KITCHEN TIPS | Weight loss starts in the kitchen and the key to having a healthy kitchen is keeping it stocked with whole, healthy foods, and keeping the appliances and utensils you need within reach.
Check out these seven kitchen tips to drive weight loss.
1. Store fruits and vegetables where you can see them
Replace bowls of junky snack foods such as chips and candy with bowls of bananas, oranges, apples, and other fruits. When you buy bags of produce such as celery and carrots, take a few minutes to peel, slice, and separate them into individual snack bags, then store them at the front of your refrigerator so you can grab them and go at any given time.
2. Keep a large bowl of salad on hand
Making a salad every time you prepare dinner can become tiring after awhile, considering all the prep that goes into the process. Instead, make a giant bowl of salad at the beginning of the week so you can simply scoop out the portion you want at dinnertime, and top with dressing. Or, cut up vegetables ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator so you can just take out what you need, add to spinach leaves, and top with dressing as desired.
3. Store measuring cups and spoons in plain sight
If you’re using measuring cups and spoons to keep serving sizes in check, store these items on your counter so you won’t forget to use them on a regular basis. While you may stay on top of measuring portion sizes at the beginning of your weight-loss journey, you can forget to do so over time if your measuring utensils aren’t easily accessible.
4. Make a series of snack packs
Instead of eating crackers and pita chips directly out of the packaging where you don’t always keep track of how much you’re eating, separate portions into plastic sandwich bags. That way, you can grab snacks when you’re feeling hungry without having to spend extra time separating the appropriate portion sizes.
5. Toss out all unhealthy foods
Now that the holiday season is almost over, it’s time to clean out your kitchen and get rid of soda, cookies, candy, and any other leftover junk food that won’t help with weight loss. If you feel reluctant about being wasteful, keep in mind that the only other storage option will be your waistline if you decide to keep these foods in the house.
6. Double or triple healthy recipes
If you’re taking the time to make a new, healthy recipe, make it worth your while by cooking up double or triple the amount of food. Then, store the leftovers in multiple containers so later down the road you can thaw and serve without investing time in extra preparation. On busier days, you can heat up healthy leftovers instead of resorting to grabbing fast food on the go.
7. Place food in storage containers immediately after cooking
If you’re trying to cut back on portion sizes, transfer food immediately to storage containers before you sit down to eat. This will help prevent you from going back for seconds and thirds after you’ve already served yourself an appropriate serving size.
Want to know more health and lifestyle tips and tricks? Visit our health learning center to find more info to help you on your weight loss journey.
KITCHEN TIPS | Karen Eisenbraun is a certified holistic nutrition consultant and writer with a background in digital marketing. She has written extensively on the topics of nutrition and holistic health for many leading websites.
