Must-have Equipment for Health-Minded + Busy Women
The right kitchen instruments can change your life!
Too dramatic? I don’t think so. You too will be know how stress-free your evening will feel when you get to come home to a hot meal!
Let’s look at some of my favourite things when it comes to saving time and making simple, healthy meals.
Let’s be honest. Eating healthy can often get kicked to the bottom of our to-do lists when we are doing our thing, will little time at home. We often end up working from a place of stress and in reaction mode and fly by the seat of our pants from meal to snack to meal. We go to bed thinking…I’m going to eat healthy tomorrow. But when we wake up, get the kids fed, lunches packed and worry about everyone else first, we are left with zero time for ourselves and rush out the door after downing a quick coffee. And then we just say…well intermittent fasting is supposed to be good for us right? Well what I’ve learned is that with the right tools, anyone can be a boss/leader in your career AND your kitchen.
One of the many things I help women with is taking ownership of their health and that of their family by getting back into the kitchen (with trained helpers) so she can feel confident in all her roles. You can’t do it all, so training those around you (kids and partner) is a must! And we know who loves gadgets! Let’s have a look…
Eating healthy can be easy when you have the right tools.
Chef’s Knife: I do like to keep things simple and use this for chopping pretty much everything. It’s a must have for those who want a simple kitchen. For those who love a gadget, I hear many love this chopper.
Crock Pot/Slow Cooker: The ultimate kitchen tool for the busy mom is a slow cooker. There is no cooking involved, by you anyway. All you do is toss in your ingredients, set the timer and put the lid on top. Mid-week stew…sign me up!
Immersion Blender: I use this for nourishing soups all winter long to create a more creamy texture. It’s a great option for the days you don’t want to pull out the food processor. However, the Vitamix would work for this too…if you don’t mind cleaning another container.
Vita Mix: Honesty the best investment I’ve ever made! We use this to make our daily smoothies, ice cream, sauces, soups and more!
4 Sided Grater: A good grater is not only a great time saving gadget for quickly grating cheese (and grating your own cheese is far superior in taste to buying store-grated cheese), you will find it handy in grating raw vegetables of all types, from carrots to radishes, potatoes, and much more. Level it up with a fun spiralizer for when you’re feeling uber healthy and want to take a break from grains.
Large Metal Colander: I don’t think a day goes by where I don’t use my colander. This is a fast and efficient tool when it comes to draining starch off of pasta and vegetables, rinsing ‘arsenic’ off of rice (yup), or rinsing grains before and after you sprout them.
Food Processor: Another helpful kitchen gadget is a food processor with switchable disks/blades. With it, you can chop veggies, nuts, or even pepperoni. You can also use it to make vegan mayonnaise, nut butter, omega balls. and healthy baked goods. On a budget, ask your mother in law (or anyone) to give you hers that sits in the basement unused. (that’s what I did)
Coffee Grinder: I use this to turn nuts and oats into flour when I don’t feel like using and cleaning my vitamix. I also use this to grind flax seeds, chia seeds, and sesame seeds to sprinkle on everything. Here’s to more healthy fats for hormonal bliss!
Juicer: If you don’t already own a juicer, consider this for your next purchase if you are ready for the next level of health. Using a juicer is the easiest way to load your body with nutrients. If you already own one, then start using it, even if it’s just one day a week.
Ceramic Non Stick Pans: I love my cast iron pans but not everyone does. Give one of these a go because regular frying pans are coated in toxic chemicals that leach into your foods. Endocrine disruption…no thanks!
Mason Jars: In all sizes! Use them for storing nuts, seeds, leftovers, overnight oats, bone broth, lunch on the go. We use these for everything! And lids. And maybe one day you’ll bottle your own sauce or jam?
Peeler: A given. Peeling foods can ensure you are reducing your intake of chemical sprays. However, sometimes not peeling is the way to go according to an interesting read Eat Dirt, by Dr. Josh Axe. See your favourite Nutritionist on the ins and outs for this one or get the book :)
Healthy Baking Sheets: If it’s not the aluminum, it’s the PUFA’s and off-gasing that might over time add an additional stress to your body. Clean up your baking with these cookie sheets.
14. Stock Pot: We love our stock pot! Soups, Stews and Stocks! When you have a big pot you can plan leftovers.
15. Muffin Pans: A busy person’s staple! I use them to have fast and healthy lunches/breakfasts ready to go! Think egg cups and paleo muffins.
16. Lemon Squeezer: One of the first things I get most clients to do is start their day with freshly squeezed lemon in luke-warm water. Your digestion will thank you.
17. Parchment Paper: Makes for faster clean up if you line your baking trays with paper.
18. Rice Cooker: I don’t use one but many of my nutritionist friends swear by them! The next time I burn my rice I’ll buy one.
19. Kitchen Sheers: I mean, are the scissors ever where you left them?
20. Beeswax Wraps: Good for the environment and can help you reduce plastic saran wrap use. I still have the supplies to make my own…on my ‘to-do’ retirement list! I also love Stashers as an alternative to plastic storage.
21. Norwex Cloths: Love that these are anti-bacterial and environmentally friendly. I’ve linked up my contact. :)
I try to keep things simple and not buy too many gadgets. However, I do use my dehydrator on occasion and my sprouting jar kit.
I did a short video on how and why to sprout beans here!
But I’ll talk about those in another post.
Have fun in the kitchen while listening to your favourite heath podcast or music!
