Is your kitchen making you fat?

Your Plates Are Platter Size - Most of us make a habit of filling our plates and finishing what's on them. The 1970s, dinner plates have grown 25%, to 12 inches or more in diameter. Eat off a plate about 2 inches smaller and you'll serve yourself 22% fewer calories per meal, which can mean a 2-pound weight loss in 1 month. Use your salad plate to hold higher-calorie meals like pasta, and load your dinner plate with veggies. If you plan to buy new plates, the best size is 10 inches in diameter, any smaller and you'll be more likely to go back for seconds.

Your Counters Are Cluttered - Kitchens often become dumping grounds. A messy space makes healthy eating harder because it's a lot easier to grab a few cookies or order pizza than it is to unearth a countertop and cook. Plus, clutter leads to stress, which raises cortisol levels in the blood, increasing hunger. Pick one spot for mail and newspapers, and keep large areas of counter space clear for meal prep. Also, store a few cooking tools, such as a plastic steamer or food chopper, on an easily accessible shelf. And reserve an area in the kitchen for eating only, designated by place mats.

Your Produce Is Hidden - Eating five servings of fruits and veggies a day can help you lose weight and keep it off—yet produce makes up about a quarter of the food we throw away every day. One reason you forget may be that you're stashing it in the produce drawers, where it's usually out of sight—and out of mind. While the crisper is supposed to keep these foods fresh longer, if you forget to open it often enough, food goes bad before you can eat it. Buy only a week's worth at a time, and keep it at eye level in the fridge or in a pretty bowl on your kitchen table.