Let’s be honest, there are a lot of sauces and condiments that I buy just for my husband, and no one else will eat them. He is a man that loves to dip, so pretty much everything I serve him he will dip in ranch, or mustard, or salsa, or hot sauce, or spicy chili sauce, or… well, you get the idea. Some of his hot sauces do not need to be refrigerated, so I am fine with leaving them un-touched on a shelf until he returns. But he has an entire condiment shelf in the fridge door that is just for him. Well, those things have an expiration date, and some of them will not out-last a deployment. So, if it’s not going to be good when he gets back, and you aren’t going to use it, then get rid of it! You don’t have to throw it all away– you can check with neighbors and friends first (who have husbands around) if anyone wants to inherit 5 different flavors of spicy mustard. But if no one else needs it, then go ahead and toss it, and enjoy the extra space for your new healthier food. Because we all know you start a deployment with a new diet and stocking up on health food!

And when it gets time for him to come home? Yep, you can go back to the store and get 5 new flavors of mustard and 3 kinds of salsa. But then, you’ll enjoy it and be excited about it. You can even wrap them up with a bow for a little homecoming present. Because nothing says “I’m not on deployment anymore” like being able to open your own fridge and choose your own favorite condiments to go with your food!