How to Save Food and Money with a Fridge Triage Box

In 2010, <a href="http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/materials/organics/food/fd-basic.htm">33 million tons of food</a> (more than 200 lbs per person) was trashed, and edibles currently represent the single largest component of municipal solid waste that ends up in landfills. While you should definitely be more aware of overbuying at the supermarket, one easy change you can make to help you waste less food is setting up a <a href="http://clossette.com/how-to-stop-wasting-food-and-money-with-a-fridge-triage-box/">fridge triage box</a> that acts as an effective visual cue. While it may seem overly simplistic (yes, it's just a box with a big sign on it), you'd be surprised at how this small modification can change the way you and your family view the food in your fridge. If you think about it, one of the reasons that expensive, easily perishable foods like cheese end up rotting before you can eat them is because they're hidden away in special compartments that are supposedly designed to keep them fresh (#fail). By moving all items that need to be eaten to a centralized, can't-miss location, you're more likely to finish them before it's too late. Read on to see how to make one of these boxes and start saving money and food right now.

<h3>MATERIALS:</h3> - a large box (a clean shoebox works great, especially if it's colorful and eye-catching) - plastic wrap - a piece of paper

<h3>STEP 1:</h3> Line the bottom of the box with plastic wrap to protect it from spills

<h3>STEP 2:</h3> Print or stencil a reminder to yourself and the other members of your household that this food needs to be eaten to affix to the front of your box.

<h3>STEP 3:</h3> Tape or glue your sign to the front of your box, and place the whole thing in a central location in your fridge where it's highly visible. Then, start placing perishable foods near their expiration date inside so that everyone knows those are the things that need to be eaten first. You'll be surprised at how well this basic visual cue works!

You can thank us when you see your monthly grocery bill.