Every day, more research is being conducted on how our environment affects our health. According to The University of Minnesota, our environment can encourage or discourage interaction with others, influence behavior and motivation, affect mood, and create or reduce stress. The same goes for our kitchen environment. Because of the amount of time we spend there, maintaining a healthy kitchen should be a priority in every home for the sake of increased health and well-being. Follow these steps to create your own healthy kitchen.
Go Fresh & Organic
The first step in achieving a healthy kitchen is to be mindful of the food that you put into your body. As knowledge about the harm some pesticides and chemicals can cause becomes more accessible, it’s easier to make better – and safer – food choices. This means stocking your kitchen with organic, fresh foods like grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables, and fewer processed foods. An abundance of healthy recipes can be found on social media sites like Pinterest and Instagram.
Open It Up
Properly utilizing available space is one of the most important aspects of a healthy kitchen. Because kitchens are the center of the home, they should promote activity and socialization. The Global Wellness Summit says, “Open floor plans, kitchen islands, and other design elements that encourage communal activities have been a staple of modern kitchens for years.” When utilized in the kitchen, these elements not only allow more space for cooking, but also provide optimal room for seating so that everyone can take part in conversation and meal preparation.
Let the Sun Shine
Natural lighting provides benefits that artificial lighting can’t. In fact, a study by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology reports that natural lighting can boost productivity, especially important if you’re going to be spending a lot of time in the kitchen. Incorporating as much natural light as possible in your kitchen, whether it be from windows or skylights, will not only open up the space but also make it easier to grow your own fresh herbs in a kitchen garden – another contributor to good health.
Color Your World
Color has the power to impact our behavior, mood and motivation, making it important to take into consideration the colors used in the kitchen. A warm and welcoming space that will encourage socialization and reduce stress is the goal. White helps a kitchen look clean and rejuvenating whereas gray and lighter shades of blue will make a kitchen space feel cool and comfortable. Red is intense and known to boost energy, while yellow is a positive color that can evoke feelings of hope and happiness. Green has a calming effect and can relieve stress.
Consider using accent colors to balance out the primary color used in the kitchen space. A great way to do this is by adding colorful appliances. Retro- and antique-inspired appliances from Elmira Stove Works come in a range of standard hues along with more than 1,000 custom colors, and are a great way to make a statement in any style of kitchen.
A healthy kitchen designed with wellness principles in mind will not only improve your mood and energy but will also make time spent in the kitchen more enjoyable for you and your friends and family. After all, a healthy kitchen is a happy kitchen.