kitchen conversations

New Year – new kitchen, maybe not literally but you would be surprised how new your kitchen can feel when it is organized!  Not being able to find the things you need, or even knowing what you have, can be costly and frustrating.  You may feel it is because you don’t have enough kitchen space but in reality it may just mean what you do have is cluttered and unorganized. 

• Countertops are valuable real estate in any kitchen, yet they can easily get cluttered by small appliances that are seldom used.  Evaluate how often you use these appliances and how they look on your countertop.  Appliance garages are great option for tucking them out of sight.  

•  If you are looking at shedding some pounds this year, load up on the spices and get them organized!  Using spices to add flavor to healthy meal choices can help you feel more satisfied and keep you on track with your lifestyle changes.  In fact, in a study published in the International Journal of Obesity, people who had food seasoned with red pepper felt fuller and ate less than those who didn’t have the pepper.  Here are some additional items from Women’s Day Magazine on how to Slim Down Without Dieting

 

• Are the trips to the grocery store each week filling your cabinets with boxes and cans that you don’t even know that you have?  Organize your cabinets to store the grocery items in a way that you can do your meal planning and find the ingredients that you are in need of.  Contrary to popular belief, buying in bulk in not always the best option. Only buy what you will use in a timely manner, this eliminates the stockpiling of items that never get used and go to waste. 

• Organize your pots and pans so they can be easily stored and accessed.  Usually these are the heaviest items in your kitchen, yet stored in the lowest spaces.