
The connection between kitchen design and healthy lifestyles is often overlooked, yet it exists and it’s something that everyone who loves life should take an interest in.
So what’s the connection between kitchen design and healthy lifestyles? It’s actually a very simple connection, one that amounts to little more than the design of a kitchen making cooking an enjoyable, rewarding experience – that’s it!
Well, actually there’s more involved, but that’s essentially the gist of it – the way a kitchen is designed can make the thought of cooking a delicious, nutritious meal more appealing, which results in healthier, tastier food being prepared.
What is Good Kitchen Design?
A question that’s been pondered for centuries, if not millennia, a well-designed kitchen has eluded many a homeowner over the years, though that isn’t to say that it will elude you!
Good kitchen design is all about finding the perfect balance between aesthetics, i.e. the kitchen’s appearance, and function, after all kitchens are inherently functional rooms.
Therefore, the end result of your kitchen renovating endeavours should be an attractive, functional space that lends itself as well to entertaining as it does cooking delicious, nutritious meals for your family and guests.
Does Size Matter?
In kitchens, size is important but it isn’t everything – a small kitchen can be enjoyable to cook healthy meals in, whilst a large kitchen which theoretically should be conducive to cooking great meals can be a nightmare to make something as simple as a sandwich in!
When planning your kitchen, size must be taken into account because it’s an important factor; however, it’s the way it’s laid out and the appliances installed in it that will ultimately determine how appealing it is to cook in.
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How to Lay Out Your Kitchen
Whether you’re working with a small, somewhat confined space or something much larger with a wide open space, the way you lay out your kitchen is crucially important if you’re to have a kitchen that lends itself perfectly to cooking healthy, nutritious meals.
There are a number of things to consider when designing a kitchen that’s as functional as it is fashionable, particularly workflow – how do you like to work in the kitchen?
There really is nothing set in stone here, though consider the following points when deciding how to lay out your kitchen.
– Transferring fresh foods from the fridge to the workbench
Bearing in mind that you should always wash fruits and vegetables before preparing them, the easier it is for you to transfer fresh foods from the fridge to the workbench the more likely you are to eat more fresh foods.
– Transferring prepared vegetables, etc. from the workbench to the stove
Once you’ve prepared fresh foods, like vegetables for instance, how will you transfer them from the workbench to the stove? By bringing the saucepan to the workbench, or by bringing the prepared food to the stove by hand or in a bowl?
– Where do you find it easiest to plate up?
Some people like to plate up directly from the stove, though most people prefer to plate up on the bench by bringing pans and pots from the stove to the bench.
– Do you and your family dine in the kitchen?
Eating in the kitchen is a great way to enjoy quick, healthy snacks – just take fresh foods like fruits and vegetables from the fridge, wash them, place them on plates and platters, and voila!
These are some of the many important considerations you need to think about regarding kitchen layout, and that’s before you even start thinking about appliances and storage.
Kitchen Appliances
A mistake many homeowners make when designing their kitchens is buying kitchen appliances that they don’t use. You really only need a few major kitchen appliances in your kitchen, i.e. a cooker, preferably one with both an oven and a stove, and a refrigerator – that’s it, though a dishwasher is also a great appliance to have if you have the space.
Gas is much better than electric where stoves are concerned, though many people are now opting for induction stoves.
The other appliances you’ll need to cook healthy meals are smaller appliances, for instance a blender and/or food processor, a rice cooker, etc.
Storage
To adopt healthier eating habits you essentially need to cut back on packaged foods and start eating more ‘whole foods’, i.e. foods that don’t come in boxes, cans and packets.
Whilst you obviously need cupboards and drawers for cutlery, crockery and small kitchen appliances, if you’re going to cut back on the amount of packed food you buy, just how large a pantry do you need?
The way your kitchen is designed and decked out with appliances can make a significant difference to your eating habits – design your kitchen with a healthy lifestyle in mind.