Lessons from an Almarian Fridge

This morning, before leaving for Almere, amidst rushing for breakfast and going to work (husband dropping me off at the library on the way to work – to be exact), I opened our fridge to rummage for breakfast. I was searching for cheese, ham and sambal cheese spread to go with bread when I saw a round container right at the back against the wall of the fridge. Surprised as to what may be inside, I took a peek inside.

To my surprise, it was some chicken fillet. I had no idea where that came from. The last time we bought chicken fillet was over a week ago and I was pretty sure I did not put the chicken fillet inside that container. It must have been hubby when he was cooking during the weekend. He must have put the extra he did not use inside the container.

I do the cooking during weekdays as opposed to hubby’s weekend cooking, did not know about it nor notice it in the fridge. Yes, I could have checked the fridge for leftovers but guess it is not in my habit to do so. So I bought chicken drumsticks and pork ribs at the beginning of the week and used them up for cooking, leaving poor chicken fillets to rot inside.

Then I realised this wastage of food happens quite often. Either we do not check for leftovers, leave the food too long in the fridge until we forget about it or buy more food than we can eat until it passes its expiry date, we are guilty of bad fridge management. It is just like human resource management and we must put our skills, knowledge and experience into practice to strive for a healthy fridge turnover.

Here is what I have learnt from our fridge in Alkmaar :-

1. Literal meaning : When there is chicken in the fridge, make chicken curry. Do not harp and yearn for pork ribs.

Interpretation : Basically when you have lemons, do make lemonade. Do not make apple juice. It goes back to the chicken. You have that in your fridge and you are yearning for something else to eat. You cook the chicken half-heartedly and end up not enjoying your meal. It is a waste of effort and good food! The same goes for life. Everyday life requires you to make good of what you have today. It is in the now where you have opportunities which gear you for success or failure.  It does not matter how your chicken curry tastes like. The main thing is that you have to enjoy it. Thank you to hubby for always enjoying my food whatever the taste!

2. Literal meaning : Once a week, do a through check on the fridge and throw away food that has expired and do know what you have inside your fridge.

Interpretation : Now and then, we have to know ourselves from within. Who are we really? We are not defined by what other people think we are. We are what there is inside the fridge of our existence. Inside ourselves, just like in the fridge, lie different types of food and drinks which we have bought and those that we have bought, we like it a lot.  Those are the food and drinks which would accompany our every meal. It is the same thing with life. We are what our emotions and thoughts are. What we think, we therefore are. So in order to know ourselves and  to set goals for ourselves, we need to know what kind of person we are. We need to know the “food and drinks” which makes us unique.  

3. Literal meaning : Try to rotate food supplies every now and then for diversity. Then you get to try new food and cook new recipes that you might like. That’s the way to becoming a Chef!

Interpretation : Some people swear by routine and feel comforted by the fact that everything in their life is pre-planned. That may be a good thing. Yet once in a while, we need a wake-up call. We need to thrive, to feel and to get the thrills out of life. These are the things which make life interesting. Not only that, when you are pushed to your limits, you learn new things about yourself you do not know yet. Who knows if my hubby might like fish and seafood one day? Pst pst…now and then, I am feeding him fish nuggets.

4. Literal meaning :  Arrange your food neatly in the fridge according to category. For example all dairy products go on the top shelf and meat goes on the bottom shelf. That way, it will be much easier for you to find your food and to plan your menu for the day.

Interpretation :  Ideally, your life has to be organized. Living a cluttered life is possible but it would be difficult to find the peace of mind to work or relax if there is spilled orange juice on the floor and papers are sprawled all across the table. When you are organized, you also prioritize your activities by preference and not feel the world’s waves gushing at you! This is what I feel sometimes and I am still working on it. I always feel like the day has ended before I knew it. I am rushing most of the time to be somewhere, to do something and even to relax! No wonder! Our fridge, most of the time is pretty unkempt. Sometimes we just chuck things we buy from the supermarket into any corner of the fridge which fits!

5. Literal meaning : Spring clean your fridge for stains, bacteria and moss! (Just joking about the moss part). A clean fridge is next to Godliness. I quote and modify that from Sir Francis Bacon’s proverb “Cleanliness is next to Godliness.”

Interpretation : Once in a while, do a detox of yourself. It can be a real detox where you go on a diet or it can also be a detox where you evaluate your life. Ask yourself if you have any bad habits you want to rid off. Identify and understand where these habits come from. In the days to come, try to avoid these bad habits. Slowly but surely, you are making a positive step to upgrading your life which brings us to the next lesson!

6. Literal meaning : When the fridge spoils and refuses to work anymore, it is time for an upgrade, a repair or a brand, new fridge!

Interpretation :  Now, if life is not going the way you want it to be, it is time to change the direction of your life. After all, you control your own fridge. Nobody can tell you what temperature to set to your fridge, or what you put inside your fridge. It is totally yours to renew, to upgrade or to throw out to get a brand, new one!

Back to the chicken fillet in our fridge, I must admit I am faster in giving advice than following my own advice. Remind me to throw out the chicken fillet once I reach home tonight!