{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Calibri;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue255;} {\*\generator Msftedit 5.41.21.2510;}\viewkind4\uc1\pard\keepn\sb100\sa100\qc\kerning36\b\f0\fs40 How To Make Your Food Storage Look Amazing\fs48\par \pard\keepn\sb100\sa100\kerning0\fs36\par \pard\sb100\sa100\b0\fs24 You\rquote ve decided that food storage is a necessity in your life, but that doesn\rquote t mean that it has to be unsightly! You don\rquote t need five gallon buckets taking over your kitchen or drums of water holding all the available space in your garage. After all, your food storage is here to stay! Instead, design a system that is attractive as well as functional to help give your food storage a longer shelf life instead of running it out of your home in frustration.\par \b Develop a System\b0\par It\rquote s great that you have enough spaghetti sauce and honey to last your family for a year or two, but none of that does you any good if you don\rquote t know how to access it when you need it. Develop an inventory system that keeps all of a single kind of food together. Make sure that you keep fresh, new food at the back while older food that is closer to its sell-by date is pushed to the front. It might take a little longer to put it away that way when you return from the grocery store, but it will prevent you from having to throw away food that\rquote s no longer edible.\par \b Choose Containers You Love\b0\par It can be tempting to choose cheap, practical food storage containers that you don\rquote t particularly like. After all, you\rquote re on a budget! Taking the leap and purchasing food storage containers that are attractive as well as practical, however, will make it easier for you to maintain your food storage practices over time. Make sure that {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.foodstorage.com/must-have-emergency-food-storage"}}{\fldrslt{\cf1\ul essential emergency food}}}\cf0\ulnone\f0\fs24 s are in clearly labeled containers so that you\rquote ll be able to access them quickly at need.\par \b Devote a Space to Food Storage\b0\par Whether it\rquote s an extra-large pantry designed specifically with food storage in mind or a wall of your garage dedicated to food storage, you need to have space set aside that belongs to your food, water, and toiletries. You aren\rquote t stockpiling for a short-term shortage that will occur as predicted and then disappear again. Food storage is a long-term goal that, with any luck, you\rquote ll never actually have to use for its intended purpose. That means that you need to have a specific area devoted to these items. Instead of piling food storage haphazardly, organize it neatly in its space. That alone will make it seem more appealing in appearance.\par \b Label Your Shelves\b0\par Do you frequently have help putting away the groceries? If you want your food storage to stay organized, you need to have a system that everyone in your household can understand. When you label your shelves, everyone can easily see where each food storage item goes. Don\rquote t forget a reminder that the most recent food goes at the back, not at the front! This will keep your food storage continuously organized.\par \b Make Your Kitchen Part of Your Food Storage\b0\par You don\rquote t want the food in your food storage to go to waste. That means that you should be regularly using the items in your food storage and replacing them. For that to happen, your food storage has to be conveniently located. If you have space in your kitchen, consider making it part of your food storage area! Use your cabinets to the best possible advantage and consistently stock them based on the{\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://marieleslie.com/first-in-first-out-simple-strategies-for-food-storage-rotation/"}}{\fldrslt{\cf1\ul first-in, first-out}}}\cf0\ulnone\f0\fs24 rule (FIFO) instead of shoving new items in from the front. There\rquote s no reason to have the same food in your kitchen and in your food storage area! Use your kitchen to your full advantage. This is especially crucial if you have a smaller kitchen.\par Your food storage area doesn\rquote t have to be an eyesore! By keeping it neat and organized, you can ensure that your food storage is simply part of your home. When guests visit, they\rquote ll be amazed by your organization and preparation, not disturbed by your hoarding tendencies\endash which might just be enough to convince them to start food storage systems of their own.\par \pard\sa200\sl276\slmult1\lang9\f1\fs22\par }