Eight steps to designing a healthy kitchen

No one wants to be stuck in a dark, crowded space that's isolated from the rest of the home, especially when creativity is involved! If you're going to start cooking and eating well, the first step is to design your kitchen accordingly. "The kitchen should really be the centre point of your home," says Marni Wasserman, a Toronto--based natural personal chef and holistic nutritionist. As a consultant, Marni offers one-on-one nutrition advice, coupled with creative cooking classes. She has seen many kitchens and knows what inspiration looks like. Instead of reaching for the take-out menu, consider these eight easy steps to give your kitchen a healthy makeover.

1 Lighten up
Spacious, well-lit kitchens serve as the congregating centre in many households. Open the blinds to welcome natural light and crank open the window on a nice day. "Connecting with nature will inspire your food choices," says Marni. "We installed a skylight, which brightens my kitchen when it's sunny and provides a cosy, comfortable feeling when it's raining."

2 Au naturel  
If you're repainting, you might consider neutral, earthy tones like greens, browns and yellows. "I always say, the more natural the better, but it's really about finding a colour palette that makes you feel good." Once you've set your base colours, opt for bright artwork or a funky-patterned glass backsplash to spice up the room.

3 Keep it fresh
Create a beautiful centrepiece by filling a glass bowl with fresh, colourful fruit. Think: apples, bananas, pears, oranges and peaches). Keep replenishing the bowl with whatever colourful fruits are in season.

4 Go with glass
Glass bottles, vases and mason jars will help keep your counters organized and your ingredients fresh. "Fill an oversize vase with lemons to give your room some colour," suggests Marni. Store nuts, grains, seeds and beans in glass jars and display them on your countertop in an organized fashion, but try to keep them out of direct light. Not only will they be easily accessible when you’re ready to cook, but they’ll provide a nutritional aesthetic.