Talk About It: How Can Expiration Dates Help Us Plan Meals?

Many foods have “best by” or expiration dates printed on their packages. This date lets people know how long they have to eat the food before it spoils. Molly’s dad uses these dates to clean out the refrigerator — and make a feast — before they leave on a trip. How does Molly use the dates to help him? Watch the video and then answer the questions below.

"The Big Gathering" is coming up and Molly and her dad are having a "fridge feast" to use up all the food in the refrigerator that would expire or spoil before they get back from their trip. After watching the video, talk through the following questions with your child — or make up your own questions!

• What foods did Molly find in her refrigerator?

• What were the dates on the items? Did the items expire before or after their trip?

• How did Molly and her dad use that information?

Just like Molly, we can use expiration dates to help us plan and cook.

• Look for an expiration or “best by” date on a food package in your kitchen. What is the date? Is that before or after today’s date? Compare to a calendar if needed.

• We can also look at expiration dates on items when we are shopping at the grocery store. How will knowing the expiration date of an item when we buy it help us?

Play a sorting game! Look through items in your pantry or refrigerator. Sort the items into 3 piles: expiring soon, already expired, and don’t expire for a while. Use the items that are expiring soon to make your own “fridge feast!” What will you make?