When it comes to eating healthy, the first step is obviously to pick the right foods. However, since eating healthy foods requires preparing them the right way and maintaining good eating habits, it’s equally important to have a kitchen that is conducive to healthy eating. If your kitchen is barren and filled with only a few items in your fridge and pantry, then you will probably find it difficult to maintain a good diet. In fact, studies show that people who cook at home frequently eat healthier and consume less calories than those who rarely or never cook at all. Cooking is easier when your kitchen is set up in a way to make healthy eating more successful. If you’re looking to revamp your eating habits, consider these five helpful tips for a healthier kitchen.

1. Purge your kitchen of all unhealthy foods.

If you don’t have unhealthy food around, you are a lot less likely to eat it. Just seeing junk food will make you more likely to eat it. So, get rid of anything that calls out to you!

2. Keep healthy building blocks on hand.

If just looking at junk food makes you more likely to reach for it, the same goes for healthy food. Did you know that people who have fruit sitting on their countertop weigh less than those who don’t? Stock up on the basics. Here are a few things that I always have in my kitchen: eggs - avocado - apple cider vinegar - coconut oil - berries - seasonal veggies - sweet potatoes - dark chocolate - coffee - grass-fed butter - green tea - rotisserie chicken - spinach - ground beef.

This is my kitchen…well, it’s my wife’s kitchen and she lets me use it and clean it…

3. Get the right cookware.

Making healthy food isn’t possible if you don’t have the right tools to do so. Invest in the essentials. I would suggest stainless steel pots and pans & a green pan non-stick skillet. Be sure to get the correct spatulas to go with your pans so you don’t ruin them the first time you make eggs. I also highly recommend a Vitamix and a nice set of knives (or at least a couple good ones) that you enjoy using. Good quality tools are worth the investment!

4. Organize your pantry in an attractive and useful way.

Keep your healthy items front and center and make low-cal snacks easy to find. Hide your chocolate stash so you don’t get tempted by seeing it every time you open the pantry or food cabinet door.

5. Use vinegar as a cleaning agent.

Vinegar isn’t just for your food, and bacteria hate it! Plus, I’d rather use a nontoxic substance to clean my countertops than something off the grocery store shelf. I put distilled white vinegar in a spray bottle and use it on countertops, handles, and stovetops. Wipe it down with a damp cloth and your kitchen is clean. Just avoid using it on granite and marble countertops

BONUS TIP: Cook foods to proper temperatures.

Here’s a quick guide:

Fish/seafood: 145 degrees
Pork: 145 degrees
Beef: 145 degrees
Poultry: 165 degrees
Ground meat: 155 degrees
Fruits/vegetables/grains/legumes: 136 degrees

I would suggest buying an instant read thermometer so you can always be sure to cook your food to a safe temperature.

How can I help you get healthier?

5 Ways to Make Your Kitchen Healthier