Minus 10 Gross Foods

Day after day I hear the same thing: There's nothing to eat!

Of course, I'm convinced there is plenty of wonderful food to eat because our pantry seems to be bursting at the seams. Obviously they are wrong.

Except, they aren't.

A quick inventory of our pantry included things like a package of instant (dry) gravy mix (which entered our home somewhere around 1998) and four boxes of noodles (all about an eighth full of actual noodles) and a spray can of frosting. Yes, a spray can of frosting. Partially emptied two years ago. There is also a can of something that resembles soup. No one remembers purchasing it and no one dares to consume it.

It's time to clean out the pantry.

Sounds easy, doesn't it? Except I have been trained to believe that throwing out food you know you will never eat is still a sin. The Patron Saints of Wasted Food will banish me eternally to hell if I actually throw out the can of anchovies that's been sitting on the shelf for the past seven years. Even though I would bet my life I'll never open the can, much less eat whatever is in there, I'm not sure I'm willing to bet my eternal resting place.

Therefore, I am making a challenge that allows me, as well as others, the opportunity to rid the pantry once and for all of all the things we know we will never open, use, or eat - guilt free. Part of balancing life is to find the courage to get rid of anything and everything that isn't useful, functioning, serving a purpose or providing enjoyment. For me, lima beans are on that list.

This week's challenge is to Minus 10 Gross Foods so you have the space to replace them with ten good ones.