4 Kitchen Gadgets to Make Healthy Cooking Easier

When it comes to healthy eating, I believe that the easier and more convenient we can make things for ourselves, the more likely we are to sustain healthy habits. That means having the right tools to set ourselves up for success when preparing healthy meals.

I tend to be more of a minimalist when it comes to kitchen accessories. I can often be found Marie Kondo-ing the kitchen when my wife is out of town, taking that bag out to the trash before she can realize that her 40th set of teaspoons has been disposed of.

But there are some gadgets I fully support, because of how much they contribute. Below I’ve listed out some of my favorite tools that can help minimize time and effort, and take the guesswork out of healthy cooking.

Spray Bottle

I love roasted vegetables. It was a few years ago that I first discovered the joys of roasting countless varieties of vegetables, doused in olive oil. While roasted vegetables are undoubtedly a nutritious choice, It took me some time to realize that with the amount of oil I was using, I was pretty much oven-frying my food.

Let me just interrupt myself to say, olive oil is an incredibly healthy food. It contains monounsaturated fat, which helps lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and develop and maintain cells. It’s also rich in antioxidants, has strong anti-inflammatory properties, and has a host of other health benefits. However, too much of anything is never a good thing.

So, I invested in an oil spray bottle. It was worth every penny. I simply filled it up with olive oil and ‘misted’ my vegetables in oil, rather than drenching them. I got the flavor and crispiness with just a fraction of the oil.

Instant Pot

I was an instant pot hold out for a long time. As I mentioned, I’m a minimalist, and the last thing I wanted was a clunky appliance sitting on my countertop. But I finally gave in and never looked back. I use it as a rice cooker, for brown rice or quinoa, and I never have to worry if it’s burning or sticking to the pot. I also use it to make stews, lentils, and soups.

When I have vegetables about to go bad, I chop them up, toss them in the instant pot with some sauce, and make a goulash. The best part is that when it’s done, it automatically switches to keep warm, so I don’t have to check on it, or take it out immediately. This comes in especially handy when I’m meal prepping and cooking a bunch of things at once.

Food Processor

A food processor is one of those underrated tools that can do so much more that it appears at first. Did you know that different blade attachments can help you chop, slice, and grate, in addition to blending and grinding? You can chop up vegetables in bulk for a soup or a salad, which is great for vegetables that are hard to cut, like butternut squash or sweet potato. Use the blending option to make creamy soups (immersion blenders are also great for this). The grater is great (no pun intended) for shredding carrots, or cabbage for a coleslaw.

Meal prep containers

The last item on my list are meal prep containers. I am a huge fan of meal prep and there’s nothing quite like knowing a week’s worth of lunches are packed away in the fridge in sturdy, leakproof containers. The ideal meal prep container is big enough to include everything you need for one meal, but not too bulky that it’s cumbersome to carry.

I’d love to hear what your favorite kitchen gadgets are. Let me know in the comments!