Kitchen Essentials for Your Healthy New Year

Now that the holidays have come and gone, it’s a perfect time to take advantage of sale prices on kitchen essentials that make it easier to eat more fruits and veggies. Most of us know that when it comes to eating healthier - being prepared is key. Take a kitchen inventory and invest in the tools that can make a big difference.

Top 10 Kitchen Essentials:

1. A Powerful Blender. There’s nothing that compares to whipping up a smoothie and getting a few V/F servings in to start your day. Most blenders break down because the blades get dull - and replacing the blades can be less costly than buying a new blender. Check online to see if you can purchase replacement blades. A great budget blender is the Oster Beehive Professional - Two Settings, No Fuss. If you are ready to make a serious investment (smoothies for life!), buy a Vitamix.

2. Sharp, Comfortable Knives. Buy knives that are built to last and are comfortable to hold. Have a small selection of sizes from chopping knives to paring knives. Maintain them well and they will last a lifetime.

3. Three Cutting Boards. There are so many materials to choose from, it is really a matter of preference. The foldable ones are very convenient for pouring chopped veggies into stews and soups or adding chopped fruit into smoothies. Use one for smelly stuff like onions, leeks and garlic and another one for other fruits and veggies. Keep a separate one for raw meat and bleach that regularly to prevent food-borne illness.

4. A Salad Spinner. Greens are such powerful health promoting foods they deserve their own food group! And nothing helps with getting in more greens than a great salad spinner. Tupperware and Kitchen Aid both offer excellent spinners. Greens like kale, spinach, romaine and arugula will stay fresh for days if you wash, spin and throw the whole thing in the fridge. They will be ready to use when you are ready to eat.

5. A Great Soup Pot. Whether heavy enamel coated cast iron or something on the lighter side - having a fabulous soup/stew/chili pot is essential for cooking up lots of veggies at a time.

6. A Great Roasting Pan. Sister to the great soup pot! Pyrex cooks well and cleans easily. If you cook meat, consider having a separate one just for veggies so you have plenty of room to cook more.

7. A Stackable, Sturdy Set of Storage Containers. Keep these filled with ready to go chopped fruits and veggies. From potato wedges to carrot sticks to garbanzo beans. Have your ingredients available in a snap. Keep these containers for home use and fresh produce only. Wash and reuse less expensive containers for leftovers, or food on the go.

8. A Food Processor. Designed to do things a little differently than a blender, this handy kitchen item will make salsas and dressings a snap. This is also the tool you need to whip up an HMR mousse or ice cream.

9. A Berry Bowl. OK - not “essential” really, but having a “berry bowl” at the ready in the kitchen will remind you to fill it with berries and then you will eat them.

10. A Clean, Clutter-Free Space. If your kitchen counter is a mess of school papers, unpaid bills and old newspapers, prepping fruits and veggies will be more of a chore. Invest time and bit of money in organizing your space. Simple items like a wooden storage bin for mail, or colorful boxes for papers can really make a difference.

Preparing fruits and veggies can be a wonderful, relaxing task. By making your kitchen user-friendly and adding a few welcoming touches like music, flowers or art, you can create a space you want to spend time in. Buy a wonderful fruit bowl for the counter, or a colorful set of new cooking utensils. If you’re starting anew on a plan to a healthier you, include your kitchen in your makeover plans and enjoy!

What are your kitchen essentials?
 

by SandiBraithwaite on 01/21/2013 | Share Story With a Friend

tags: Weight-Loss, HMR, Diet Tools