Clean Out the Old, Bring in the Healthy New

It’s the New Year and it's time for a New You. This You is making some changes.  The kitchen is a good place to start: things pile up there when you're not looking. I’ve always wished I had the powers of Samantha on Bewitched – twitch my nose and poof - everything in perfect order!  With a plan and a little time you can create some magic in your kitchen.   Set aside some time to explore what you have and start a list of what you need.

The refrigerator: do you have a growing collection of condiments and jelly jars that you aren’t sure when they were last opened?  Olive containers that have four or five questionable inhabitants? Jars of juice never opened but there since last year at this time? Remove everything including the shelves and drawers. Throw out anything that is past its date of expiration.  Get rid of all items that have setup permanent residence at the back of your icebox. Wash and dry all the shelves and drawers.  Clean out the inside of the refrigerator and put the clean components back in place.  Only put back the food items that you plan to use in the next week; part with the rest. Add to your list those things you tossed that you know you'll miss.

The freezer: it's easy to keep stuffing things into the freezer. After all, foods don’t go bad when kept in a frozen state. They do, however, lose their flavor and texture over time. Remove and throw out all items that are past their ‘best if used by’ date. Throw out anything that has been in there for more than 12 months.  Some items have a shorter life in the freezer; chicken and turkey (9 months) baked goods (6 months), soups (3 months),  ice cream (2 months), pork (1 month).

The Pantry: canned and boxed goods – check the expiration dates.  Clear out expired items. Canned goods just past or approaching their expiration date can go to your local food pantry.  Flours – unopened bags have a shelf life of 12 months.  Check all opened bags of flours and grains; if you find bugs or there is any hint of a rancid smell – toss it!  Now that you've made room in your freezer, store flours, grains, rice and nuts in there. They'll stay fresh much longer. Sniff all your oils – toss any that have turned rancid.  Update your list with any staple items that you are out of or need to replace.

The spice drawer: if stored properly spices have a relatively long shelf life, but they do lose potency over time. Do the sniff test. If the aromas are weak, dispose of the contents and clean the jars. Spices should be stored in a cool, dark location. To prevent waste, buy spices in small quantities in the bulk section of your grocery store and use the jars you've saved for storage. Need to replenish some of our spices?  Add them to your list.

Cupboards: did you receive a gift of something new for the kitchen?  Before putting your new treasures away, look through your kitchen shelves and see if there is anything you can clear out.  Specialty pans you never use, extra set of mixing bowls, an abundance of serving dishes, extra gadgets. If you didn’t use it over the holidays consider whether you need the item. Donate your unwanted treasures to a local thrift shop or to a young adult setting up his or her first kitchen.  They will be appreciated and you'll enjoy the new found space on your shelves.

Check over your list. This is a perfect time to eliminate high calorie foods. If they're not there, you won't encounter them when the munchies grab hold of you.  Add some healthy staples to your list; lentils, brown rice, dried beans and whole grain pastas are great to have in your pantry.

Brew a cup of green tea, pat yourself on the back, sit down, relax