Over the weekend, I made it my mission to clean out my refrigerator and organize the pantry.
I knew my vacation was ending and I wanted to get the kitchen in a sparkling condition, like it had just gotten back from a vacation as well. The reason was definitely for aesthetic purposes – too much clutter and mess in your surroundings can stress you out, especially if you work from home. It can make your thoughts feel messy and cluttered, you can get anxious feeling like you need to clean, and it can kick OCD and control issues in to overdrive.
So I decided to start out fresh.
There was also another reason — one that sat with me a little deeper. On vacation, I sat in a car for days on end, didn’t get to move very much and exercised only a few times. I didn’t eat fast food per say, but we did eat out for almost 2 weeks straight and that can wreak havoc on my digestive system.
For me, organizing meant buying just enough healthy foods to replenish my fridge with out overwhelming myself with choices.
It meant cleaning out my pantry so I could see what healthy options I had and ditch the old or expired stuff.
And it meant ending my vacation and starting out a new work week with a little more ease and peace.
Doesn’t that sound fantastic?
Here are 5 ways you can create a healthy kitchen (specifically the fridge):
1) Lovely reusable water bottles filled with water for easy grab n go all day hydration. The prettier they are, the more excited you will be to use them. I promise 😉
2) Cut up fruits and veggies. Put them in glass containers at eye level, so you see them first when you open the fridge and can take them with you to snack on. If they are the first thing you see, rather than down in a draw, unprepped, you are more likely to choose them over a bag of chips or sleeve of crackers.
3) Clear out the crap – get rid of the stuff that you don’t use or that may have gone bad. A super stocked fridge wastes energy and your money. Your more likely to let things go bad and get cluttered. A cluttered fridge means less clarity when you reach for something to eat.
4) Put temptations to the side. Beer, wine, and chocolate are all things that can have a place in your fridge and your life. But when they are the first thing you see when you open the fridge, you are more likely to reach for them. Set them out of sight, so you only grab them when you really want them.
5) Restock frequently. Its better to make a stop on your way home a few times a week than to overstock and let food go to waste. Eat whats in your fridge, keep it healthy, and grab a more items only when you really need them. This will keep it simple, keep it healthy, and make it so much easier to cook up delicious meals.
*Bonus tip* Store your flours, rice, grains, etc in mason jar for easy stacking and labeling. It also helps you see what you’ve got and how much is left. It’s also kind of pretty 🙂
What is your biggest “waster” in your kitchen? What 1 step can you take today to start keeping your kitchen healthy and less cluttered? Leave it in the comments below and get started now!
If you liked these, you’ll love the Lighter in 10 Days Cleanse, featuring the bonus workbook Health Kitchen Guide that teaches you how to stock your kitchen and what to stock it with post-cleanse to keep the good times rolling. Check out more info and sign up here.
Peace and Love,
Jessi
