3 ways to create a supportive kitchen environment
When it comes to improving our health and wellness, the focus is often on mindset and our motivation. Don’t get me wrong - we love a healthy mindset. Unfortunately, our motivation won’t always be there; and the control we have over our mindset, while important, only goes so far. What about the day where we don’t get as much sleep as we’d like, or when we’re dealing with added stress? We only have so much willpower, and sometimes our minds are exhausted with the number of decisions we have to make on any given day. It’s really no wonder we sometimes give in and make decisions that are not aligned with our goals!
That’s why, rather than focusing solely on changing our mindset, we also want to focus on changing our environment. We want healthy choices to be as easy and convenient as possible, so we have to ‘use up’ less of our limited willpower to make them.
This is true in all aspects of life; but thinking specifically about nutrition, here are a just a few questions to consider when creating a helpful kitchen environment:
What’s on the countertops? Limit the number of “tempting” foods sitting out in the open. Maybe put a bowl of fresh fruits & veggies in a visible location so you’re more likely to grab one of those!
How is your pantry organized? Keep the healthy foods/snacks at eye level, and towards the front of the shelves. The whole ‘out of sight, out of mind’ adage really does have some truth to it!
What’s in your shopping cart? Go for variety! A bunch of different, colorful fruits and vegetables is more fun to look at - and to eat. And while we’re all about including the foods that you love… if there’s a food that you have a really difficult time eating in moderation, and it’s not aligned with your long-term goals, remember that it’s much easier to say “no” once at the store than to deny ourselves each and every time we walk into the kitchen.
Something helpful to think about here is whether you’re an abstainer or a moderator. (Unsure? Check this out - thanks, Gretchen Rubin.) That will help you determine what kind of environment is best for YOU - one where the occasional treat helps you stick to your long-term plan, or one where it’s actually easier to give something up altogether.
Related Posts
