6 amazing hacks for a healthy lifestyle kitchen!

Organization is key for success in any part of your life, and the kitchen and pantry units are no exception! The more organized and accessible you make the fresh and healthy ingredients in your home, the more likely you are to use them. Of course, it might be impossible to completely rid yourself of all unhealthy snack foods and items, and that's okay as long as you keep them hidden away.  

Try an organization concept like the one seen here if open-concept shelving isn't necessarily for you. Keep fresh, organic ingredients within eye sight and arms reach and place all unwanted and unhealthy food behind these items!  For example, in this pantry, you could keep the healthy food in the exposed areas, and place all unhealthy food and snacks in the four drawers on the bottom – problem solved!

If you have a primarily exposed kitchen concept, you can still keep things healthy and beautiful – take a look at this kitchen for great inspiration! 

One of the easiest ways to both promote a healthy lifestyle and remind yourself that the summer season is upon you is to make sure you put your fresh fruits and vegetables on display.  Grab a great vintage or locally handmade dish, like the one seen here, and display your fresh produce as a way to motivate yourself to eat healthier. 

Of course, be sure to do your research and only display those fruits and vegetables that can withstand longer in a natural, more humid environment – some fruits and vegetables do better when refrigerated, or even frozen. For a super-healthy change, keep a minimalist kitchen like the one seen here in order to really make your fruits and vegetables the focal point.

Tip: Use brightly coloured fruits and vegetables like lemons, cucumbers, oranges and apples in a display bowl to add both colour and a means of directing eye contact towards the items you should be eating!

It's always fun  to cook while listening to music, and especially before a dinner party or special event at your home, the right music can always set the right mood and aid in relaxation. If your car comes with an iPod dock, your kitchen most certainly can as well.  Don't assume that this has to be an expensive endeavor or requires a lot of installation time and costs.  For quite an affordable price you can add wireless iPod docks anywhere in your home and connect them via wireless speakers to reach the dining room and even the living room!

Get yourself out of the habit of laying your iPod on the counter and listening to music as this can cause it to get wet, get in the way, or fall to the hard kitchen floor.  It's also best to avoid using headphones in the kitchen for safety reasons as they can easily become hooked on drawer hardware and appliances.  Install a dock that's out of the way and above the mess and grime to get the most out of your modern, healthy kitchen.

Companies and co-ops have made it easy to bring the outdoors inside with herb and vegetable planting kits,  indoor holders, and organizational units. Use these to your advantage and help your meals take on a whole new taste! For a more rustic feel, add potted planters behind the kitchen sink for easy access and rinsing – and add them in various other places for a pop of green colour (as seen here under the wooden work table!)

If you have a smaller kitchen, opt for hanging planters or wall-attached planting units as to avoid using counter space and floor space.

Check out how these potted countertop planters have added a special touch to this kitchen – and they're the most accessible!

As you focus more on a healthier lifestyle it's important to do research on the kinds and types of appliances you might need to make your life easier. Some healthy-lifestyle appliances you should consider are the following:

Juicer

Mixer

Salad rinser

Water cooker for tea and other hot drinks

Decanters for infused water and juices

Vegetable cutters, shavers, etc;

It is helpful to keep all of these items in one place for easy accessibility and daily use.  As seen in this kitchen, where the designer opted for an open shelving unit, put only healthy and fresh ingredients, spices and baking ingredients out as well!

Lastly, once you've organized your kitchen according to a healthy lifestyle and have dedicated yourself to buying only fresh and healthy food and/or growing your own herbs, vegetables and fruits, the next step is to invest in the proper utensils to make sure you're getting the most out of your healthy meals.

Weight scales, measurers and smaller plates and serving platters are key to making sure you're keeping things in check and eating balanced meals. Dinner parties can be an easy environment to forget portion controls as you're trying to keep everyone full and happy, but we suggest you also implement portion controls in social situations.  You will be surprised how full everyone will be even with the smaller portions and in the long-term, this will save you time and money!

To find out more about keeping healthy in the home, read these six tips to get super fit!