How You Can Design Your Kitchen to Encourage Better Diet Choices
Struggling with eating healthy? Consider redesigning your kitchen.
You don't need a full kitchen overhaul to make a space that encourages better eating habits.
A few easy changes can go a long way in helping you reach all of your nutritional goals.
Here are a few steps to take to support this initiative.
Stock Your Fridge with the Right Food
Start your journey to healthy eating by organizing your fridge and stocking it with nutritious foods.As soon as you get home from the grocery store, wash your fruit and put it in clear containers.
It's also a good idea to cut up and wash your vegetables right away.
This will make healthy snacking the easier option.
Other good items to keep in your fridge include salad ingredients, healthy dips, low-fat dairy products, and hard-boiled eggs.
Bonus: Store the less nutritious foods in the back of the fridge — out of sight, out of mind.
Organize Your Pantry
Be sure to store the healthiest foods in the front of the pantry, so you don't forget they are there.Items to keep within easy reach include:
- dried beans, canned vegetables
- nut butters
- whole-grain cereals
It's also easier to take inventory before heading to the store if everything is organized and in clear containers.
Keep Healthy Eating Gadgets Accessible
It's easy to turn down the chance to make a nutritional smoothie when your blender is shoved deep inide your kitchen cabinet.Keep appliances and gadgets that support healthy eating more accessible.
This will keep you motivated.
Good appliances to keep out and ready for use include:
- blender
- air fryer
- food chopper
Stock Up on Measuring Cups and Spoons
Stock up on plenty of measuring cups and spoons.This will make it easier to determine what a normal portion of food looks like.
This is also a good time to consider purchasing a kitchen scale.
While you do not want to become obsessive about weighing your portion sizes, you may be surprised at how little that one serving size truly is.
Keep Fresh Fruit on the Counter
When hunger strikes, you will be more likely to grab that apple or banana if it is visible and accessible.You can also consider keeping a basket with healthy snacks on display, such as:
- beef jerky
- nuts
- protein bars
Put the Sweet Dish out of Sight
It's tempting to grab just one piece of chocolate after a meal if you see it on the counter.However, those one pieces of candy can add up over time, wrecking your nutritional goals in the process.
It's a better approach to sit and enjoy a sweet treat occasionally.
A better organized kitchen will set you up for success in your quest to fuel your body with nutritional foods.
You have nothing to lose by setting up an environment that is conducive to healthy eating.