Are you tuned into your food waste patterns? Do you see the ways that you waste money? Do you ever wonder if you’re compromising your health because you’re eating food that’s too old?

One of the biggest ways I waste money on food is opening items that I partially use, putting them away and then letting them languish in the back of the refrigerator for far too long.  And because I like the healthiest of foods that are free of preservatives, there’s a limited shelf life to most things we eat.

The main problem: I’m not really sure exactly how long they’ve been in there.  And the reality is, food forms bacteria and loses its nutritional value over time. So for both our health and pocketbook, keeping on top of what’s in there is crucial.

Case in point: I use organic chicken and vegetable broth for a variety of dishes but I don’t always need the entire 32-ounce container.  It’s supposed to be used up in 7-10 days, but in the past, I could never remember when I actually opened it.

Of course when I’m on top of my meal planning game, I use it up in the desired time frame in one of the dishes I’m making, but hey, as we know, things don’t always work like clockwork.

So I was ecstatic when my friend Haruko turned me on to the Days Ago counters. This nifty little device is a simple and effective way to remind you how long something’s been in the refrigerator. You simply attach the battery-operated counter to the carton or bottle, and the handy suction cup does the rest.  Now I can take a quick glance and be reminded of what’s still fresh and what needs to be used. And you can use it for just about anything — baby food, eggs, leftovers (that’s a great use of it!), and beauty products just to name a few.

You can find them online and at stores like The Container Store. Ever tried them? What do you think?

Filed under: Food preparation, Healthy lifestyle, Meal Planning, Money saving tip