Give Your Fridge a Makeover

When you run to your fridge for a midnight snack, what do you grab? Leftover takeout? Ice cream? Pizza? If so, your fridge may be in need of an extreme makeover.

As most of us know, we are what we eat, and the best way to change the way we eat, look, and feel is by changing what we keep in our kitchens. The website HealthyFridge.org, in conjunction with the Open the Door to a Healthy Heart Campaign, offers the following tips for putting bad food habits on ice:

  • Take time to take inventory:

    Reserve a day to pull everything out of your fridge, and decide what to keep and what to toss. Check expiration dates, and be sure to toss anything that's starting to resemble your eighth-grade science project.
  • Ditch dessert:

    Remember, the point here is to give your fridge a healthy makeover, so, although it may cause some major separation anxiety, it's best to ditch high-calorie indulgences like cakes, pies and ice cream. Try replacing these delicious but dangerous delicacies with fresh fruits, low-fat frozen yogurt, or sherbet.
  • Play hide-and-seek:

    If you can't seem to part with those late-night indulgences, push them to the back of the fridge, where you're less likely to see them in a moment of weakness. Allow fresh fruits and veggies, pudding cups, and low-fat yogurts to take their place. For those with less self-control, try hiding unhealthy snacks in your fridge's fruit bins. After all, out of sight, out of mind.
  • Dress it up:

    The best way to encourage healthy eating is to make it enjoyable--and easy. Cut up fresh fruits and veggies, and seal them in small bags so you can enjoy them later as quick, on-the-go snacks.
  • Substitute it:

    This is one of the most important tips of all, and don't worry, you don't have to sacrifice taste for health. Try replacing whole milk with skim; butter with soft margarine; and fatty meats such as ground beef and salami with chicken and turkey. It may seem like a huge sacrifice, but your body will thank you.
  • Organize and color-code:

    Try dividing your fridge into sections of eat more and eat less. For families with kids at home, encourage healthy choices by color-coding. Put green stickers on healthy choices and red stickers on foods to be enjoyed sparingly.