Challenge Tips

Rotate Your Food to Maximize Freshness

First In, First Out (FIFO) is a common method the food industry uses to manage and rotate stock. You can use this simple method in your own kitchen to ensure you consume the oldest food items first, before they spoil.

Consistently applying FIFO helps you become more aware of what you already have on hand. For example, if you buy a new carton of eggs or a bag of spinach, you move the older ones to the front and place the new ones behind. This habit helps you rotate your inventory naturally, preventing you from unintentionally allowing food to expire.

FIFO also encourages better meal planning. You’re more likely to build meals around ingredients that need to be used soon, rather than automatically reaching for fresher ones. This can save you money and reduce trips to the store. Over time, it leads to a more efficient, waste-conscious kitchen where less food ends up in the trash — and more of it ends up on your plate.

Your Action for Tonight

Look through your refrigerator, pantry, and cabinets for opportunities to apply FIFO. Move food with earlier expiration dates to the front so you’ll use it first, and place items with later expiration dates in the back.

For leftovers or opened packages, label the date they were cooked or opened. You can use some painter’s tape and a permanent marker to make the labels easy to see and read.

Bonus Action: Make FIFO a part of your household’s weekly meal planning. Engage your family members to help prep, label, and rotate food. This action helps everyone become more mindful of food waste.

Day 5 sneak peek: Let tech track your food’s freshness!

Missed Day 3? Catch up here.