If you were sitting in a team meeting with donuts on the table, you’d likely reach for a donut. But if that same meeting offered fresh fruit or vegetables, you’d inevitably make a healthier choice. The point is the physical space around us can impact the way we make nutritious choices. With that in mind, what are some ways you can design your environment to help make it easier to make nutritious food choices? Here’s what members of the ThriveGlobal community had to say.
Stash unhealthy food options on the top shelf: “We do our food shopping on a Saturday afternoon, so this is the only time during the week that less healthy snacks are allowed into our home. Any unhealthy snacks that aren’t eaten on a Saturday are stored in an opaque box on the top shelf of a cupboard. If it’s out of sight, it’s also usually out of mind.”
Designate different ‘nutrient shelves: “There’s something so satisfying to me when I open the door and am greeted with neatly laid out food choices. My love for an organized fridge eventually taught me how to make sure I was eating all the nutrients I need. After my meal prep is complete, I designate each shelf of my fridge to be a ‘nutrient shelf.’ The top shelf is reserved for all my healthy carbs, like brown rice, fruit, and roasted potatoes. The middle shelf holds all things green, like zucchini, spinach, and broccoli. And the bottom shelf is for protein — eggs, batch-cooked chicken, and beef.”
Set the table the night before: “I always recommend to my clients to set the table the night before. It is just a nice feeling when you get inside the kitchen and the table is already set, and it invites you to sit down and take your time, instead of just gulping something down while getting ready. It takes you a few minutes the night before, but those few minutes are precious and can make all the difference.”
Want more tips for designing an environment that helps you make healthy choices? Check out this story from ThriveGlobal.