Advocate Eureka dietitian offers tips for organizing your fridge

It's easier to grab that leftover pie for a snack rather than rummaging through the drawers for those forgotten strawberries. Making healthy food choices is important, but where you place them in your fridge is also something to consider.

Jodi Upchurch, a registered dietitian at Advocate Eureka Hospital in Eureka, Ill., shares some tips on how to organize your fridge to help aid weight loss.

"Store less-healthy 'indulgent foods' in a place where they are not easily seen or, better yet, don't bring them into the house," says Up-church.

Prepping meals and snacks may take some planning, but can be an important step in guiding weight loss. "Have healthy snacks readily available by washing and chopping fruits and veggies as soon as they come home. Make sure to store these items at eye level to make them a 'go-to' snack," says Upchurch. "Also, pre-cook whole grains, like brown rice, to use in recipes throughout the week."

Keeping cold water available in your fridge is also important. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, getting enough water every day is an important part in staying healthy. Substituting water for one 20-ounce sugar-sweetened soda will save you about 240 calories. "If you don't like plain water, try infusing the water with fresh fruits and/or herbs," suggests Upchurch.

And for your safety, "Dairy items should not be stored on the door shelves of your fridge because they are more likely to be exposed to warmer air when opening and closing the door," says Upchurch.