The photo you see above is, indeed, a real photo, not created or enhanced in any way. It’s also straight from my refrigerator.

It’s a container of grapes I purchased not so long ago, but apparently longer ago than I thought, because I reached in to fill a snack baggie and discovered this situation.

I am embarrassed and ashamed.

First of all, grapes are expensive.

Second, I hate wasting food.

Finally, my daughter would be horrified (but perhaps not shocked) to see these grapes. She is very fiscally responsible and keeps an “ingredient kitchen” (meaning she generally has on-hand only ingredients that she will use for planned meals).

While I have seen grapes in her frig, I’m certain she would never let them sit long enough to collect mold.

Somehow, the apple rolled far from the tree and I couldn’t be more proud of her!

I remember when my daughter would come home from college and clean out our refrigerator because she couldn’t stand seeing the clutter of multiple containers and a crisper drawer with something that had become unidentifiable.

Gosh, I miss those days! (The part where she cleaned out the frig, not the part about a nasty crisper drawer!)

It’s not that I’m particularly wasteful or that I don’t plan.

I generally meal plan on Sundays and shop accordingly, but then I get distracted or something comes up, or I run late in the morning and my snack plan or lunch plan or meal plan is cast aside.

Next thing you know, I’ve got a pack of chicken breasts past its use-by date, some grimey grapes and a whole lot of guilt.

And my husband is of no help in this area. He could easily pack a baggie of grapes, but he doesn’t.

If I don’t package his lunch, he either makes a peanut butter sandwich at his desk or runs to a drive-thru. He focuses on whatever’s easy.

That said, my husband is really good about foraging through our freezer and pantry to find ingredients to put together a last-minute meal without having to run to the store.

Fortunately, we are not an ingredient household. Unfortunately, some of our ingredients have been left in the frig/freezer beyond reasonable expectations.

I aspire to make healthy and nutritious meals for both of us, have healthy snacks on hand for the grandkids and be a good steward of our resources, but somehow, 57 million other things get in the way!

But what is a reasonable expectation for fruit?
According to a variety of internet sources, grapes can and should last up to three weeks when stored properly—that is to say unwashed in a breathable container.

Maybe that was my mistake. I washed them prior to putting them in the container.

I also dropped in a paper towel, which I usually don’t do, but I was in a hurry and they were still wet when I was prepping them.

I will definitely not make those mistakes again!

I’m sure I’m not the only one who has this problem now and then. I just may be the only one to take a photo of it and post it on a virtual Wall of Shame. If you can make me feel slightly better by telling me I’m not the only one, I’d appreciate it.

I might even offer you a fresh grape! 😊