Why Spilling Tahini Might Actually Help You Build Healthy Habits
I have a confession: I’m a slob in the kitchen.
Tahini, olive oil, peanut butter… somehow they always end up on my shirt or shorts.
You’d think the solution would be simple: wear an apron.
The funny thing is—I actually own full-body aprons. But somehow I forget to put them on almost every time.
So what do I do? I bring my stained clothes to my mom, who somehow makes them look good as new.
But lately I’ve realized something. I’ve been bringing her way too many clothes to wash. It’s getting ridiculous—and it’s time for me to make a change.
Step One: Awareness
Change always starts with awareness.
For me, it was noticing the pattern: I spill food on myself constantly while cooking. Tahini. Olive oil. Peanut butter.
Once I noticed it, I could start asking better questions.
Step Two: Root Cause
The problem wasn’t really the tahini.
The real issue is how fast I move in the kitchen.
I rush while chopping vegetables.
I rush while cooking.
I taste food constantly as I go.
And I’ve always eaten too fast—a habit I picked up as a teacher when meals had to fit between classes, grading, and meetings.
Old habits have a way of sticking around.
Step Three: Designing for Success
At first, my instinct was just to “do better.” But willpower alone rarely works.
Instead, I’m setting myself up for success.
My apron isn’t tucked away in a cabinet. It now hangs in the pantry, easy to grab. My goal is simple: open the pantry and put on the apron before I cook.
That small change makes the healthy choice easier—and keeps my mom from seeing another pile of stained clothes.
This same principle works in many areas of wellness. When people struggle with nutrition, weight loss, or healthy habits, the challenge is rarely lack of knowledge. The challenge is that their environment doesn’t make the healthy choice easy.
I have clients right now who are putting this into practice. Instead of relying on willpower to resist snacks, they’ve kept only healthy options within reach—like oranges and nuts—so that the easy choice is also the healthy one.
Small changes like this, when designed into your day, make lasting habits much easier to maintain.
Step Four: Small Wins Matter
For me, that change starts with one simple habit: open the pantry. Put on the apron. Cook mindfully.
For my clients, it might mean keeping healthy snacks visible or having workout clothes ready.
Big transformations often begin with these small, practical adjustments—and the first step is always awareness.
A Question for You
Is there a habit in your life that keeps repeating itself?
Instead of trying to “do better,” ask:
How could I make this easier?
Sometimes the smallest change in your environment can make the biggest difference.
If You Want Support Making Healthy Changes
This is exactly what we explore in health coaching.
Together, we look at habits around nutrition, weight loss, sleep, stress, and movement, and design small, practical ways to make healthier choices easier—so change actually sticks.
If this sounds helpful, you’re welcome to schedule a free consultation to talk about your goals.
