We’re back with more kitchen tips to help boost your diet and overall health! In Part I, we talked about how being prepared is key. Now, let’s break down four easy kitchen tips to improve your nutrition and well-being.
Healthy eating habits start in the kitchen, and the best way to begin your healthy lifestyle is by making your kitchen an inviting place that encourages you to crave healthier foods. One simple way to do this is by rearranging your kitchen to make it more visually appealing. Buy appliances that make cooking fun and easy, put some time into your cooking efforts, and use tools that simplify shopping and help you make better food choices.
Cooking doesn’t need to be complicated to be enjoyable and satisfying. If you tend to be a perfectionist, try relaxing by practicing with ingredients you already have on hand. Research recipes, get creative by swapping out ingredients, and you’ll gradually build your confidence and comfort in the kitchen.
As you develop the habit of knowing what goes into your food, you’ll become more mindful of the food you consume. Investing a little bit of time into cooking can quickly turn it into a rewarding routine. When you cook for yourself and your family, you’re putting love into the food and, consequently, into your body. You’ll start feeling better, happier, and healthier when you eat at home.
When grocery shopping, take advantage of various tools and healthy eating apps available. These apps can help you make cleaner food choices, identify preservatives or sugars in packaged foods, and even detect potential allergy triggers. They can also help you speed up your grocery trips, saving you time and frustration.
It’s also smart to invest in green kitchen cleaning products like those from Seventh Generation, along with a good fruit and vegetable wash that contains natural ingredients like grapefruit oil extract and lemon oil. Avoid bringing chemicals into your cooking space that could end up in your food. Natural cleaners do kill bacteria, and there are effective ways to disinfect sponges and kitchen tools without using harsh chemicals.
Once you feel comfortable in the kitchen, consider making larger batches of meals that you can refrigerate and eat throughout the next few days. For instance, you can cook a pot of quinoa to have with dinner, then use the leftovers for breakfast as oatmeal, add it to soup for lunch, and top it with veggies for dinner.
Having the right appliances readily accessible can make your time in the kitchen much smoother. Invest in high-quality tools like a blender (such as a NutriBullet or Vitamix), juicer, slow cooker, steamer, salad spinner, mesh strainer, vegetable scrub brush, and measuring tools. Store them where you can easily see and reach them, as even minor inconveniences like hunting for the right tool can disrupt your healthy eating efforts.
A good tip is to create a condiment tray for the table so guests can personalize their meals. A Lazy Susan works great for storing different condiments and makes it easy to add a variety of spices and flavors from around the world to any dish. You can also brighten up the tray by using glass jars or tin containers instead of store packaging.
Keep in mind that making a full transition to healthy eating and a healthy kitchen takes time. Be gentle and patient with yourself, and most importantly, have fun in the kitchen!