Whenever someone decides to go on a diet, what do you think
the first thing they do is? Probably, buy healthier foods at the grocery store.
But, if you open up their refrigerators, everything is still in the same
places, food is all over the place, and nothing is divided in portions. There
are many ways to set up your fridge, and the food in it, so that in turn, your
fridge helps you lose weight even quicker. So, take note, and help your fridge,
help you on your weight loss adventures!
#1 Spa-ify your water
"I keep big pitchers of water infused
with mint or ginger and in-season fruit or citrus slices in the fridge up
front. It usually lasts a couple of days, and it's a great way to stay hydrated
without lots of sugar or calories. Also, because it looks so refreshing, it
makes me want to pour a glass!"
#2 Save the date
"To make sure my leftover fruits and
vegetables won't go uneaten, I write down dates on plastic baggies and
containers so I know how long they've been in my refrigerator."
#3 Choose a good cheese
"Buy blocks of hard cheeses, such as
Parmesan and Asiago, because you have to physically shred them with a grater
when you're using them in recipes or as a garnish. This makes you very aware of
just how much cheese you're adding, which helps with portion (and calorie)
control."
#4 Lighten up juice
"Cut it with seltzer water to slash
calories (the fizz keeps it from tasting boring). Right when you get home from
the market, fill a pitcher one-third of the way with juice and two-thirds of
the way with seltzer."
#5 Move back your comfort
foods
"Put less healthy meals, such as
macaroni and cheese, in opaque containers. Then hide them behind your healthy
stuff so they're not as top-of-mind."
#6 Pick minis for trigger
foods
"If you love avocados, say, but don't
want to overdo it, store serving-size containers of guacamole on a middle
shelf. Guac is full of healthy fat and great in taco salad or for dipping
veggies. You can get portion sizes of cheese and chocolate, too."
#7 Keep a natural
sweetener
"It's nice to have fruit-sweetened
jams, which are relatively low in sugar. They're tasty with peanut butter on a
brown-rice wrap, on oatmeal or drizzled on low-fat ice cream for dessert."
#8 Put snack pairings
together
"I keep foods that are smart snack
combos (natural almond butter and apples, or low-fat cottage cheese and celery)
close to each other. This reminds me of the good snack options I have and makes
it really fast to assemble them."
#9 Store cooked grains
"When I have a container of precooked
grains, like barley or quinoa, I put a half-cup measuring cup inside. Grains
can be difficult to eyeball, so using a measuring cup to scoop out a portion
prevents me from serving more than I need."
#10 No more wasted food
"Once a week, scan the fridge and pull
forward items that need to be finished, like opened tomato paste or Greek
yogurt. It'll remind you to use them and to cook at home, which is healthier 99
percent of the time."
#11 Buy yogurt in bulk
"A tub of Greek yogurt in your fridge
is a must. It's not only a breakfast staple—it works as a substitute for so
many fattening spreads, such as sour cream and cream cheese."
#12 Hydrate your herbs
"Place herbs like parsley and cilantro
stems-down in a cup of H2O and cover with a plastic bag. The water keeps them
fresh longer (just change it every few days). Seeing the herbs will make you
want to cook with them—a good thing, as they add flavor but hardly any calories
or sodium."
#13 Get spicy
"All-veggie salsas are filled with
flavor and nutrients but contain very few calories, and you can top more than
just tacos with them—for example, turkey burgers or potatoes."
#14 Have quick protein
handy
"I boil a bunch of eggs at the
beginning of the week for a high-protein, satisfying and nutritious option
that's easy to grab and go. Not to mention, they're simple to put in a
breakfast wrap or slice on a salad to make it a full meal."
#15 Stash a multitasking
condiment
"Grainy Dijon mustard is low-calorie
and adds a savory, rustic flavor. Use it in salad dressings and marinades and
in place of some—or all—of the mayo called for in a recipe (say, for tuna
salad)."
#16 Think outside the
crisper
"We are three times as likely to pick
up the first thing we see in the fridge, but the problem is, we often put our
favorite not-so-healthy foods at eye level. So store some veggies on the top
shelf rather than just in the crisper."
#17 Stock backup
vegetables
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