Over the last few days I have been mulling over a post about my fridge-cleaning plan. Basically, I'm trying to only buy base necessities when I need them, and otherwise rely on the foods in my fridge, freezer, and pantry. The plan is to clear out as much as I can, by eating and not trashing, and then re-stock.
And it seems that I'm not the only one mulling over this plan, although my motivations are a wee bit different. Over at eGullet, there's a challenge to go without shopping for one week, and live on the food that's waiting to be eaten in your home. I'm right with Steven Shaw, the man behind the plan, that we so easily horde food without eating it, although I don't think it's as simple as: "If you spend $100 a week on groceries, this experiment will put $100 back in your pocket quicker than you can say stimulus." Should you have a pantry full of foods you've never touched for years, maybe. But otherwise, you'll need to replenish, which is my goal.
The more you love food, the easier it is to go nuts and pick up things that appeal to your foodie whims. As I see it, by using up that old horseradish dip, mustards, and frozen soups, the space is not only free for new flavors, but replenishing with a plan. By that I mean: a fridge and freezer full of the ingredients I especially like, want, and find useful, rather than the remnants of whims past.
So I dare you -- don't go out and shop! Discover all the tasty nibblets you have right at home.
[via The New York Times]
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