This article is from the WebMD Feature Archive

For those thinking about redecorating your kitchen, instead of repainting your cabinets, you may want to think about what you're putting in those cabinets first. Rethinking how you shop and how you store groceries could help your family eat healthier meals.

"People are so busy today," says Karen Cullen, PhD, assistant professor of behavioral nutrition at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. "We've really gotten away from menu planning and weekly grocery planning.

"Eating healthy is not an accident," she continues. "You can have healthy meals, and prepare them quickly and easily, as long as you have the ingredients on hand."

Some "kitchen makeover" tips Cullen offers for healthy eating:

Think small. Bulk purchases may be less expensive per pound, but individual portions are more convenient, more practical, and more nutritious from the standpoint of watching how much you're eating. If you prefer to buy in bulk, repackage the items in individual portion sizes. Keep the refrigerator stocked with plastic pint bottles of water and low-fat milk, boxes of 100% calcium-fortified juice, small containers of yogurt, low-fat string cheese, and snack bags of mini carrots. In the pantry, keep mini boxes of raisins and other dried fruits. Break down packages of whole wheat crackers and trail mix into ready-to-go snack bags.

Think convenient. Use no-fuss "salads in a bag." Keep skinless, boneless chicken breasts in the freezer, and consider grilling extra chicken to slice and freeze for quick chicken quesadillas and barbequed chicken sandwiches, or to add to soup. Also, keep plenty of canned and frozen vegetables on hand. "Vegetables don't have to be fresh to be healthy," Cullen says. If canned vegetables have too much sodium for your liking, just rinse them off.

Print Friendly Version          Email a Friend