Sex appeal is one thing, but what about food appeal? Attraction is the key here. Feng Shui is basically the study of how our environment affects us, and when it comes to what we eat and drink structuring our surroundings can make a big difference. I recently re-energized our kitchen and pantry areas to promote better (and hopefully easier) nutrition for my family.
I am by no means a nutritionist, nor will I advocate for a specific food trend or supplement. I leave it totally up to you to decide what foods you want to make more attractive. In our house, we like to practice moderation and thankfully have no dietary restrictions. My goal in the environment boosting process is to increase the food appeal and efficiency of our chosen foods.
To kick things off, I hid away, eliminated, and replaced many treats with healthier options. Yogurt pretzels and almond M&Ms are our current favorite treats, so we are obviously not going too crazy here. I simply find that keeping treats in less obvious locations helps me to eat them less. I also work to prominently display fruits, vegetables, and high protein foods.
Another suggestion I implemented was embracing the freshening powers of citrus fruits. Lemons especially are bright, cheerful, great for cleaning, and even better as a super versatile food. According to Southern Living, “All citrus fruits are rich in vitamin C, acids, flavonoids and volatile essential oils. But they are also a good source of fiber, calcium, potassium, folate and vitamin A.” I decorate with citrus, diffuse their essential oils, regularly add them to our food, and drink citrus infused water.
Feng Shui wise, I addressed safety in our kitchen as a priority in improving the environment. I avoid putting heavy objects above head level and keep knives (which are often one of a home’s most dangerous weapons) hidden away in a drawer. I store harmful chemicals, other sharp objects, and lightweight items in high places. I also regularly clean out all our foods to avoid expired items.
For efficiency sake, I keep our most used things in the easiest to access places. I find that removing clutter from counters maximizes my work space. A good rule is, if you don’t use an item more than 3 days a week, remove it from the counter. I always love vertical storage and taking advantage of unused wall space is awesome. Drawers are my favorite below waist level storage option. Baskets are a nice way access groups of things stored up high.
Our small kitchen definitely required creative thinking to get things functioning the way I wanted. Some of my favorite organization solutions in our kitchen include: wall and door mounted spice and oil racks, a three-tiered hanging basket for fruits and vegetables, a basket for tea kept above our fridge, a vertical lid rack, a hanging paper towel holder, an additional freestanding cabinet and drawers, a “kid spot” with plastic drawers for dishes, a rolling bar cart, the use of the front door closet as a “secondary pantry”, built in wine glass racks, and small boxes used as drawer dividers.
When it comes to food planning, I like to jot down meal ideas and make shopping lists weekly. I lean on simple favorites (see below for *My Go-To Meals) most of the time. I like how trying new recipes spices things up, but I usually limit myself to one new recipe a week. I even post a list of our meal options in the kitchen, so that everyone can answer the somewhat popular question... what’s for dinner???
Preparing snacks and making extra meals to freeze for later is another way I help organize our food. One of Brad’s favorite things is when I clearly label prepared food. I am absolutely amazed by how things with a label get eaten faster! I also recently tried a couple different meal kit delivery services, which I feel helped to both freshen our menu and keep things easy. I love how all types of meal planning set us up for success!
In summary, food appeal can be re-energized in all sorts of ways! Whether you decide to re-vamp your whole kitchen or simply add some lemons to your life, I hope you gained a boost from these ideas.
*My Go-To Meals= tacos, burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, lasagna, spaghetti with meatballs or meat sauce, chicken pesto with pasta, pizza, tomato soup and grilled cheese, soups, salads, egg or tuna salad sandwiches, PB&J sandwiches, deli sandwiches, wild rice and salmon, stir fry, burgers and fries, mac and cheese with hotdogs, cottage cheese and pickles (I realize this one seems strange), chili and cornbread, meatloaf and mashed potatoes, rotisserie chicken and macaroni salad, biscuits and gravy, muffins, bagels and eggs, yogurt and granola, and French toast.
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