“Thou shalt not weigh more than thy refrigerator”

“Thou shalt not weight more than thy refrigerator” is a saying (often associated with other “kitchen sayings”) that has been cited in print since at least 1998. The saying has been printed on many gift items and is of unknown authorship.
 
Most refrigerators weigh 200-350 pounds.
 
 
9 June 1998, Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), “Spotlite”:
“Thou shalt not weigh more than thy refrigerator.”
 
9 September 1998, Austin (TX) American-Statesman, “Kitty’s Crumbs,” pg. E1:
Thou shalt not weigh more than thy refrigerator.
 
RootsWeb: BronxRoots-L
From:

Subject: Re: KITCHEN SLOGANS
Date: Thu, 22 Apr 1999 13:18:54 EDT
(...)
> KITCHEN SLOGANS
>
> A messy kitchen is a happy kitchen and this kitchen is delirious.
> No husband has ever been shot while doing the dishes.
> If we are what we eat, then I’m fast, cheap and easy.
> A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.
> Thou shalt not weigh more than thy refrigerator.
 
Google News Archive
17 February 2001, Boca Raton (FL) News, Ann Landers syndicated column, pg. 26, col. 1:
Thou shalt not weigh more than thy refrigerator.
 
Google Books
A Waist Is a Terrible Thing to Mind:
Loving Your Body, Accepting Yourself, and Living Without Regret
By Karen Scalf Linamen
Colorado Springs, CO: WaterBrook Springs
2010
Pg. 4:
In fact, at 227 pounds, it dawned on me that lid broken one of the first commandments of weight management, which is: “Thou shalt not weigh more than thy refrigerator.” (You think I’m joking? My make and model of fridge weighs 187 pounds. I looked it up.)
   
Tempo (Manila, Philippines)
Spiritual Preparation
Posted by Online on Dec 4th, 2011
(...)
In this joyous season of merrymaking and endless Christmas parties, remember this commandment: “Thou shalt not weigh more than thy refrigerator.”