How To Prep Your Kitchen For Weight Loss

In my last post, I pointed out why you can’t rely on exercise alone to lose weight.  It is clear that your food choices have a significant impact on your weight and need to be properly managed.  This can be difficult for a number of reasons.  Maybe you’re too distracted with other areas of life.  Maybe you have been taught bad eating habits.  Maybe you are so busy catering to your loved one’s needs that you overlook your needs.  Whatever the reason, most people can agree that their kitchens are stuffed with foods that aren’t healthy or productive for weight management.

You see, it’s human nature that when food is in your possession or readily accessible, it will eventually be consumed.  Even if you don’t want to or know that you shouldn’t eat it, you eventually will.  The convenience factor is too high to be denied.  So how can you fix this problem?  If you want to be healthy and lean, you must remove all foods that aren’t part of your healthy nutrition program and replace them with a variety of better, healthier choices.  I’ll offer some simple strategies to help you take out the garbage and make your kitchen more diet friendly.

Your Kitchen Makeover Checklist

1. Low-fat eating does not mean healthy eating.  Foods that are labelled as “low-fat” usually contain large amounts of added sugar ( so it’s palatable).  It also means the food has undergone further processing which can degrade its quality.  Fats in whole foods also help in the digestion and assimilation of the key nutrients that reside within the foods.

2. Grocery shop more often. There is no doubt that nutritious food spoils fast.  Food that can be frozen or stored for months is certainly an attractive alternative.  These foods (with the exception of frozen fruits and vegetables) are usually heavily processed and don’t offer anywhere close to the nutrient potency of their fresh counterparts. Try to shop every three days or so.  If you don’t live close to a whole food market then consider starting a garden. Fresh food tastes better and is better for you.

3. Don’t buy food in bulk or economy sizes.  If you have a large family or hate grocery shopping then chances are you’re shopping at Costco and buying all the boxed food and sauces that you can fit in your cart to prepare for the next Great Depression.  This is a common practice of  “routine eaters”.  Those who eat only three types a food all year round.  They can go to the grocery store and mindlessly buy the same things year in and year out. Where’s the variety? You need  spectrum of nutrients in your diet and your can only acquire these with a spectrum of food choices. Don’t tell me that buying in bulk is cheaper. I just bought fruits and vegetables for five days for under seven dollars; and I’m an over 200 pound man. Fresh food can be affordable if you take the time to look around.

4. Get rid of the following items from your fridge and freezer:

Packaged sauces                                                          Baked goods
Juicy steaks or sausage                                                 Frozen dinners
Margarine                                                                      White bread or bagels
Fruit juice                                                                      Mashed potatoes or pasta
Take-out or restaurant leftovers                                      Soft drinks 

5. Get rid of the following items from your pantry:

    Potato or corn chips                                                        Fruit or granola bars
Chocolates or candy                                                       Soft drinks
Regular or low-fat cookies                                               Regular peanut butter
Instant foods like cake mixes and mashed potatoes         Bread crumbs, croutons, and dried bread products
Alcohol

6. Make sure you have  most of these foods in your fridge/ freezer:

    Extra-lean beef                                                               At least four varieties of fruit
Chicken breasts                                                             At least five varieties of vegetables
Salmon                                                                          Flax seed oil
Omega-3 eggs                                                               Water filter
Packaged egg whites                                                     Sweet potatoes
Real cheese

7. Make sure you have  most of these foods in your pantry:

    Whole oats                                                                     Extra virgin olive oil
Quinoa                                                                           Vinegar
Whole-grain pasta                                                           Green tea
Natural peanut butter                                                       Protein supplements
Mixed nuts                                                                      Fish oil supplements
Canned or bagged beans                                                 Green foods supplements

8. Don’t hesitate to throw out leftovers or foods you’ve received as gifts. No one hates to throw away food more than I do, but if it’s garbage for your body, then it’s garbage, throw it away!

What To Do Next. . .

If you have most of these already in check then you’re already ahead of the game. You may just need to refine your habits a little bit. Either way, never approach any diet or exercise plan without implementing most (if not all) of the points on this checklist. Your results will reflect your diligence.

If you don’t have these things already in order then you’re not doing very well in the kitchen department. I don’t care how much you exercise or how many supplements you use. You’d have a better chance at winning the lottery than winning the battle to improve your body composition if you eat this way. Because you’re in need of  serious help, you’ll need to execute some immediate action. Here’s what you need to do:

Get rid of all the foods listed in #4 and 5. Put everything in a bag and leave it out for the local sanitation crew to deal with. You could also make donation to your local food bank.

Go shopping and buy as many things from # 6 and 7 as possible.

Smile, because you’ve just taken the most important step in transforming your body and life.