The coming holidays often mean a surplus of food—and a surplus of leftovers. How can you arrange your refrigerator so it can cope?

Visibility is key. You’re more likely to eat what’s in front of you, so make sure it’s something healthy, like fruits and vegetables. However, make sure you keep the fruits and vegetables in separate drawers—over time, fruit can give off certain gases that make vegetables spoil more quickly.

Make healthy snacks especially handy by chopping and washing produce as soon as you get home from the store so you always have good-for-you foods on hand. Freeze leftovers in single-sized portions so you’re not tempted to overindulge later. And for a different spin, try freezing fruits like bananas, grapes and berries for a quick and delicious treat anytime.

Hide desserts and other tempting foods so they’re out of sight, out of mind. Put raw meat in the bottom of the refrigerator, so if any juices leak they don’t taint your other foods. The refrigerator door should be reserved for condiments, pickles and acidic foods that can handle the rising and falling temperatures of the door being opened and closed. Never store eggs, milk or butter in the door, no matter what cute specially designed holders might be there. Keep the eggs and dairy in a cooler part of the refrigerator.

The best guideline for storing food is “When in doubt, throw it out.” If something smells or looks odd, don’t take chances—toss it. Keep an eye on expiration dates on foods that have them, and date leftovers you store in the refrigerator or freezer so you know how long they’ve been hanging around. In general, it’s recommended that you immediately freeze any leftovers you know you won’t be eating within four days.

Most foods can be frozen; however, with the exception of hard cheeses, most dairy doesn’t do well in the freezer. Watery vegetables like lettuce and celery do not freeze well, nor do some fruits like strawberries and apricots. Other fruits and vegetables are generally good to go. You can even freeze eggs not in the shell—try freezing egg whites in ice cube trays for quick, healthy omelets.

Be sure not to overstuff your refrigerator, as air needs to be able to circulate in order to keep the food cool. Clean up all spills when they happen, and keep an open box of baking soda in there to absorb any odors.

It can be easy to ignore the arrangement of your refrigerator, since its contents mostly stay hidden. But focus a little time and energy in how you arrange what’s inside, and you might just be rewarded with healthier eating habits.