The Healthy Kitchen: Preparing for a New Nutrition Plan

When preparing to eat better, I find that there are some things that need to be done first. Preparation is a great key to success when starting a new plan. 

1. Clean out pantry

Take stock of items in your pantry that are not good for your new nutrition plan. I use 2 categories: get rid of completely or hide for occasional use down the road. For me, I got rid of items I had not used or didn't like or had sugar in it. I kept some items like grains to be used occasionally. I also keep some regular pantry items for when cooking for others. 

2. Organize pantry

The pantry cleanout will probably make a lot of extra space so a reorganization of the pantry is good. For me, I have quite a bit of empty space to be filled up when I go to the store or to be decided later what to do with. 

3. Make a grocery list 

Before going to the store, make sure you make a list of all the healthy food you want to get. I also make a list of all the foods I can eat regularly that I can work off. I use the notes on my phone for these lists and paper. 

Being successful is not just about determination but also preparation. I'm a big fan of out of sight out of mind. If you aren't ready to completely get rid of an item hide it in a cabinet you don't use often. 

This is also a great time to pay it forward. Donate unopened items to a food pantry and share opened items with friends or family. That way you are not just throwing away food. Don't forget to check your spices. If you are cutting out sugar a lot of spice blends have hidden sugars. Also, check your expiration dates.