Now is a good time of year to begin taking a close look at your fridge, pantry, and freezer, trying to make some room well in advance of the holidays.

The first step is easy. Throw out anything that has gone bad. Check packages in the freezer for freezer burn and canned goods for any swelling. If a package is open, make sure the contents are still fresh. The science experiments in the back of the fridge need to go.

Second, toss out any mystery packages you find in the freezer. The more daring among you may decide to defrost them and try to make meals out of them.

Third, sort ruthlessly through the contents of your pantry. If it's unopened and you aren't going to use it (preferably in the next 2 months), donate it away. Food pantries can really use the donations in late summer.

Finally, try to plan meals that use up the contents of the freezer, fridge, and pantry. You might want to try to use one or two things each week. Between now and mid-November, that will make a lot of space available.

  When the holidays roll around, you'll be able to take advantage of the grocery specials to freshly restock for the long winter!