Indulging in our favorite comfort foods, desserts, and cocktails is an enjoyable part of the holiday season. But after weeks of overeating from Thanksgiving to Christmas, there's no question that eating a healthier diet should be a priority after the start of the new year. While dieting is never convenient, the way you organize the food and appliances in your kitchen can make it much easier. Check out these practical tips from Murphy Door to help you stick to your dieting resolutions all year long.
Make Healthy Foods Accessible
Let's be honest. If healthy snacks and meals aren't easy to eat right when you need them, chances are you'll find something unhealthy that is in arm’s reach, such as chips or fast food. Planning ahead prevents you from taking the easy way out with foods that are full of empty calories. It's helpful to prepare your healthy food options in advance. Even more importantly, put them in locations that are convenient to grab and go.
Here are some ideas to help you do just that and keep to your dieting resolutions:
- Keep the fruit bowl on your kitchen counter stocked with a variety of ripe options, such as bananas, apples, and oranges.
- Position pre-washed fruits, veggies, and other healthy snacks, such as low-fat yogurt, to the front of the fridge. Then you can see exactly what you have.
- Separate snacks, such as nuts and berries, and healthy meals into pre-portioned containers. Then you can grab them throughout the week without overeating.
Tuck Junk Food Away
Making healthy food choices easily accessible is just as important as hiding unhealthy options. If you have other family members in your home who are not abiding by the same diet as you, you probably won't be able to throw out all of the junk foods and snacks. But you don't have to keep them under your nose either. To make foods like candy, chips, and soda less enticing, consider storing them in hard-to-reach locations. This can include the back of the pantry or at the top of a high cabinet.
You probably won't forget that they're there. But keeping them tucked away or in an inconvenient location will make it easier to choose a low-fat cheese stick as a snack rather than a donut.
Place Smaller Bowls and Plates at the Front
Oftentimes, it's not the foods you eat that could lead to unhealthy weight gain. It's how much food you consume. To help you keep your portions under control this new year, try moving your salad plates and bowls to the front of the cabinet in place of your traditional meal plates. When you see your small plate filled with food, you won't feel like you're depriving yourself. Remember, you can always go back for seconds if you need to. But you may be surprised by how satisfied you feel after eating from a smaller plate.
Keep Appliances Within Reach
Mixing up the kitchen tools and appliances you use on a regular basis can make cooking healthier meals simple. If your slow cooker, blender, pressure cooker, and other devices aren't easily accessible, you probably won't be eager to use them. However, when they can be pulled out as quickly as any other dish, they're sure to be a part of your normal healthy cooking routine. The same is true for spices. To ensure that the foods you cook at home are as flavorful as possible, don't hesitate to reorganize your spice rack in a way that makes each spice easy to find.
Murphy Door is here to help you keep your dieting resolutions in 2022 and beyond! With our hidden Pantry Door and Spice Rack Door, you can keep your:
- Unhealthy foods out of sight
- Appliances within reach
- Spices well-organized
Visit us online to find your perfect hidden door, just in time for New Year's.
