Healthy dose of organizing

Did you ever think about organizing to get healthy? Maybe not, but as a professional organizer for over 10 years, I’ve seen a lot of kitchens and have realized that those clients who are healthy eaters have some things in common - their healthy kitchens contain clear and clean counter space, fresh food, a safe environment and open space.

How do you achieve this “ideal” kitchen? Let’s start with establishing the function of a kitchen. For most people, the kitchen is where you cook and eat. Some entertain here, and others use the kitchen table as a home office or a homework area. It’s best to limit the functions of a room to prevent it from being too cluttered. Once you’ve decided the function, all items in the room should serve that function. So if you have a small table or desk, move the bill-paying and homework out of the kitchen to another room.

Clear/Clean Counters – When organizing any room, start by clearing the surface areas. Take everything off, categorize it and decide what to donate or trash. When you are ready to put things back, the only things to keep out on the counters are those that you use every day. This might be a coffee maker or toaster oven or a crock of cooking utensils. Keeping a clear counter makes it easier to keep clean by wiping it down with soap and water once a day and disinfecting it once a week or after preparing raw meat. If you’re looking for a place to keep odd shaped appliances, under the sink works well. Most people keep cleaning products here but in the interest of safety, you should put cleaning products up high on a shelf.

Fresh food - Food is the primary ingredient in a healthy kitchen so lets look at ways to keep it fresh. First, take all food out of the pantry, cabinets and refrigerator when you’re doing a major clean out. Check for expiration dates and mold on any food. These get tossed right away. Any left overs should go into clear, square containers preferably with a date on them so you can use them up within a week. Some citrus fruits can be left on the table in a bowl to make a pretty centerpiece and to make it easier for you to grab a healthy snack. And speaking of healthy snacks, make sure they are at eye level in the fridge and in the pantry. Make the bad food harder to find – if you have any at all! If you have children, make sure you have healthy snacks at their fingertips, especially after school. They tend to eat what they see first.

Source:  Smead Organomics