If you’ve been following my blog, you’ve certainly seen some of my Foodie Penpals updates.  The program is run by the wonderful Lindsay over at The Lean Green Bean.  For the winter & holiday season, she has teamed up with Elle from Nutritionella to create the Elf for Health program!

For this program, you are teamed up with an “elf” for each round (there are three).  There is a list which suggests one goal for each day.  You and your elf communicate via email, social media, or whatever you prefer and help support one another through that round’s goals!

I missed out on round 1, but I am thrilled to be joining in for round 2.  My elf is the lovely Erin, who is a registered dietician living in Virginia!  Anyone who is into healthy living and is a foodie is a-okay in my book. :)

I thought I’d do a quick recap of yesterday & today’s goals, and how I did.

Monday 12/10: Track your water intake today.  Try to drink your body weight in oz of water!

I was very thankful for this goal, because ever since I have been stuck at home on medical leave, I haven’t been drinking much water at all.  I’m a creature of habit & thrive when I have a set routine.  When I’m at work, I always have my 32 oz bottle with me, and I go through at least 2 each day, but usually 3.  With all that talking and singing at work, I have to stay hydrated or else my voice gets tired easily.  Being at home has resulted in no real routine, so I’ve hardly been drinking water!

Yesterday I made sure I had one of our big glasses by my side all day.  It holds about 24 oz, and I went through five of them, for a total of 120 oz of water!!  That’s definitely NOT my body weight, but it was more than I’ve ever had in one day, so I was proud. :)

I felt really great being so hydrated–I honestly feel a BIG difference when I start drinking more water.  It was also helpful because yesterday was my first time setting foot in the gym since I went on medical leave.  Dan and I both have been awful about working out, so we decided to help each other out–I’ll wait to workout until he comes home from work so that we are both more motivated to go!  I took it really easy and just did 30 minutes on the elliptical at a casual speed.  I felt GREAT afterwards, even though it did cause a few light flare-ups about an hour after.  Still, I felt SO much better about myself and today I have felt more positive than I have in a while!

Tuesday 12/11: Clean out your fridge & pantry today!  Get rid of expired and unhealthy things!

I actually cleaned out my fridge last week, so I just tossed a few more little things from the fridge & freezer today–nothing major, though.

The pantry, however, is a totally different story…

Scary, right?!  A little background–I live with my boyfriend Dan.  He moved into our condo after graduating college in 2008.  It is actually the same condo that he lived in with his Mom, and it just so happened that she was moving out as he was graduating, so it was a perfect fit!  I moved in around May of 2011.  Dan has never cleaned out the pantry since he moved in.  I think I tackled a few things once, but I hardly touch it, except to pull things out for cooking.  Also, the bottom shelf is where we keep our tools/handy stuff…and it was a hot mess!

SO, needless to day I found some scary stuff in there…here’s a fun list of the weird, gross, and unsettling things I found:

1) Stuff that expired over a year ago: canned sardines, canned tuna, yeast, dates, tortellini, and bread crumbs.

2) Stuff that expired back in 2009: trail mix, opened box of rice for risotto, steel cut oats, and a protein bar.

3) EXTREMELY old stuff: Stove Top stuffing that expired in 2006, baking powder that expired in 2000 (yes, 12 YEARS AGO), trail mix that was so old it was MOLDY (I didn’t know that was possible), egg noodles that were so old they were disintegrating into a powder, and…ear medicine for dogs that expired in 2004.  I kid you not.  No, we don’t have a dog, but they had one many years ago.

[caption id="attachment_1269" align="aligncenter" width="960"] stuffing proof![/caption]

4) Stuff we had way too much of: 6 jars of peanut butter, 4 containers of salt, 4 bags of flour + one container full of flour, 7 rolls of tape for weatherstripping, 3 hammers, 7 screwdrivers, 4 tubes of super glue, and 3 boxes of matches.

[caption id="attachment_1270" align="aligncenter" width="960"] I was too scared to look at how old some of these were…[/caption]

5) Items that make no sense: instant coffee & coffee filters (we don’t have a coffee pot…), two Sam Adams coasters (complete with beer stains), a wood chisel, 60 cents, a box for a prepaid wireless phone, and notes for a Jehovah’s Witness sermon (Dan’s mom is a Jehovah’s Witness, but I do not understand why it was in the pantry).

[caption id="attachment_1272" align="aligncenter" width="960"] although informative, definitely NOT necessary to keep![/caption] [caption id="attachment_1271" align="aligncenter" width="960"] one thing’s for sure: this phone wasn’t a recent buy![/caption]

But my favorite item?  This napkin.  I certainly didn’t buy them, so I can only assume they belonged to Dan’s mom.  I just like to imagine that he bought them for a sassy girl party where he & his friends ragged on guys the whole time.  Haha.

[caption id="attachment_1273" align="aligncenter" width="960"] oh so sassy.[/caption]

So after about two hours of work, I have everything within reach and easily visible.  Things are only kept behind another item if they are the same.  I feel like I have peace with our pantry now!

[caption id="attachment_1274" align="aligncenter" width="764"] this makes me breathe a sigh of relief.[/caption]

Here’s a side-by-side comparison:

[caption id="attachment_1275" align="aligncenter" width="960"] crazy.[/caption]

Now we can actually reach that light switch…!

What’s the weirest or oldest stuff you have ever found in your fridge/pantry?

How do you make sure you stay hydrated each day?