15 Kitchen Items for a Healthier Diet Lifestyle as Part of Your New Year's Goals
In the quest for a healthier lifestyle, the kitchen plays a pivotal role. This year, experts have curated a list of the top 15 recommended kitchen appliances and tools that prioritize healthy meal preparation. These tools focus on enabling quick, safe, and nutrient-preserving cooking methods, aligning with health-focused meal prep approaches.
1. Nontoxic Cookware, such as GreenPan, made with hard anodized aluminum and a ceramic nonstick coating free of harmful chemicals like PFAS, is a durable, easy-to-clean, oven-safe, and compatible-with-all-cooktops option.
2. The Immersion Blender, like the Breville Control Grip, is ideal for pureeing soups, sauces, making mayonnaise, and whipping. It features multiple speeds, a comfortable grip, and useful dishwasher-safe attachments like whisk and chopper bowl.
3. A Food Processor is essential for chopping, slicing, and pureeing vegetables, nuts, and dressings. Options range from large-capacity models, such as Cuisinart and KitchenAid, to smaller, cost-effective ones like Hamilton Beach and Ninja.
4. High-Performance Blenders, like Vitamix and Ninja, are popular for their nutrient extraction and versatility. They are perfect for smoothies, purees, and healthy sauces.
5. A Steamer Basket allows gentle cooking of vegetables, retaining nutrients without using oil, making it an easy way to prepare healthy sides.
6. The Air Fryer cooks foods with little or no added oil while achieving a crispy texture, offering a healthier alternative to traditional frying.
7. A Cast Iron Skillet is durable and versatile for searing and roasting with minimal oil; it can add beneficial iron to meals if well-maintained.
8. A Salad Spinner helps thoroughly wash and dry leafy greens for fresh, crisp salads, an easy way to boost vegetable intake.
9. A Digital Food Scale is useful for portion control and measuring ingredients precisely to support healthy eating goals.
10. A Slow Cooker or Instant Pot enables hands-off cooking of nutritious meals with minimal added fats, perfect for stews, soups, and whole grains.
11. A Mandoline Slicer simplifies the process of slicing vegetables to reduce prep time and encourage vegetable-based dishes.
12. Non-Toxic Bakeware, such as ceramic or glass baking dishes free of PTFE/PFOA, is ideal for roasting or baking at home.
13. A Mandoline or Vegetable Peeler facilitates the preparation of fresh vegetables for salads, sides, and dishes.
14. A Spiralizer creates vegetable noodles from zucchini, carrots, and other veggies as a healthy pasta substitute.
15. Reusable Silicone Storage Bags are perfect for meal prep and storing leftovers without plastic toxins, supporting sustainable healthy eating habits.
In addition to these tools, there are several other appliances that can aid in healthy meal preparation:
- An air fryer allows cooking favorite crispy treats with little oil and the same taste for ₹8,745. - A set of meal-prepping containers can be used to make meals in advance, reducing the temptation to order in for ₹599. - A salad spinner can be used to wash and dry vegetables quickly, preventing soggy salads, and can also be used for tossing salads on lazy days for ₹999. - A set of silicone baking mats allows baking without the use of oil or cooking spray for ₹899. - Some popsicle moulds allow making chemical- and coloring-free popsicles with favourite fruits for ₹299. - A non-stick frying pan allows cooking with lesser oil for ₹765. - An infused water bottle provides fruity flavors to motivate staying hydrated for ₹193. - A bamboo steamer can be used to make various dishes like momos and steamed vegetables for ₹899. - A 12-in-1 programmable crockpot allows cooking basic everyday meals in one pot, reducing cleaning for ₹6,999. - An egg boiler has 3 cooking settings to provide the most suitable boiled eggs for various needs for ₹1,059. - A microwave idli maker (which makes more than just idlis) can be used for lazy days when cooking seems overwhelming for ₹500. - A food processor set for your mixer can save money on buying a new food processor and can be used to make treats like hummus and peanut butter for ₹8,990. - A vegetable chopper simplifies the process of chopping vegetables for ₹177. - A juicer allows making fresh sugar- and preservative-free juice for ₹460. - A mandoline slicer makes slicing vegetables easier and can be used to make baked chips for ₹899.
- An air fryer, such as the one for ₹8,745, allows cooking favorite crispy treats with little oil and the same taste.
- A set of meal-prepping containers can be purchased for ₹599 to make meals in advance, reducing the temptation to order in.
- A salad spinner, like the one for ₹999, can be used to wash and dry vegetables quickly, preventing soggy salads, and can also be used for tossing salads on lazy days.
- A set of silicone baking mats, available for ₹899, allows baking without the use of oil or cooking spray.
- Some popsicle moulds, priced at ₹299, allow making chemical- and coloring-free popsicles with favorite fruits.
- A non-stick frying pan, costing ₹765, allows cooking with lesser oil.
- An infused water bottle, costing ₹193, provides fruity flavors to motivate staying hydrated.
- A bamboo steamer, priced at ₹899, can be used to make various dishes like momos and steamed vegetables.
- A 12-in-1 programmable crockpot, retailing at ₹6,999, allows cooking basic everyday meals in one pot, reducing cleaning.
- An egg boiler, priced at ₹1,059, has 3 cooking settings to provide the most suitable boiled eggs for various needs.
- A microwave idli maker, costing ₹500, can be used for lazy days when cooking seems overwhelming and makes more than just idlis.
- A food processor set for your mixer, available for ₹8,990, can save money on buying a new food processor and can be used to make treats like hummus and peanut butter.
- A vegetable chopper, priced at ₹177, simplifies the process of chopping vegetables.
- A juicer, retailing at ₹460, allows making fresh sugar- and preservative-free juice.
- A mandoline slicer, priced at ₹899, makes slicing vegetables easier and can be used to make baked chips.