You're not thinking clearly. You gauge how long stuff lasts and shop accordingly. For example, you buy half-gallons of milk instead of full gallons, because the gallon would go past date before you could use it up. Or maybe you're a big milk drinker and won't have that problem. The same goes for eggs; there are quite a few sizes, and they don't last all that long. So if you run out too quick, you buy more the next time you're at the store. Things like lettuce and other fresh vegetables need to be eaten within a few days or a week. So the lettuce can be used three days in a row, for hamburgers, BLTs, and then taco salad. The tomato gets used for the hamburgers and BLTs. If you have celery sticks, within a week you need to use the remaining ones in chicken soup. Sure, it takes more thinking than throwing processed slop in the microwave and chowing down, but you ARE eating healthier food.