I Followed the "EMF" Rule, and Now I'll Keep Using It in My Fridge

It’s always a little embarrassing when the time comes to clean out the fridge, and I find a glass container stuffed at the back filled with … meal prep from two weeks ago? Leftovers I forgot about? Something else entirely? You’d think that it would be fairly simple to keep track of the food that gets stored here, but especially when all of our food containers look the same — my fridge can get a little disorganized.

A fridge in disarray calls for a system, and I was excited to try a clever trick I spotted on Instagram by Jen Robin of @lifeinjeneral. Robin implements an “Eat Me First” bin in her fridge, but you could also refer to it as the “EMF” rule for an even catchier, easier to remember method to try for yourself.

What Is the “Eat Me First” Bin?

The concept is exactly what you’d imagine it to be — place the food that needs to be eaten quickly in the bin so it doesn’t go to waste. Simply labeling your food with a simple command can help reduce waste and save money. I had to try it!

I Tried the EMF Rule

I luckily already had a refrigerator storage bin, so putting together my bin was easy. You can find refrigerator bins at The Container Store or even at your local dollar store. You could also just use what you have around the home. I made my “eat me first” label with an index card and a marker and placed it on the side and made sure I could clearly read it.

I did have to do some fridge rearranging to make the bin fit, which only took a few minutes. I wanted it to be easily accessible, as well as simple to take in and out, so I opted to put it on the bottom shelf, while food that wasn’t prepared yet stayed on a higher shelf. Meal prepped protein, berries, and ripe avocados (which stay ripe a little longer once refrigerated!) made their way to the bin.

What I Noticed After a Week

Every time I opened the fridge, my eyes immediately went to the labeled bin. I know many professional organizers swear by labeling just about everything, and I can see why. There’s nothing to second-guess! It stretched my creativity when it came to leftovers and snacks as well. Going right to this bin inspired a few more avocado toasts than normal, which saved them from being thrown away.

Another win: My husband and I normally opt for frozen berries, but I had leftover fresh strawberries from a dessert I made the weekend before. Having the strawberries in the bin was definitely helpful and saved me from having to throw away mushy, moldy berries. Also highly recommend snacking on strawberries with a bit of cheese, or making a simple dessert with berries and whipped cream!

And while I know the main idea behind this rule is to help reduce waste, I didn’t even think about how clear it would make the need to replenish food. Once the bin was empty, it was a clear sign that it was time to head back to the grocery store.

One challenge I faced was finding myself resisting the food that was in the bin from time to time. In the past, this would have probably turned into a container getting pushed to the back and forgotten about. But instead, I was face to face with the grilled chicken I prepped a few days before that I wasn’t feeling, and the slightly browning avocados. It’s just my husband and I, and we usually buy a bag of small avocados at Trader Joe’s, but they ripen fast.

Following the EMF rule of using items in the bin first had me considering buying one or two regular-sized avocados instead of a bag to reduce waste and save money. Of course, these challenges are part of what makes this rule so great — I was forced to see what food was on the verge of going to waste and will now alter my shopping list to accommodate our needs.

Is the EMF Rule Worth Trying?

It’s only been a week, and I want to continue following this rule to see if it has staying power. For now, I definitely recommend giving it a shot, especially if fridge clean-outs make you want to run for the hills. A simple label encouraged me to eat certain foods first every time I opened the fridge, which brought a whole new level of awareness. I didn’t throw out any food for the week, which was a huge win. If you struggle with food waste, this is an easy, low-effort trick that can make a big difference.

Further Reading

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