Make your life healthier, easier, and more energy filled with the following organizational tips:
Choose glass over plastic every time. Place chopped and ready-to-eat vegetables and fruits in glass containers at eye level in your refrigerator to make healthy snacking an easy first choice. This also makes it easy to prepare a personalized salad for everyone's tastes in your home. Glass containers are not only a safer material than the plastic containers your fruits and vegetables may have arrived in, but they also make food visible, easy to heat if needed, and can be used repeatedly.
Place leftovers on the top shelf of your refrigerator so you don't forget about them. This cuts down on waste and allows you to benefit from your efforts in the kitchen over multiple meals.
Place vegetables and fruits in separate drawers of your fridge so you can easily assess what you have and what you may need to replenish in each category. This is also a better option for prolonging the life of your vegetables, as the ripening agent in some fruits (enzymes) can prematurely ripen and spoil nearby vegetables.
Place all oils and vinegars together for easy access while cooking, and so you can easily see what you have on hand v. what you may need to restock.
Place all grains (rice, pasta, quinoa, oats) together in your cabinets.
Place all canned goods together, subcategorizing as needed (beans, tomato products, fruit, etc.).
Place all less-than-healthy snacks on a top shelf so you have to work harder to get them.
Place desserts of all kinds out of sight: in the freezer, in the back of the refrigerator, or in the back of a high cabinet.
Place spices on a turntable or in a container so you can readily access them and find what is needed for your recipes. The top five spices for nutrition and antioxidants are: Turmeric (reduces inflammation), Cinnamon (helps balance blood sugar), Oregano (potent antioxidant), Rosemary (stimulates immune system and aids digestion), and Ginger (similar antioxidant levels as one cup of spinach).
Use attractive containers to separately store tomatoes, onions, and lemons & limes on your counter - they'll lose flavor in the refrigerator.
Store nuts in airtight, opaque containers in the refrigerator or freezer - light or heat can cause them to become rancid.
Organizing your kitchen for easy access to nourishing foods will make healthful eating a piece of cake.
Guest columnist Jeana Moriarty is a Certified Holistic Health Coach and Certified Fitness Consultant. You can learn more about her unique Better You System here, or by calling 630.863.8633.