Kitchen hacks to encourage healthy eating habits — 7 ways your kitchen can support healthy living
Make creating healthy changes easy by following these tips


Something you might not have considered when it comes to improving health and wellbeing is kitchen hacks to encourage healthy eating habits.
Whether you’re trying to lose weight or simply make improvements to your lifestyle, we tend to start with our diet and exercise, however, making changes to the way your kitchen cupboards are organised and your kitchen storage ideas could be key to your success.
Let’s face it, breaking old habits and forming new ones is never easy, but with some simple tweaks to your kitchen layout, you can make the whole process easier and more enjoyable. Start as you mean to go on, and reorganise your kitchen for healthier living and healthier habits.
A large part of making changes to your diet is planning. When you take the time to put processes in place, you are more likely to succeed, as Nutritional Therapist Zannie Krogh explains.
‘Many of my clients find that some of the obstacles of creating healthy eating habits are being able to plan and prepare meals easily. Time is an important factor so we work together to come up with ideas on how to incorporate simple changes into their busy lives.’
‘Having a kitchen that is easy to navigate, and a fridge and freezer with healthy, easy ingredients to use is one of the best ways to make changes easier to incorporate.’
1. Keep cupboards organised
Organised cupboards might seem like an obvious one, but so many people go into new diets having not cleared out their kitchen cupboards or thought about how having orderly cupboards might help.
Get the Ideal Home Newsletter
Sign up to our newsletter for style and decor inspiration, house makeovers, project advice and more.
When your kitchen is free from temptation, you’re far less likely to give in. That being said, you need to be able to eat something, so keep your cupboards well stocked with dry and tinned goods, so that on the occasion you run out of fresh food, you’re less likely to give in to a takeaway.
Use tubs and boxes to keep everything organised, storing spices together, pasta, rice and grains together, and tinned beans and tomatoes etc. A huge part of healthy eating is making meal planning and prep easy. Aim to set up your cupboards and pantry ideas so that you can see everything you’ve got, everything is in easy reach, and you never have to hunt to find what you need.
Investing in air tight clear containers will help you see what you have and help food to last longer.
2. Create a ‘healthy’ working triangle
We’ve all heard of a ‘working triangle’ in the kitchen, but what about a healthy working triangle? The layout of your kitchen could play a crucial role in how well you’re able to stick to healthy eating habits.
‘A well-organized kitchen encourages healthy eating by making nutritious choices easier and more accessible,’ explains Sandra Cohen, founder of Aura & Meta. ‘Position your fridge, sink, and preparation area in a way that minimizes steps during meal prep.’
‘Keep jars of nuts, seeds, and healthy oils like olive or avocado oil within arm’s reach for quick, nutrient-packed additions to meals,’ Sandra advises. ‘Store pre-chopped vegetables or washed salad greens in a dedicated fridge section zone or in the freezer to make grabbing healthy ingredients effortless, and use clear, stackable containers with visible labels to keep leftovers or prepped items organized and appealing.’
‘Incorporate a variety of herbs into your cooking to add flavor without extra calories while boosting antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds,’ she continues. ‘Store fresh herbs in the freezer to avoid waste, and keep dried herbs like turmeric, oregano, or herbes de Provence easily accessible in a cabinet or on a shelf. For an extra touch, consider a small indoor herb garden on your counter with fresh options like basil or parsley - it’s a simple way to enhance both the taste and nutrition of your meals.’
A hydroponic growing system is a great investment if you don't have the garden space but want to grow your own herbs.
3. Ensure healthy snacks are easy to reach
When you have to bypass the chocolate, crisps and biscuits to get to your healthy snacks, you’re more likely to give into temptation. If you want to keep treats in the house for other family members, or for the weekend, put them on the highest shelf in your pantry or food cupboard, ideally high enough that you can’t see them or reach them.
Once you’ve moved the ‘unhealthy’ snacks out of the way, make sure your healthy snacks are always accessible. You could even prep snack boxes in advance and keep them on the kitchen counter, so that you don’t even need to open the cupboard when you’re peckish.
These snack boxes are perfect for tiny hands or adults who like a bit of choice.
4. Keep your air fryer on your countertop
The tools that you have to improve your diet need to be easy to use at all times. If anything feels like a hassle, you’re more likely to talk yourself out of using it. Investing in one of the best air fryers are a great way to make simple healthy changes to your diet, as they cut down cooking time, but also reduce the amount of oil that you need to use.
Keep your air fryer on your countertop, to make using it as easy as possible. If you have to push it out the way for most of the day, consider investing in stick-on castor wheels that mean you can pull it in and out easily.
The whole Ideal Home team have these attached to their air fryers and can attest to how handy they are.
5. Make use of your kitchen scales
Another great tool to make use of in the kitchen when it comes to kitchen hacks to encourage healthy eating habits are your kitchen scales. Most of us keep them stashed away in a cupboard, but consider placing them on your countertop to encourage you to use your scales as often as possible,
‘Using kitchen scales can help you get a better sense of portion sizes and avoid overeating,’ explains Rebecca Roulston, a nutritional therapist from Longtail Nutrition.
