Although moving isn’t always the easiest decision to take, there might be a few signs that you should locate somewhere else. And with the decision to move away comes a lot of details that you need to consider to ensure that you’re not leaving anything behind.
Of course, hiring professional movers is the first thing you need to think about, as you can’t afford any mistakes. But you should also examine the things you’re planning to pack because some of them won’t be able to travel with you on your journey.
So, can you put food in a moving truck? Should you leave all the food you’ve kept in your kitchen when you’re relocating? Keep on reading to find the answers to these questions.
Can You Put Food in a Moving Truck?
Some food items can be packed while you’re moving. However, others should either be used, donated, recycled, or thrown away.
Some moving companies also refuse to load food and other perishable items into their trucks. The best way to find out is to ask your movers if packing food is acceptable.
Most movers will advise you against putting food on a moving truck because it can spill and ruin your belongings. In addition, if any food is forgotten on the truck, the rotting odor can cause your items to smell, especially if you’re moving far away from home. This also means that the movers will spend time cleaning the truck and making it suitable for the next customer.
What to Do With Your Food Before Moving Out?
Since taking your food with you isn’t always feasible, there are a few things that you can do to reduce the waste. It’s best to start assessing and evaluating the current situation in your kitchen a couple of weeks before your moving date to avoid the hassle while packing your stuff. Here are a few tips to follow.
- Make a list of all the food you have in the cupboards, fridge, and freezer, and list their date of expiration. Divide your food into several groups; frozen food, refrigerated food, canned food, boxed food, food in glass bottles, and cooking and baking supplies, as this will help you plan what to do with each type.
- Get rid of the expired food items. It’s quite common to find some old food items stacked at the end of the cupboard. Cleaning your kitchen is a good way to find and toss these food items away.
- Study the list of perishable items that you need to consume as soon as possible. This means that you should avoid grocery shopping and plan your meals based on what you already have.
- Find more interesting ways of cooking the items you have at home. Involve your family and friends in the process, so you can use all these food items instead of throwing them away.
- Start by using the food in your freezer and fridge because these are the most challenging items to move. You can also use the cookie and cake supplies for baking gifts for your neighbors before moving out.
- A day or two before moving it, host a dinner and invite your friends and neighbors. This is a good way to say goodbye, and they can leave with some of the food that wasn’t eaten.
- Pay attention to non-perishable items and types of food that are likely to last for a long time. If they’re not allowed to go on a moving truck, you can always pack them in your own vehicle. However, you’ll probably need the space for more urgent stuff. In this case, donating or giving them away will be a better decision.
- If you think that you’ll spend some time before getting to know the area around your new home, pack some of the canned and non-perishable food items in boxes. Prepare a medium-sized box that contains some of your canned food and spices. Use Ziplock bags for items like flour and sugar. This will protect your other belongings from potential spills.
- If you’re packing unopened glass containers of mustard or mayonnaise, wrap them in bubble wrap to protect them from impact. Opened containers should either be donated or thrown away.
- If you’re not moving far away and you’re driving your vehicle back and forth to your new home, get an icebox to keep the perishable food items inside.
- Donate some of the non-perishable food to charity. This includes boxes of cereal and chips, as well as canned food containers. Remember that you can always go grocery shopping once you’ve settled at your new house.
- Prepare some snacks for your movers, especially if it’s your friends or family who are helping you move. Since you have food to spare, it will be a good idea to prepare some homemade sandwiches to give to your movers while they’re packing your stuff.
Wrap Up
In some cases, it might be against the company’s policy to pack food on a moving truck. But if it’s allowed, you need to pack only unopened containers and keep them in boxes to prevent ruining the rest of your belongings.
