Weight Loss Can Be Affected By A Messy Kitchen -- 5 Ways To Keep It Organized To Avoid Comfort Eating

A cluttered and chaotic kitchen could be affecting your weight loss plans, according to a new study conducted by Cornell University Food and Brand Lab.

Researchers conducted their test among female respondents who were placed in two separate areas. One kitchen was messy and noisy, while the other was clean, organized and quiet. Both kitchens had the same type of snacks -- carrots, cookies and crackers; but the researchers saw that the women in the messy kitchen ate more cookies than the other group.

Prior to entering the kitchen, the women were also asked to write about the times they experienced they were in control or out of control of a situation. The women who said they were in control grabbed less cookies than the others.

"Being in a chaotic environment and feeling out of control is bad for diets. It seems to lead people to think, 'Everything else is out of control, so why shouldn't I be?'" explained the study's lead author Lenny Vartanian.

Here are five ways to maintaining a better kitchen to prevent comfort eating:

1) Clean as you go.

Don't wait for dishes to pile up and throw away any wrappers or bags you no longer need. Make the habit of emptying the trash at night, too. Don't retire to bed at night with the kitchen uncleaned.

2) Keep the countertop a neat and open space.

Utensils and tools should be kept in their drawers when not in use. As much as possible, the counter should be an open space, with little or few items on display. You're likely eager to prepare food properly if you have a pleasant open space to work on.

3) If you have to display food, choose the healthier ones.

There should be no half-opened bag of chips left lying around on the kitchen counter, nor baked goods and other stacked junk food items. If you would like to have food out, put a bowl of fruit or nuts as a healthier choice. Keep these in clean and visible containers instead of storing them in the fridge. "We might think we are keeping fruits and vegetables fresher longer in the crisper, but our goal is to eat them, not compost them," said nutritionist Brian Wansink via USA Today.

4) Maintain the same cleanliness for the refrigerator.

Because the fridge is often closed, it's easier to hide the mess and the crowding. However, organizing this space can also help your eating habits because you can arrange to have wholesome foods where it's most accessible in the middle shelf. Tribune cited that you're likely to grab food from this part of the fridge more especially when craving for snacks.

5) Have stations around the kitchen.

Some households do their bills in the kitchen. Others put their first aid kits and other items next to the cook books. Some use the kitchen as a work area with kids, so it's also a craft area. Having stations minimizes the clutter in the room and it's easier to find things and clean the area per station.