Here’s how to set your eating area up for success.
It’s not just what you buy at the store and how you plan your meals that dictates what you eat: How organized (and clean) your space is can influence food choices and overall health in ways you might not realize.
Here, three tips to ensure your eating space promotes wellness.
1. Store nuts and seeds in see-through bins.
Stash healthy snacks (roasted almonds, chia seeds, or sunflower seeds) in clear bins on an easy-to-reach shelf in your pantry, says Amelia Meena, New York City-based founder of Appleshine Organization + Design. Nutritious fare will always be at your fingertips when you need a little bit of energy and you’ll know exactly what you have and what you need to restock.
2. Check your condiments.
As a guideline, experts recommend tossing out salsa at the one month mark, mayo at two months, and ketchup, jam, and jelly at six months. Mustards can last longer, up to 12 months. And anything that looks iffy should go.
3. Dust regularly.
Preliminary research in mice has shown that typical house dust can trigger the growth of fat cells. Experts recommend vacuuming frequently and using damp cloths instead of dry ones to dust, since the latter simply moves contaminants back into the air.