‘A serving of pasta is often smaller than you think, while a portion of vegetables is larger,’ she continues. ‘This is especially useful if you’re aiming to reduce carbs or increase your vegetable intake. Scales are also handy for batch cooking, perfect for doubling or tripling a recipe and freezing portions for quick, easy meals during busy weeks. It’s a simple step towards building sustainable, long-term healthy habits.’
Consider investing in a statement scale that will look pretty when on show, alternatively go in the opposite direction with something streamlined that can blend into your kitchen worktop ideas.
6. Ensure juicers and blenders are easy to access
Smoothies and juices are a great way to increase your fruit and veg intake and are quick and easy to make. Pop your best blender somewhere that it’s easy to get to and where you will see it every day to remind yourself to make a quick juice instead of grabbing a biscuit.
‘Smoothies are one of my go-to suggestions for most of my clients, as they are an easy way to incorporate more vegetables and fruit and to optimise nutrient intake,’ advises Zannie Krogh. ‘I often recommend using frozen vegetables and fruit. The main benefits are you can stock your freezer with the ingredients, knowing they won’t go off, freezing also helps to contain their nutrients and you don’t need to clean or chop the fruits or vegetables, they can just be added to the smoothie maker, saving much needed time.’
Smoothies can also be made using oats, chia seeds and superfood powders, as Sandra Cohen explains.
‘Convenience is key to building healthy habits. Keep your blender on the counter, ideally near the fridge, so you can quickly grab milk, coconut water, or fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables. Store smoothie essentials like protein powders, superfood mixes, and measuring spoons in a dedicated basket or drawer nearby for easy access. You can also combine this area with a hydration station, adding space for water bottles or infusers and prepping infused waters with fresh herbs, citrus, or cucumber.’
‘Having a system in place not only saves time but ensures that nutrient-dense options are always at your fingertips,’ Sandra continues. ‘This setup turns your kitchen into a functional, health-supporting environment where nutritious meals and snacks are always within reach.’
Even if you don't have space on a counter it is so easy to lift in and out of a cabinet there's no excuse with this lightweight and compact Nutribullet.
7. Make sure your fridge is always well-stocked
A well-stocked and organised fridge will help you make healthy meals quickly and easily. Make use of the ‘cool drawer’ in your fridge and fill it with fruit and veg. It’s also a good idea to organise your fridge using food containers so that you can always see exactly what you’ve got, what needs to be used up, and what needs replacing.
‘A well-stocked fridge is helpful for quick, healthy meals. When you’ve got fresh vegetables and protein on hand, it’s much easier to make nutritious choices,’ explains Rebecca from Longtail Nutrition. ‘Fill your fridge with a variety of ingredients like leafy greens, yoghurt, eggs, and fresh herbs to keep meals interesting and prevent boredom.
'Planning ahead with 1–2 medium shops a week helps you stick to your goals, save money, and reduces the temptation to grab takeaways or convenience foods.’
Get your kitchen set up to power you through to success in 2025.

Eilidh Williams has been a freelance lifestyle copywriter for over ten years. Having graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Creative and Media Writing in 2011, over the years she has written for a variety of unique and inspiring lifestyle brands and publications focusing on fashion, beauty, sustainable and mindful living, and of course homes and interiors.
-
Mid-century modern meets Japandi in this 1960s extended home
The calm, colourful interiors connect seamlessly with their woodland garden
By Alexandra Pratt
-
5 IKEA BESTA hacks that will transform your basic storage cabinets into stylish pieces with a high-end look
Not sure what to do with your BESTA storage cabinets? These hacks will give you plenty of inspiration to work with
By Sara Hesikova
-
This secret gardening ingredient could be the key to stronger rose plants – and even more flowers
Is mycorrhizal fungi worth it? We spoke to the experts to find out...
By Sophie King
-
Is your porch missing something to sit on? These 7 porch seating ideas will solve that issue for you in style
These are the top porch seating ideas to make your space more functional and stylish at the same time
By Sara Hesikova
-
I failed my no-buy month because of this Primark tableware collection - it looks so much more expensive than it is
My tablescape has never looked better - without taking a hit to my budget
By Holly Cockburn
-
Kilner's butter churner is back in stock – here's why it sold out in the first place
Make your own butter by hand with this fun addition to your kitchen gadget collection
By Molly Cleary
-
I won't gatekeep – Magimix's new small kitchen-friendly mini chopper is my secret to delicious lazy dinners
My homemade pesto pasta has never been better
By Holly Cockburn
-
'I've now bought 3 different colours' – my favourite affordable linen bedding is currently half-price, and the 5-star reviews speak for themselves
The half-price linen bedding that owners can't stop raving about
By Amy Lockwood
-
Want to cook like Jamie Oliver? This is the top-rated casserole he uses from his own collection all the time on Instagram
Jamie's collaboration with Tefal has led to this casserole dish getting the best user reviews I've ever seen
By Molly Cleary
-
I’ve found a stunning £40 buy that rivals Le Creuset at Wilko - this casserole dish is a dead ringer for one of the most summery colourways
You just can't beat finding a great Le Creuset alternative
By Kezia Reynolds
-
This beautiful mixing bowl is the unexpected star of so many kitchens – including Mary Berry's and the Bake Off tent
This earthenware bowl proves that you don't have to spend a huge amount for a classic kitchen addition
By Molly Cleary