Weekly Clutter Challenge for the week of April 5th, 2010

This week's challenge is to think about what food you are wasting.
Is there spoiled food in your refigerator?
Do you spend too much money and time eating out?
The cost of time and money is both a consideration in this busy world.
We often think we need to eat out because we didn't have time to cook.
In reality...how much time are you wasting by going out and dining?
Meal planning is essential in you management of time and saving money.
Here are a few ideas:
1. Organize a few simple healthy meals and keep an inventory of what you need for these meals on hand at all times.
2. When cooking a meal, plan on making more so you can freeze some extra.
3. Eat leftovers. Too often food is left in the refigerator and spoils. Eating left overs is a great time and money savor.
4. When you are cleaning up from a meal, make the effort to put your leftovers in portions on a plate to reheat or in a container to take to work.
5. Choose one day a week to make a traditional meal. Our family always had pizza on Friday nights when the kids where growing up. Dad knew to pick it up on his way home from work. Sundays could be taco day. Use your imagination. It takes the work out of planning for one day at least.

Additional Tip: Share your simple recipes with friends. Make extra food for each other and swap for a variety.