There is no doubt that cooking at home is one of the most beneficial steps you can take toward better health. People who regularly cook meals at home have healthier overall diets and consume fewer calories.
Your career and home life can leave you physically and mentally exhausted if you don’t prioritize self-care, including what you put in your body. While we can’t always change external stressors, we can take simple measures to make our lives easier.
The right kitchen gadgets can completely change the way you prepare meals, bringing fun and joy to meal prep while saving you time and energy.
Here are four more kitchen tools that will make cooking healthy meals even easier.
Air Fryer
Frying may seem counterintuitive to healthy eating, but air fryers have entirely changed how we think about fried foods. Air fryers act like standalone convection ovens. It barely needs any oil, but you can add small amounts (less than a tablespoon), which are heated and swirled around the air fryer to add a delicious layer of crispiness and crunch without the crusts you associate with deep frying. Enjoy crispy roasted vegetables to French fries without the unnecessary fat (and with the right fat, of course!).
Stick Blender
A stick blender (or immersion blender) can go where giant blenders can’t. This nifty tool can blend cooked vegetables into soup without transferring hot liquid from the pot to a conventional blender and back again. Stick blenders can also make quick work of berries for compotes or dessert toppings. Some of them come with attachments like whisks that can turn coconut milk into whipped toppings.
Egg Cooker
Eggs are an excellent source of protein and are great for quick breakfasts and snacks. Some models can boil up to ten eggs at once and can also be used to poach eggs. Look for those on which you can use your preferred settings. No more do you have to wait around for water to boil in a pot and use a timer to guess whether the eggs are done.
Good Storage Containers
Clean eating is also about reducing food waste, especially in our own kitchen. Eating healthy often requires buying loads of fresh fruit and veggies. But, unlike boxes of crackers or bags of chips, fresh produce has a brief window when it’s fresh and edible. Buying proper food storage containers or mason jars may cost more than a box of zip-top bags at first, but you’ll save money by keeping the food better for longer.
Using the right kitchen tools will give you fewer excuses to buy premade or take-out foods.
What are your favorite kitchen gadgets that you can’t live without?
[RECIPE] KETO MEATLOAF MUFFINS
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 25-35 minutes
Makes:12 muffins
Ingredients (use organic when possible):
- Non-stick cooking spray
- 2 T. extra virgin olive oil
- 1 1/2 lbs. ground beef (80%)
- 1/4 c. yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1 large celery stalk, finely chopped
- 3 large eggs
- 2 T. coconut flour
- 1/2 t. garlic powder
- 1/2 t. onion powder
- 1 T. tomato paste
- 2 t. Italian seasoning
- 1 T. fresh rosemary leaves, finely chopped
- 1/2 t. smoked paprika
- Sea salt and black pepper, to taste
- 3/4 c. Colby Jack cheese, shredded
[NOTE]: Ground beef can be a bit dry and flavorless on its own. For this recipe, a small amount of finely chopped onion is added to remedy this. As a result, some excess moisture will rise to the top of these meatloaf muffins as they bake. This is normal and easily remedied by carefully draining off the excess moisture before adding the cheese as described in step 4 below.
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 375oF and spray muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, thoroughly combine all ingredients together with your hands, except for the shredded cheese.
- Divide beef mixture into 12 equal-sized portions and place into the prepared muffin tin openings. Place in pre-heated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the meat is cooked through.
- Remove from oven and carefully drain excess moisture off the top of each muffin by gently tipping the tray over your sink. Wipe excess liquid off top of muffin tin and top each muffin with the shredded cheese.
- Return to oven for 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted and starts to turn golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool for several minutes before removing muffins from tin. Serve immediately or freeze for later use. Enjoy!
To Your Health,
Patti
