The Essential Kitchen collection of information begins with decluttering, cleaning & stocking your kitchen.
We had such a great response to our blog & podcast about creating the space you need. When we sifted through what the majority of people wanted us to expand on, it was all about the kitchen. How to maximize options when setting up? What's the best ways to organize what's needed? Can you give recommendations on what to stock & what to avoid? Lots to cover!
So, we've decided to do a 4-part series over the next month, & we'll begin today by giving you the ideas we'll be covering.
As we always do, we're breaking it down for you into manageable elements you can tackle one-by-one.
1.) Declutter & reorganize with new priorities in mind. Initially, we love to roll up our sleeves & get rid of whatever is really unhealthy, in any sense. Cluttered countertops are replaced with a great blender, a cool spice rack, a beautiful fruit bowl, & an assortment of glass-lidded jars with an array of healthy fruits, nuts, & dark chocolate, & of course, something to whip up a great cup of coffee or tea! We love a great French press-it brews coffee & tea beautifully!
We've got 2 goals: clear out stuff you never use, so the space is inviting enough to experiment with your new, healthier habits, & chuck processed, junk food, & keep delicious, healthy treats in eye-catching jars that are within easy reach.The whole point of decluttering & reorganizing is so you won't have to overthink, or waste 20 minutes looking for something!
This week's podcast of the PJ Wellness Show at 7PM on Thursday wil take decluttering & reorganizing to the next level in depth. So be sure & tune in wherever you get your podcasts.
You can sign up here too!
2.) Stocking your baseline staples-these are the collection of products we recommend keeping in the kitchen to stay on track & enjoy your meals. This includes what gets frozen, refrigerated or kept in a cool dark bin. There are lots of myths & misconceptions about what goes where, & how it can affect your meal plans & eating habits. We're also keen on what to keep within easy reach, both on counter-tops, in cabinets, & in your fridge & freezer. How you stock your kitchen really matters once your busy week takes off, & the rush of everyday life makes it harder to stay on your new, healthier track.
3.) Essential tools or useless gadgets? A great set of knives is essential. A drawerful of gadgets you ordered watching an ad at 2am are not. What containers work best? Plastic,glass or bamboo? We agree that it's always better to just prepare what you need, so there's less waste. But if your preparing for the week for you & your family, we've tried everything you can imagine, so you can pick up the best kitchen tools & gadgets without wasting trial time, or blowing your budget. Having what you need on hand will make kitchen prep faster & easier & keep meals prepared fresher longer.
4.) Check in on your eating habits. How often do you eat with family? How often do you go out to eat with friends? We propose trying to eat a few meals alone, so you can check out your auto-eating habits. You'll discover more quickly if you've acquired any bad habits, or choices you make without thinking, that you can revise. What makes your palate happy? Checking up on what you do when you eat alone will give you a heads' up on where you might be able to take it up a notch without too much disruption or expense.
If you want to do a bit of homework before we delve more deeply into each of our topics, feel free to do some of your own research. Get in touch with your questions-we'll be happy to help!
Best, Patrick & Jo-Anna
TakeAway Tip: Speaking of the kitchen sink-we have a few ideas! If you are designing from scratch, don't get a 2-sink arrangement that won't allow you to place large bowls & pans in either side.If you already have one of these split sinks-invest in a portable, multi-function board you can use over the sink. We love being able to maximize our space!