Tips to Eat Clean During a Kitchen Reno
We talk to so many people who are either currently in the middle of a kitchen renovation, have just finished one, or are thinking about starting one. Aside from the design concerns about layout, materials, and cost, the most frequent frustration we hear is “How can I eat healthy while my kitchen is torn apart??”
We hear ya, and as frequent rehabbers ourselves, we feel your pain. Which is why I was so excited when I discovered this article written by local nutritional guru Ashley Muse: “3 Ways to Eat Clean During a Kitchen Remodel".
She has graciously granted us permission to re-print the article here. I hope you enjoy these suggestions, and personally, I think they’re helpful for any type of home renovation, because as much as I love the results, it always seems to create havoc in the rest of the house!
How to Eat Clean During a Kitchen Remodel
By (reprinted with permission)
Let’s face it ladies (and gents too), we LOVE a good home project. Whether it is picking a new color for the walls, decorating with your favorite finds from HomeGoods or completely remodeling, we love envisioning the outcome. What we typically don’t think about it, are the effects these major projects have on our health. Fortunately for you, I have been living through a complete kitchen remodel and have proved it is possible to eat healthy WITHOUT a kitchen! Here’s how I did it:
Figure out your kitchen necessities and store the rest – Without a sink and stove, and a refrigerator in the living room, I knew I had to figure out what was necessary. Figure out first how many dishes, silverware and cups you really need. The NutriBullet was a necessity for sure, unlike KitchenMaid 6-in-1 mixer. When you have decided what stays, put the rest in storage in the basement.
Stock up – With my living room as the pseudo-kitchen, I knew I had to be smart about what foods I bought. KindBars, Vermont Made Beef Sticks, trail mix, and RX bars are great snacks that can easily be stored on top of the refrigerator. Of course, my Vital Collagen protein powder and some organic extra virgin olive oil were there too. Inside the refrigerator I stored water, Applegate nitrate free lunch meat, unsweetened coconut milk, organic blueberries, and Olivia’s organic power greens. All of these things stay fresh for a decent amount of time and can be used to create quick snacks and/or meals.
Treat yo’self – Look, I love cooking and there is nothing better than a home cooked meal, but, when you just painted for 3 or more hours or swept up sawdust until your hands blistered, sometimes you just need to eat out. We are blessed to be living in a world filled with food apps on our phones! Not only is it convenient but there are quality choices out there. My favorite food apps are B.good, Sweetgreens and Chipotle.
Here is a preview of some of the healthy meals I had:
Breakfast:
Whole Foods hot bar – bacon, sausage, eggs, fresh fruit and steamed spinach
Green’s First smoothie with unsweetened coconut milk, Vital Protein Powder and some blueberries
Dale’s Protein Bar with grilled zucchini from Whole Foods
Lunch:
B.good’s Toasted Almond and Ginger bowl with chicken and no grains
Pacific (brand) Chicken and Rice organic soup from any grocery store
Sweet Green’s build your own salad – arugula, cucumber, spicy broccoli, sunflower seeds, beets, citrus shrimp and olive oil
Dinner:
Chipotle’s steak salad with beans, guacamole, and salsa
Chicken lettuce wraps from Yard House restaurant
Organic canned tuna salad with organic mayo, celery on gluten free bread
Treats:
1 Justin’s peanut butter cup
1-2 cups Quinn kale popcorn
1 Tablespoon of Enjoy Life chocolate chips