Topic One: Food – Best Before vs Expiry Dates

Topic One: Food – Best Before vs Expiry Dates…What’s the difference?

A good place to start when organizing your kitchen is with the edible items.  Easy enough…right? Well, not always.  Yes, getting rid of that box of crackers that has been open since last Christmas or the box of cereal with nothing but dust left might be a no brainer, but what about those items that have never been opened or you only need 1 tbs of? Sure, you can check expiry dates or best before dates…BUT what do they really mean? Do you have to throw them out? First, what is the difference between a “ Best Before Date” and an “Expiry Date”? The Canadian Institute of Food Safety says a Best Before Date is defined as a date that; “states when the durable life period of the food ends”. Durable life is “the anticipated amount of time that an unopened food product, when stored under appropriate conditions, will retain its freshness, taste, nutritional value, or any other qualities claimed by the manufacturer” A best before date is also not applicable once the package has been opened. Best before dates do not guarantee that a food product is safe to eat. So, what is an Expiry Date? First, an expiry date is required on any foods that have a specific nutritional composition that could falter after the determined expiration date. Examples of such foods are formulated liquid diets, foods sold by pharmacists, meal replacements, nutritional supplements and infant formula.  The Canadian Food Inspection agency advises that if food has passed its expiration date it should be discarded. 

Whether we are physically helping you with your kitchen organization or you are taking on the challenge yourself, the best before dates and the expiry dates are always a good place to start. However, don’t forget to ask yourself “is anybody really going to eat this?” If the dates are still good, consider donating it to the food banks or offering it on FaceBook groups that have people in need or cook. 

See below for our “cheat sheet” on how long spices are good for and what to look for freshness

Topic One: Food – Best Before vs Expiry Dates…What’s the difference?

A good place to start when organizing your kitchen is with the edible items.  Easy enough…right? Well, not always.  Yes, getting rid of that box of crackers that has been open since last Christmas or the box of cereal with nothing but dust left might be a no brainer, but what about those items that have never been opened or you only need 1 tbs of? Sure, you can check expiry dates or best before dates…BUT what do they really mean? Do you have to throw them out? First, what is the difference between a “ Best Before Date” and an “Expiry Date”? The Canadian Institute of Food Safety says a Best Before Date is defined as a date that; “states when the durable life period of the food ends”. Durable life is “the anticipated amount of time that an unopened food product, when stored under appropriate conditions, will retain its freshness, taste, nutritional value, or any other qualities claimed by the manufacturer” A best before date is also not applicable once the package has been opened. Best before dates do not guarantee that a food product is safe to eat. So, what is an Expiry Date? First, an expiry date is required on any foods that have a specific nutritional composition that could falter after the determined expiration date. Examples of such foods are formulated liquid diets, foods sold by pharmacists, meal replacements, nutritional supplements and infant formula.  The Canadian Food Inspection agency advises that if food has passed its expiration date it should be discarded. 

Whether we are physically helping you with your kitchen organization or you are taking on the challenge yourself, the best before dates and the expiry dates are always a good place to start. However, don’t forget to ask yourself “is anybody really going to eat this?” If the dates are still good, consider donating it to the food banks or offering it on FaceBook groups that have people in need or cook. 

See below for our “cheat sheet” on how long spices are good for and what to look for freshness;

Spices Freshness Guideline 

Ground Spices (nutmeg, cinnamon, tumeric): 2 – 3 yrs Herbs (basil, oregano, parsley): 1 – 3 yrs 

Seasoning Blends: 1 – 2 yrs 

Whole Spices (cloves, peppercorns, cinnamon sticks): 4 yrs Seeds: 4 yrs (except for poppy seeds and sesame seeds 2 yrs)  Extracts 4 yrs (except vanilla, which will last forever) 

If unsure of age, look at colour and smell. Pale in colour or poor aroma  likely means old and should discard.

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Organizing vs. Renovation

Organizing vs. Renovation “not enough space, or too much stuff?”

Surprisingly, most people will automatically assume they do not have enough space in their home and not even consider it isn’t the square footage of the home, its actually the possessions in the home or even the organization (or lack of) that is the real issue.  If you have been considering a renovation to your home because you “need more space” consider hiring a Professional Organizer (PO) before you start knocking down or adding walls! Why? It’s really a win win situation. First, the PO will help you sort through your items and determine if there is anything you just don’t need or want anymore. No sense packing up and storing items to go into your new space if you don’t really want them. Second, the PO can discuss your renovation plans and help you determine some key items to consider including in your renovation to maximize efficiency and organization. After decluttering and determining solutions to the deficiencies in the current space, you may realize, it wasn’t really a lack of space, it was just a space lacking proper organization and too much unneeded stuff.  What you spend for the PO’s time and expertise could actually save you thousands of dollars in an unnecessary renovation.  Or, after working with the PO, you still feel the renovation is needed, then you are left with only the items you want, fresh ideas for making your new space organized and useable and ready for the renovations to begin. Win, win! 

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When Home is Also School and/or Work

Has COVID 19 turned your home into your office, your child’s classroom or both? Have the lines between work space and living space become blurred.  So many people suddenly found themselves turning their homes into temporary offices or school rooms and after 2+ years, some are realizing, for them, it’s no longer temporary.  Some businesses have decided to continue having their employees work remotely and some families have chosen to continue having their children learn on line and not return to the classroom. These decisions can mean “the home office” needs a make over – especially if it has been the kitchen table.  Not everyone is going to have a designated office space in their house or apartment, so organization and storage solutions are key.  They don’t have to be complicated ideas.  Just remember, at the end of every work day, put your desk “away”, so you can step out of work/school and into home.  One idea is having a drawer cart to store items when not in use. Often times they have wheels, so they can be easier to move out of the way and back. Clear a shelf or two on a bookcase or spare closet and get some decorative storage boxes or baskets to ‘hide away’ the office.  If you know this situation is going to be for the long run, consider investing in a fold away desk or cabinet desk.  The main thing to remember, it don’t your office get out of hand and take over your home space. By making a point to clean up and put away every night, you will have a higher success rate of staying organized and setting boundaries. 

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It’s Not My Stuff

It’s not my stuff, but should I keep it? Is it wrong to let it go? A question so many are faced with when they downsize or lose a loved one.  There is no right answer with how to begin the process of letting things go.  There are steps you can take, and things to consider, to help make the process seem less daunting and stressful. First, start with what’s easy. Go through the home and remove garbage and recyclables. Talk to family members and close friends to see if there are items they could use or want. Tip: Make sure that everyone understands that any items they want, need to be picked up in a timely manner. Next, look for items that are not sentimental and evaluate Are there some you want to sell? If so, be honest with yourself. Ask yourself if the items you want to sell, will give you the return in time and effort to do so. Items you do not plan to sell, donate.  Now, you are left with the items you feel you need or want to keep. If you have space for these items, great!  If you don’t really have space, but you just can’t let them go yet, that’s ok. That feeling could change in time, so pack them up and put them in a safe place to be revisited in the future. What you don’t want is to overwhelm your space at home, so be honest with yourself when going through items. Consider taking a picture of the item. If it is a set of dishes, keep a piece of it, maybe a serving plate, or tea cup and saucer.  Most importantly, if the whole task is just too overwhelming, or you just need some extra help, there are professionals out there to help. 

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