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It’s still early enough in the year that I haven’t fully given up on the diet. Like all the years before, I’m making a grown-up effort to be more healthy in my food choices.

Rather than mindlessly snacking on things that are bad for me like sweets or chips, I’m trying to have more fruits in the house for that easy go-to when I feel like noshing on something.

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But if you’re like me and buying fresh fruits like berries, you’ll probably notice that it seems like by the next day that you’ve brought the produce home from the grocery store, they’re already starting to go bad. But there might be an easy and natural hack to get your fruit to stick around for longer before you have to toss it in the bin.

For a start, it is highly recommended that when you get home from the grocery store, take your fruit out of the plastic containers that they come in. Recycle the plastic, and use a glass container instead to store them in. Mason jars are great for this purpose. But it isn’t just the lack of plastic that will help. There is another tip: using vinegar.

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While it might seem counterproductive or gross, it actually works. Fill a large bwol up with some water and then add in a few tablespoons of distilled vinegar. Soak your fruit in the water for roughly 10-15 minutes. This helps to rid the fruit of any potential mold or bacteria that will cause it to spoil so quickly.

Once it has soaked an appropriate amount of time, you can fish it out and then put it into a strainer and rinse it under cool water to get rid of the vinegar taste. Then, dry the fruit and let further air dry before you pop it into a mason jar and seal it up with a lid. This will help ensure that your fruit – particularly berries – stay fresher for longer.

Photo: Max Pixel

It might seem like a lot of extra effort for a couple of berries, but in the long run, it is a fantastic way to save money by eliminating unnecessary food waste. Plus, it also allows you to keep your fridge stocked for longer with healthier snack options, which is ensure more success with that New Years’ resolution to eat healthier and maybe even lose some weight!

What do you think of this method? Have you ever tried it before? Will you be giving it a whirl one of these days? Let us know!