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just a little rant

AmIWicked's picture

3 kids in the house all over the age of 12, and no one can remember to put the milk up in the morning before they get on the bus to go to school? the kids have always not been paying attention and left food out but within the last week it is been exceptionally bad. I typically work from home, but this week I have been going out for on site meetings early in the mornings in coming home around 11 or 12. I have thrown away so much food I am getting angry about it. Within the last week I have thrown out: ranch dressing, a container of mayonnaise, a jar of salsa, 2 half gallons of milk, shredded cheese, a small tub of sour cream, the unfinished portion of a breakfast casserole, and an individual yogurt which someone got out of the fridge, decided they weren't going to eat and just let it sit out.
We have to drive quite a ways to get groceries in town, so it's not just the waste of food and money, its a waste of my time!

does anyone else have this problem with their kids or step kids? Anyone find a way to resolve it?

FTMandSM's picture

I have this problem with my SO!!! Drives me crazy. My SD is 3 so she is learning how to clean up after herself.

I'd put a lock on the fridge. If you can't put away food then you can't eat it. Either that or charge them for it. Food isn't cheap, especially the price of milk.

onthefence2's picture

Why are you throwing it all away? It would have to sit out much longer than a few hours to go bad. We accidentally left some bacon sitting out all night that had been cooked and I almost put it in the fridge, but that's where I drew the line LOL. From experience, I can tell you that all those things you listed would be fine up to 4 hours on the counter, some of them even longer. Also, all those people super afraid of salmonella or other food illnesses, I'm never that careful w/ raw eggs/meat and even eat steak medium rare/bloody and we have never gotten sick. We actually purchase unpasteurized dairy from a local farm. Stop being afraid of your food!

Orange County Ca's picture

Leave it out in the exact spot it's left. When kids get home tell them to beware the milk it may be sour. Add some vinegar to make it clot for effect. Do NOT make a special run to the grocery. They eat their meals with sour milk or none at all. Cereal dry and water to drink.

Yogurt - you think its sweet - just wait.

Mayo, leave it out until it grows mold. Tell them its dangerous to eat mayo that isn't refrigerated and explain why. Makes a nice table decoration. Seriously this is a demonstration of consequences. You leave it out you can't eat it again.

DO NOT make special grocery trips and forget to buy a replacement of anything that should have lasted. Salsa or mayo for instance. "Oh I forgot it went bad because it usually lasts a month. I'll get one next time. Forget again. Mayo-less sandwiches will remind them daily. No salsa for the tacos or chips. Darn.