Does it work? It has helped me! And now I will show you how a clean refrigerator can help you eat healthier.

 

 Less food waste has been a great benefit. Eliminating food waste saves money. Usually, fresh fruits and veggies tend to end up in the trash a few weeks later. We forget what we have in the fridge. Consequently, food gets lost behind a host of leftovers that are way past their prime. Sometimes our ambition gets the best of us. Therefore, we end up with ingredients we aren’t familiar with and have no clue how to use in a recipe. Simple is best.

 

Of course, there are times for trying new recipes. Don’t use the middle of the week to be ambitious in the kitchen. Meals can be healthy and delicious, with just a few ingredients. Plan meals that use some of the same food choices to make things easier. Not to mention all of the money you will save.

 

Meal prep will go further. And not only that, but it also helps your ingredients get used up. Food will no longer disappear in the dark corners of the fridge. In short, clean refrigerator can help you eat healthier!

One of the simple ways to keep your refrigerator clean is easily accomplished in 15 minutes a day or less. You can read more about using 15 minutes for cleaning in a related post here. As a rule, I routinely go through my fridge and move things to smaller containers as they get used up. I make a big pot of chili and later store leftovers in a big food container in the refrigerator. As the chili is used up for lunches or dinner the next day, it gets stored in something smaller. Wherefore, given these points, you will open space in your refrigerator and, in like manner, remind yourself what food to use quickly.

My mind is always thinking ahead. I make plans for what all of the small amounts of leftovers can become. 

Diced tomatoes can put into omelets.

Spiral ham can be used in salad and omelets or on sandwiches.

Ham hock makes a delicious pot of pinto beans. 

Pinto beans can make tasty refried beans. Another great option is bean burritos.

Cooked veggies are perfect in stew or soup.

Boiled eggs are great for deviled eggs. They are also really yummy in tuna or chicken salad.

Baked or grilled chicken makes great enchiladas, burritos, burrito bowls, chicken salad, and more.

 

Find a way to reinvent the food in your fridge. It cuts down on waste and allows you to cook less. Save time by capitalizing on the time you have already spent in the kitchen. Ingredients can stretch into several different meals. Read more about that here.

A refrigerator that stays clean will allow you to cook healthier. You will know what you have available making it easier to prepare delicious food for your family. You will be able to use up what you have instead of heading to the nearest restaurant. Being able to create menus in your kitchen gives you the power over your health. When you cook the food yourself, you know what goes into it. There are no surprises.

Veggies are very filling while also being beneficial for our digestive health. Planning 2-3 meals that use most of the same ingredients will cut down significantly on kitchen prep time. Chopping all of the veggies at once to divide between several meals is a definite time-saver.