You’ve vowed to eat healthier by eating more fruits and vegetables and less processed foods. But the reality of peeling, cutting, chopping and cooking the good stuff can whittle away at your resolve with every minute you spend in the kitchen prepping. Not for long. These kitchen gadgets help make healthy food prep easy and fast and banish the excuses!
1. Kale destemmer
Kale is a nutritional powerhouse that’s rich in Vitamins A, C, K, Omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, along with minerals calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium. It’s also easy and cheap to buy, and if washed and stored right, keeps up to two weeks in the refrigerator. A destemmer makes it easy to get rid of kale’s one downside — its hard, bitter stems — and prepare bunches of the goodness in one short prep session.
2. Mason jars
Mason jars aren’t just for canning. They make meal prep for the week simple, whether it’s salads for lunch or overnight oats for grabbing breakfast on the go. A jar-filled fridge is great insurance for a week of good eating.
3. Slow cooker
An oldie but a goodie, a slow cooker makes coming home after a long day at work even more sweet. Take a few minutes in the morning to load it up with a healthy recipe and voila, dinner’s waiting to dish up when you walk in the door.
4. Hand blender
A hand blender double teams with your slow cooker to make it easy to whip up a pot of thick, creamy soup. Use the hand blender right in the cooker to blend the healthy, hearty vegetables you’ve simmered all day.
5. Silicone Baking Mat and muffin pans
Silicone baking tools take no stick and no fuss to the next level by eliminating non-stick spray, paper liners and parchment. Whether you’re making a one-pan meal or filling the freezer with a couple of weeks’ worth of breakfast egg muffins, these non-toxic and dishwasher-safe tools save time, money and calories.
6. Spiralizer
Make your veggie drawer go spiral and treat yourself to the newest culinary rage — spiralized vegetables. Give veggies a new twist and turn them into healthy, fiber-filling noodles, salad toppings and more.
7. Pineapple corer and slicer
If you love the natural sweetness of fresh pineapple but hate the workout it takes to get to the good stuff, this corer-slicer is a dream come true. With a few twists and a pull, you get cored and sliced yumminess, ready to eat.
8. Glass salad dressing shaker maker
Store-bought salad dressings and marinades are high-fat, preservative-laden shysters that can undermine your best efforts to eat clean and healthy. This all-in-one mixer, shaker and serving bottle makes it easy to make your own, with fresh, natural ingredients, and keep it on hand.
9. Avocado cutter/pit remover
Avocados are full of healthy fats and can be used as a substitute in many recipes, but preparing them can be a hassle. This tool makes it easy to cut, remove the pit and slice your avocado. For those who can’t get enough of guacamole and avocado toast, this gadget will have your avocado ready to eat in no time.
10. Grape/tomato slicer
Take the slipping and sliding out of cutting grapes and tomatoes with this slicer. Just place the tomatoes or grapes in the container, run the blade through it and they’ll be ready to go.
11. Herb cutting scissors
Looking to spice up your dishes without the pain of cutting everything you want to add? These scissors take the work out of cutting herbs, which could give you more time to start growing your own.
12. Banana slicer
Cutting bananas has never been easier. Whether you’re looking to add bananas to your breakfast or to a summery fruit salad, this tool is a great way to cut your preparation time in half.
13. Strawberry huller
Strawberries are a summer staple and can easily sweeten up any dessert, and this tool makes them easier to enjoy by hulling them. Looking for an excuse to test this gadget? Take the whole family out to pick your own strawberries, then get to work hulling!
14. Vegetable slicer
Trying to work more vegetables into your diet but hate how long it can take to prepare them? The vegetable slicer can help you out. From dicing to slicing, this gadget can save you time and headache from having to perfectly cut your vegetables.
Itching to use these gadgets? Check out our recipes!
