You’ve heard about the best selling clean-your-clothes-closet and revolutionize-your-life books by Marie Kondo (Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing and the newly released Spark Joy). Marie’s books have sold over 6 million copies worldwide and she is only 32 years old. Seems like she is on to something.

I can’t say that I’ve employed her techniques to my clothes closets but I do fully embrace the concept of getting rid of what you don’t need and prepping your pantry for the life you want to be leading.

I’m organizationally challenged, but one day I decided to get my cupboard and spices under control, and eliminate those items I rarely, if ever, used. You people living in apartments or New York probably do these decluttering rituals much more frequently. Cupboards filled with ten packages of dried pasta that take up lots of space really aren’t big assets to improved health.

Spices, on the other hand, are quick additions to vegetables, meat, and fish that can turn an ordinary dish into a memorable one. Try our sautéed celery and fennel seed in coconut oil.  Scrumptiousness in less than ten minutes! Omega-3 rich protein sources like salmon, sardines, and tuna packed in olive oil (don’t drain it!), can quickly take the edge off the worst hunger pains and don’t take up much space. Buy them, eat them.

Take that first step to better cooking and better nutrition. Eliminate those bulky food items that will not serve you well. Snap a  picture—you will feel much better and have made a small commitment you can build upon!