Prepare Your Kitchen for a Healthy Eating Makeover

With your weight loss mindset right, support team in place, pick a start date….next is to get your kitchen ready!

This means cleaning out your pantry and fridge of junk food and high fat, high sugar choices to prepare yourself for a successful healthy eating program.

Things like cookies and other commercial baked goods, fried chips and boxed convenience foods should be relocated so as to avoid temptation.

Anything with trans fats should also be eliminated. Instead, fill your pantry, fridge and cabinets with healthy snacking options such as fruits and vegetables, healthy protein like nuts, hard boiled eggs, cheese and lean meats… good fats such as nut oils and olive oil, and whole grains. An example of a healthy snack to keep around might be hummus and baby carrots.

There may be some members of your household not participating in your new food plan and that’s okay. If you’re sharing kitchen space with other people who will be doing their own thing eating-wise, then you may want to clear out a special area of the pantry and shelf in the fridge for yourself. This is where your special, healthy items can be kept separate from tempting treats and other people’s munchies.

Your mission is to stay focused and firm on your weight loss and healthy eating goals no matter what other members of the house are doing. The choices that will bring you success are: prepare your meals separate from their meals; or they get to enjoy your healthier options in meals that you cook for the group.

Why bother separating or clearing out tempting junk food choices and empty calorie snacks? We do this to get ourselves started with good habits right away. We also know as someone just starting out with weight loss goals, you may be filled with purpose and resolve at this moment in time. However, if life gets hectic and you become stressed, tired or emotional, at some point you may have a stress eating moment and this is when you may reach for the filling and fattening foods.

Not having easy access to that junk will make you less likely to go searching for fattening snacks. Planning and preparation are the key to success, so don’t skip these. Make a special grocery store trip to stock up on all of your favorite healthy foods. Also pick up a set of storage containers, a cooler, and some ice packs so you can transport your own special, healthy snacks to have when you’re out and about.

The foods you won’t be eating you can give to someone in your house to hide away, donate or give to a neighbor. This allows room for the healthy choices you will purchase during food shopping or through a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture).

Kitchen Gadgets Ideas for Healthy Living: • Indoor Grill (Pampered chef is a great one) • Air fryer • Seed scouper • Baking Sheets • Slow Cooker • Insta Pot • Insta Pot Reynolds

Slow Cooker Liners • Parchment Paper • Measuring Cups • Measuring Spoons • Pots and Pan • Blender • Salad Spinner • Knife set • Food Processor • Basting brushes • Zester/Grater • Immersion Blender