When June Cleaver dished up dinner in her 1960s TV kitchen, grease never splattered and counters were never piled high with dirty dishes. Fortunately, in the real world, having a well-functioning kitchen doesn't require Cleaver-level perfection. But it is important to keep chaos at bay.

It turns out that if you have a sloppy kitchen — counters so crowded you can't find a place to chop your veggies; refrigerators that are better at hiding food than keeping it cold — you're more inclined to grab a bag of chips or cookies.

In a recent study, the Cornell Food and Brand Lab found that kitchen chaos creates anxiety and stress, and that fuels unhealthy food choices and ups calorie intake.

Having a chaotic environment, whether in the kitchen or all over the house, is a sign of an uncontrolled stress response and perhaps even a disorder such as ADHD, depression, or hoarding.

If that's you, reach out to a friend or family member and ask for help restoring order to your kitchen. You might even want to discuss your challenges with your doc and see if there's a medication and/or cognitive behavioral therapy that might help you re-order your environment.

Start a daily routine of mindful meditation and exercise to help dispel stress. You'll feel happier and eat healthier.