it – you still have some culinary baggage to shed.
Contrary to what your Twinkie and Diet-Coke habit might make you think, food does not have an eternal shelf life. I know of few foods, whether they be canned or vacuum-packed or frozen, that can live for more than two years. It can be argued that canned fish and meats will last four years – but come on, do you want to eat 4-year old canned meats? I didn’t think so....
A few years ago the Apartment Therapist and I read a wonderful book by 
Now the point is to use your kitchen and not just make it look pretty. So after you clean out the shelves, make a commitment to eat at home more, then get cooking… it’s going to be a new you. And let us know how your progress is going.
No joke, just four days ago I threw away a can of SPAM (housewarming gift...seven years old) and a can of beef gravy (no idea where it came from...expired in 2001)!!
2) Artificial sweeteners or products containing aspartame or saccharin.
Ummm no way!
Oh, Marie! SPAM as a housewarming gift?! Keep the beef gravy and throw those friends away!! ;)