How to Set Up Your
Kitchen to Eat More Meals at Home
By Jane Blanchard
Eating at home offers many advantages over dining out, the
biggest one being the cost savings. Take out and pizza delivery are way too
tempting if elements to make a meal are not easily accessible or cannot be
accomplished in a reasonable amount of time. One of the best ways to fight that
temptation? Set up your kitchen so that it encourages meals at home. Here’s
how:
1. Set Up a Snack
Station
On a counter that is closest to the door, assemble an assortment of grab-and-go snacks to eat as you travel outside the home. Whether running errands or working, driving past a fast food chain on an empty stomach can tempt even the strongest of wills. Armed with a tasty snack, you are more likely to resist impulsive food stops and hold out for a home-cooked meal.
2. Store Small
Appliances Wisely
To avoid spending hours in the kitchen, store appliances and
other meal-prep tools near each other. Having the essentials at your fingertips
will help produce meals fast, and as a result, you'll be more inclined to eat
at home regularly. With multitasking in mind, place your slow cooker, food
processor and other appliances near the oven. For quicker accessibility,
consider storing them on your countertop. Since counter space is often limited,
think about installing an appliance garage to cut down on clutter.
3. Organize Your
Pantry
via transFORM | The Art of Custom Storage |
A properly stocked and organized pantry sets the stage for a
proper meal. If your pantry is a disaster zone, it will take you longer to find
what you need, which may cause unnecessary stress and frustration. Avoid this
by selecting a pantry design that allows most items to be in full view. Store
meal makings on the same shelf or group of shelves. For example, keep pasta and
sauces together, and store your flour, sugar and other baking essentials in the
same area.
4. Make Recipes
Readily Available
With the goal to eat at home more often, you will want to
have plenty of recipes on hand. For quick reference, consider a stand or
wall-mounted holder for your tablet to access all the yummy Internet recipes
you’ve saved. Better yet, choose a dock with attached speakers and play some
music to pass the time when cooking. As an alternative, you can go old school
with a shelf that beautifully displays your most trusted cookbooks.
Smart placement of appliances, an organized pantry and other
easy adjustments will have you ditching restaurants and dining at home in no
time.
For more home ideas check out Modernize.com!