April, 2003

Ah, spring, when a health fan's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of...diet, usually while the health fan in question is spring cleaning the house. Give yourself an energizing workout and clean out the doldrums in your diet at the same time you clean the house. Clean out your cupboards, pantry, refrigerator and freezer.

Get your family involved---you save work and enjoy more together time. Kids are of special help here in letting you know that the chocolate bars you thought you hid behind the oatmeal actually were eaten three months ago, and telling you that the can of consomme you've been saving has cracked and is actually growing enough bacteria and fungi to make a junior high science project. If cans are cracked, throw them away.

You may think winter weather or warmer temperatures have killed pests living inside your wall, but the insects are more resilient than a chocolate cake on the third day of your diet. Throw away any flour, oatmeal, cereal, snacks, etc., that look as if they've been open since before last Christmas. This is a great way to get rid of empty calories and temptation. Store any dry goods that have only been open for a day or two in clear plastic bags or containers.

Clear plastic will be your friend when going through the refrigerator and freezer. You'll no doubt see some of the fruits and veggies you've dehydrated and frozen. This is a great time to thaw them for a mid-cleaning snack, lunch or in preparation for a well-earned dinner.

When you go through the refrigerator, if you have any perishable fruits and vegetables you're not going to eat right away, set aside a time to dehydrate them, or make a pep-me-up smoothie. Dehydrate fruits and veggies and place in plastic bags and containers for storage in the fridge (convenient eating, especially when placed at eye level in the fridge) and the freezer (to replace those fruits and veggies you've eaten throughout the day.) Be sure to arrange fruits and vegetables on the refrigerator shelves instead of the crisper. Make sure you have fruits and vegetables, or the day's smoothie in a glass, always chilling and waiting for you in the fridge. You'll drink and feel better as you survey your new, organized, healthier kitchen.