Nothing compares to a kitchen that you actually enjoy cooking in. And whether you’re a culinary master or a beginner baker, it’s also the one place in the house filled with every resource you might need. But when you have an unorganized kitchen, things can sometimes get out of hand: “Just like a cluttered mind creates chaos in our lives, a cluttered kitchen makes it harder to stay consistent with healthy habits,” says nutritionist Carrie Lupoli. “When your space feels overwhelming, cooking feels stressful instead of something we enjoy. But when your kitchen is organized and stocked with what I call the ‘right puzzle pieces’—protein, fats, and carbs that are fresh and easy to reach—you’re more likely to eat in a way that serves your body, not just your cravings.” To help you find the right balance between nutrition and your favorite indulgences, we asked dietitians how to organize your kitchen to make healthy eating feel like an effortless task.
5 Ways to Organize Your Kitchen to Promote Healthy Eating
Streamline Your Storage
First things first: conducting a storage container audit. “Keep only the food containers you actually need (I prefer glass instead of plastic), and pair tops and bottoms so leftovers are easy to portion right after cooking,” Lupoli suggests. Plus, plastic containers can often be riddled with forever chemicals, and switching to glassware can help you ward off some surface bacteria too.
Make Healthy Foods Visible
“Put produce, proteins, and healthy snacks front and center in the fridge, not buried behind condiments,” Lupoli says. “When the foods that serve your body are easy to see and grab, they become your default choices.” Our brains are naturally inclined to reach for what first meets the eye, and by keeping healthier foods at eye level, you’ll notice a shift in your daily snacking habits.
Keep Shelf-Stable Foods on Hand
Shelf-stable foods are nonperishable products that can be stored at room temperature, typically in a pantry. What’s even better is that there are so many healthy shelf-stable options out there, including canned beans, nuts and seeds, and even certain fruits. “Keep a few shelf-stable or frozen foods as easy backup healthy meal ideas for the days when you don’t have time or energy to cook, like canned beans, oats, and frozen veggies,” says Avery Zenker, registered dietitian at MyCrohnsandColitisTeam.
Make a Custom Seasoning Blend
“Make a custom blend of your most used seasonings,” Zenker suggests. “If you have a common seasoning combination you use when cooking, combine them into one blend to make cooking a bit quicker and easier.” You can enhance the blends even further by keeping one for added spice, sweetness, umami, etc.
Label Frozen Foods and Leftovers
Expiration dates can get the best of us, but the more organized you are, the less likely you’ll eat something that isn’t fresh any longer. “Label frozen foods and leftovers so you know what it is and the date when it’s from,” Zenker says. “This makes meal prepping more effective and helps make the most of valuable freezer space.”