7 Steps to a Healthier Kitchen

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Want to make healthier food choices? Start by revamping your kitchen. Create an environment for success in the New Year and beyond.

Identify your goal: What do you want to achieve? You must have a clear understanding of what your goal is and why. Nothing happens overnight, but with consistency comes progress.
Take inventory: The first step of making a change is self-reflection. Review the contents of your refrigerator, pantry and any snack drawers throughout your home. Take note of each item, acknowledging what does and doesn’t work for your goals.
Divide and conquer: Look at your inventory and separate questionable or problematic items. If you’re trying to lower blood pressure, remove extra sodium-heavy seasonings. If you want to lose weight, eliminate cookies and cakes. In the end, you should have two piles. One for items you’ll keep, and another for items you’ll throw away.
Out with the old: Discard anything that’s not conducive to your plan. Get rid of the throwaway pile and make the most of what’s left. Remaining items should be combined with new, healthier options.
Make a grocery list: Replace sugary, processed foods with whole fruits and vegetables. Swap out pop and juices for water or tea. Invest in whole grains such as brown rice, oat meal and quinoa. Limit red meat and diversify protein sources with nuts, seeds, chicken and fish.
Restock and reorganize: Make the fridge and pantry easier to navigate. Create sections dedicated to specific food types. Also, utilize storage bins with large labels so they’re more accessible. This helps to reduce confusion and unnecessary clutter.
Invest in cooking gear: Kitchen tools can increase productivity and success. Popular items include a food processer, blender and slow cooker. At minimum, every kitchen should have one large pan and several different size pots.