Now that spring is here, it’s time for some deep cleaning—of your cupboard, that is. Take an inventory of what’s in your refrigerator and pantry. Here are a few pointers on what to keep and what to toss:
- If it’s a fresh or frozen fruit or vegetables, keep it.
- If it contains added sugar (or any of the pseudo sugars like cane syrup, agave syrup, or the like) or high fructose corn syrup, toss it.
- If it doesn’t have an ingredient label, chances are you should keep it.
- If it has a long list of ingredients you can’t pronounce, toss it.
- If it doesn’t last much longer than a few days or a few weeks in the fridge, keep it.
- If it sits on the shelf for years without a change (which means it’s full of preservatives), toss it.
- If it contains gluten (wheat, barley, rye, or oats), consider that it might be wreaking havoc on your digestive system, whether you realize it or not. Why not toss it and see how you do without for at least six weeks? The results may astound you.
- If it’s high in carbs and low in fiber, toss it.
- If it’s high in fiber and low in carbs, keep it.
Think of cleaning your pantry this spring as a deep cleanse of your home—the home that is your body. What are you going to keep and what are you going to toss this spring?