When your kitchen is over-stuffed and under-organized it's easy to succumb to the temptation of takeaways and treats. A clear, clean, well-stocked kitchen is much more inviting to cook in. If you’re serious about maintaining a healthy weight your kitchen needs to be a place you want to be.
Cooking at home costs time but saves money. Invest it in things that save time and make cooking easier and happier. That could be quality implements, interesting cookbooks or just more hours for the cleaner so that your kitchen sparkles. Have a "one in, one out" rule with platters and gadgets so that your benchtop is clear and your storage spaces are uncluttered. Tackle a bit at a time. Perhaps do one shelf per week, starting with the fridge, moving through the pantry, cleaning as you go.
Keep treat foods at the back of the fridge and pantry, ideally not in clear containers, so that you are not visually triggered every time you open the door. Bring pre-chopped vegetables and healthy snacks to the front to make sure you’re grazing-smart while you take the edge off your appetite. It’s much easier to change your surroundings than yourself, especially your tired, hungry, end of day self. If you struggle to control your treat-eating then avoid bringing treats into the house until the day they are required. Resist the temptation to buy value packs of treat foods, it’s not value if it causes you to overeat a portion you don’t need. Other family members will likely stand strong on their right to have treats in the house, try to buy things that they like and you don’t!
Make a schedule for your shopping. For example a monthly shop at a bulk chain, a fortnightly shop at a specialist fruit / vege / meat outlet, a fortnightly internet shop and the top-ups at wherever is most convenient. Where possible, plan your big monthly shop for an offpeak time when you are not tired, hungry or with children.
Plan your finances to buy Christmas vouchers at end of November to save 5% on all December / January food. List the fruits and vegetables you like, dividing them into fast-perishing and slow-perishing. Stock up on slow-perishing at your big shop and rotate the fast-perishing. Buy convenience – cherry tomatoes, bagged baby carrots, apple slices, salads. The expense is offset by the fact that you probably won’t buy all in every shop as these tend to be fast-perishing. For super-slow perishing convenience try frozen and canned goods, but check the sugar content. Go very cautiously with dried fruit.
Work to continuously improve your cooking systems. You’ll enjoy better health and have a kitchen and skills to be proud of. `
Cooking at home costs time but saves money. Invest it in things that save time and make cooking easier and happier. That could be quality implements, interesting cookbooks or just more hours for the cleaner so that your kitchen sparkles. Have a "one in, one out" rule with platters and gadgets so that your benchtop is clear and your storage spaces are uncluttered. Tackle a bit at a time. Perhaps do one shelf per week, starting with the fridge, moving through the pantry, cleaning as you go.
Keep treat foods at the back of the fridge and pantry, ideally not in clear containers, so that you are not visually triggered every time you open the door. Bring pre-chopped vegetables and healthy snacks to the front to make sure you’re grazing-smart while you take the edge off your appetite. It’s much easier to change your surroundings than yourself, especially your tired, hungry, end of day self. If you struggle to control your treat-eating then avoid bringing treats into the house until the day they are required. Resist the temptation to buy value packs of treat foods, it’s not value if it causes you to overeat a portion you don’t need. Other family members will likely stand strong on their right to have treats in the house, try to buy things that they like and you don’t!
Make a schedule for your shopping. For example a monthly shop at a bulk chain, a fortnightly shop at a specialist fruit / vege / meat outlet, a fortnightly internet shop and the top-ups at wherever is most convenient. Where possible, plan your big monthly shop for an offpeak time when you are not tired, hungry or with children.
Plan your finances to buy Christmas vouchers at end of November to save 5% on all December / January food. List the fruits and vegetables you like, dividing them into fast-perishing and slow-perishing. Stock up on slow-perishing at your big shop and rotate the fast-perishing. Buy convenience – cherry tomatoes, bagged baby carrots, apple slices, salads. The expense is offset by the fact that you probably won’t buy all in every shop as these tend to be fast-perishing. For super-slow perishing convenience try frozen and canned goods, but check the sugar content. Go very cautiously with dried fruit.
Work to continuously improve your cooking systems. You’ll enjoy better health and have a kitchen and skills to be proud of. `
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