Spring Clean Your Kitchen for Health!
By Sara Butler
Spring cleaning time has arrived and it's time to do more than throw open your windows and dust every surface of your house -- it's time to spring clean your kitchen. A little cleaning in your kitchen now can set you up for a season of healthy choices to help you reach your health and wellness goals.
Organize
You probably organize your kitchen counters often, but what about your shelves? Doing a deep dive into your cupboards can help you clean out the clutter from winter and make better nutrition choices more obvious and convenient. Throw away old cereal and candy to make way for your fruit bowl and other healthy fuel.
It's also a good idea to organize your shelves so that healthy snacks are front and center. Keep things such as nuts and popcorn at eye level and within easy. Doing this makes it more likely that you'll choose that for a healthy snack when you go grazing.
Clear the Condiments
There's no time like the present to go through all of your condiments and check the best-by labels. Throw out anything you don't remember opening recently.
As a rule, mayonnaise and salad dressings are usually good for about two months, while jelly, ketchup, and hot sauce can last up to six months. As far as spices are concerned, if they're stored in a cool, dry place, then they should be good for up to two to three years. But it's probably best to label your spices with a note when you got them so you can restock regularly.
Go Clear
It's easy for pantries to become crowded. Fight back against a half-finished food wasteland with clear storage bins. You can easily keep grains, flour, pasta, and cereal safe in these bins that let you see what you've got and what's left of it so you can finish it off before buying something new.
Plant a Garden
If you have a window in your kitchen, use it for your own mini herb garden. It's easy to find a starter kit for your window ledge that will allow you to cultivate your own fresh herbs all summer while adding a little natural flair to your kitchen. Think about mint, basil, or cilantro to add to your cooking.
Spring cleaning your kitchen is a step toward better health and wellness, so get motivated!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Hoboken, N.J.