As we reach the autumn of our years, with the wild days of our youth far behind us, an increasing number of us are becoming ever more health conscious. Whilst our approach to being fit and healthy may differ from person to person, we are all still aiming to achieve the same end result.
Running has become incredibly popular, and there are now more runners or joggers in the UK than ever before. A sports marketing survey back in 2014 suggested that the UK’s running population has reached an impressive 10.5m*. That’s over 16% and has undoubtedly risen since that survey was taken.
However, you don’t have to don the lycra running shorts just yet. A good place to start your new health kick is in the home, and the obvious place to start is in the kitchen. It’s the place we prepare our food, make meals and generally prepare what is about to go into our bodies. So why not take our advice and turn your kitchen into one that’s healthy?
Preparing healthy food & drink
These days you are just as likely to see a Nutribullet (or a cheap smoothie blender) on our kitchen worktops as you are a toasted sandwich maker, as we Brits attempt to be healthier in our choice of drinks and snacks. In fact, during the run up to Christmas 2015, John Lewis claim that 1 Nutribullet was sold every 30 seconds*, with an estimated 10 million users and royal approval in the form of celebrity user Kate Middleton.
But it’s not just about getting our 5 a day. When it comes to getting other foods down our necks, there are ways that a healthy kitchen can help.
Another brainwave, which has been around for over 22 years, is the George Foreman grill. Endorsed and promoted by the former heavyweight boxing champ, it certainly packs a punch when it comes to cooking food. The idea being that all the fat, oil and juices that usually remain locked in your food, especially when frying, simply drain away to leave nothing but lean meat. A great way to ensure you don’t end up as a heavyweight!
Keep it clean
Of course, being healthy and keeping healthy are two quite different things. It’s important to keep the place where we prepare food clean, free of germs and healthy. Uncooked meats and raw fish or seafood can all harbour harmful bacteria and lead to food poisoning or worse, so ignore basic hygiene at your peril!
Thankfully, these days, help is at hand. In the healthy kitchen, cooking implements and chopping boards are made from materials that help to stop bacteria multiplying, making it much easier to keep ourselves healthy and illness-free. We even have more advanced cleaning products, such as household cleaners and cloths that claim to kill more germs than ever before.
Healthy kitchen worktops
Whilst here in the UK you’ll find superb wooden kitchen work tops and even durable stone designs, their elegant appearance may be at the detriment to your healthy kitchen. Whilst it is undoubtedly of higher quality, wood needs sealing and careful upkeep, and without due care can easily harbour germs. Any cuts or nicks can suddenly become a haven for bacteria. That’s where corian or laminate worktops come into their own.
The modern, healthy kitchen becomes a much easier room to maintain when you use a modern laminate worktop, all thanks to its easy-to-clean surface that only needs a simple wipe with kitchen cleaner and a cloth. Plus, the great thing is, you can easily mimic other materials such as wood and stone, should you desire.
As well as being good for your health, corian and laminate worktops are also great for your wallet. Buying kitchen worktops direct from an online supplier is now a much cheaper and easier option.
So, if you want to keep fit and healthy, forget joining a gym. Your health kick can start a lot closer to home, in your very own healthy kitchen.
*Sources:
