Kitchen Tricks
Eight Ways to Leverage Your Kitchen
If food is medicine, your kitchen is a wellness center. Every adult I know with a high quality of health leverages their kitchen. These healthy souls may not be good cooks, and they may not even love food, but they utilize their kitchen for their own version of empowered wellness.
Kitchens are dynamic. They are in constant use. Groceries comes in. Pots and pans come out. Dishes get dirty. Countertops are wiped clean. And this is just for one meal! So in today’s post, I’m illuminating my top kitchen tricks that helped me turn my kitchen into a wellness center.
Trick #1 Claim Ownership of Your Kitchen
To quote Drake, “I started from the bottom, now I’m here.” I had zero experience or confidence when it came to grocery shopping, cooking and food prep. I had zero kitchen role models growing up. There was no grandmother teaching me how to bake. Everything in my childhood kitchen came out of the microwave, even hot water. In my thirties, I realized I needed to - and I wanted to - feed my family and myself, eat cleaner, and really take charge of meals, thus I started spending time in the kitchen. Over time, I learned where to source produce and how to clean it, chop it and store it. I mastered a few clutch recipes, and came up with a workable organizational system in my pantry and frig. It took years, but step by step, I got to where I am now, which is feeling “comfortably in charge” of my own kitchen, and my diet. And if I can do it, you can do it! Just start today, and take the reins.
Trick #2 Think Investments
I invest in ceramic pans, my favorite brand of honey, and a good sea salt, et al. I don’t see purchases like these as splurges. I see them as investing in my health and wellbeing. I figure, if my friends can spend $16 on one glass of wine at a restaurant, I can spend $16 on olive oil.
“Real food doesn’t have ingredients. Real food is ingredients.” - Jamie Oliver
Trick #3 Don’t Hide Your Fruit
I buy a lot of fruit and most of it lives on the countertops. Everything else gets stowed away in either the refrigerator or pantry, but I find fruit to be so pretty and colorful, so I use it as high vibe decor. Plus, fruit is the best ever fast food. Just grab & go.
Trick #4 Get an Electric Citrus Juicer
Do you know how often I need lemon or orange juice? Every single day! I have lemon water. I add lemon juice to salad dressings, rice dishes, and to my tea. I’m not sponsored, but I highly recommend this juicer. It’s easy to clean and squeezes every drop out of every lemon, orange and lime…worth every penny.
Trick #5 Constantly Tidy Up
There’s always something to put away or a dish or two to wash, right? So I suggest not letting things pile up. Instead, get into the habit of constantly tidying up. Wipe down the counter. Take out the trash. Push in a chair. It’ll help the room function optimally, it’ll minimize stress, and you’ll be more inclined to spend time in your kitchen.
Trick #6 Add One Pretty Thing That Has Nothing To Do With Food
Space is very precious in the kitchen and clutter is a big no-no, but try bringing in one (just one!) non-food item that enhances the vibe. A vase of cut flowers. A crystal. A salt lamp. A shiny trophy. Some artwork. I find bringing in a little personality is vital and adds much needed pizazz to the very utilitarian space that is the kitchen.
Trick #7 Establish Morning and Evening Kitchen Rituals
First thing I do when I step into my kitchen in the wee hours of the morning is open my back door for a minute or two, let my dogs out and let the fresh air in. The last thing I do at night before leaving my kitchen is hang all the wet dishtowels neatly on the towel bar. You probably have a ritual already, but don’t realize it’s a ritual. For instance, feeding a pet at the same time every day is a ritual. Drinking coffee out of your favorite mug is a ritual. Kitchen rituals ground us (a very important component of wellness!). So what are your rituals?
Trick #8 Experience the Thrill of Tupperware
Good quality tupperware is essential for three huge reasons: 1. you can safely and securely store leftovers, so less waste (yippee!), 2. you can portion out your meals, so as not to overeat, and 3. you can pack meals easily when you’re on-the-go. Tupperware has helped me eat healthier and has saved me money. Thank you Tupperware!
When it comes to empowered wellness, everything matter, including your kitchen. It’s truly central to your home, central to your life, and central to your wellbeing. I hope you take my tricks and turn your kitchen into an epic wellness center. Bon Appétit!
My Three Favorite Cookbooks
▫️I Love You by Pamela Anderson
(Excellent recipes, especially The Earl Grey Chia Overnight Oats)
▫️Sun & Ssukgat by Michelle Jungmin Bang
(It’s really a book about the Korean culture of self-care, but there is a lot of excellent food intel in it as well)
▫️The French Market Cookbook by Clotilde Dusoulier
(Health-centric recipes that make vegetables the star of the show)
“Good health starts in the kitchen.”