10 Kitchen Gadgets That Make Weight Loss Easier
When you’re trying to lose weight, your kitchen can be your greatest asset. It’s all about stocking it with the right tools and knowing how to use them in order to create delicious meals that are healthy and satisfying.
Overview
When you're trying to lose weight, your kitchen can be your greatest asset. It's all about stocking it with the right tools and knowing how to use them in order to create delicious meals that are healthy and satisfying. "With the right kitchen gadgets you'll save time preparing and cooking foods, easily control portions and incorporate nutrient-dense, low-calorie foods you may have otherwise avoided," says Kristin Kirkpatrick, M.S., RD, manager of wellness nutrition services at the Cleveland Clinic. Read on for 10 of the best additions to your healthy kitchen.
1. Inspiralizer
Whether you're going low-carb or low-cal, you don't have to ditch pasta to lose pounds. Instead, use the Inspiralizer to turn nearly any veggie -- zucchini, sweet potato, butternut squash, beets and more -- into noodles. Two cups of pasta pack nearly 500 calories. Two cups of zucchini noodles ("zoodles") have a mere 66, along with heaps of belly-filling fiber. Top veggie noodles with your favorite tomato sauce, meatballs, roasted vegetables or sauteed shrimp. PRICE: $50 WHERE TO FIND: inspiralized.com
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2. Muffin Tin
Here's a kitchen tool you likely already have in your cabinet: the humble muffin tin. The individual cups are perfect for creating mini versions of your favorite foods so you don't feel deprived while dieting. Bake frittatas, meatloaves, meatballs, mac and cheese or potpies in the tin and you have built-in portion control. Just be sure to scale down your cooking time accordingly. PRICE: $10 WHERE TO FIND: amazon.com
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3. Microplane Classic Series Zester/Grater
Feel like your recipe needs a little something to boost the flavor? Before reaching for butter, oil or sugar, grab your grater and zest some lemon, lime or orange to amp up the flavor without adding calories. Add citrus zest to meats, soups, homemade salad dressing, roasted veggies and more just before serving. PRICE: $13 WHERE TO FIND: us.microplane.com
4. Kikkerland Ez Wooden Chopsticks
You've probably heard that eating more slowly will help you consume less because it gives your brain a chance to receive signals from your belly that you're being fed. The only problem is that eating at a snail's pace is really tough. One way around that? Replace your fork with chopsticks and you will slow down your shoveling because you'll get less food with each bite. If the idea of using traditional chopsticks seems too daunting, try chopsticks that are attached at the top for the same result, but with fewer fumbles. PRICE: $16 WHERE TO FIND: kikkerland.com
5. LunchBots Duo
Research shows we tend to fill the space on our plate with food and eat it all. In addition to using salad plates instead of dinner plates, it's a smart idea to downsize your to-go containers too. Each section in this container holds 10 ounces, which is the perfect size for healthy comestibles like nuts, fruit, sliced veggies or half a sandwich. PRICE: $23 WHERE TO FIND: lunchbots.com
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6. Jokari Portion Control Dressing Lid
Some salad dressings contain more than 100 calories per serving. And how many of us stick to the standard 2 tablespoon-size serving anyway? A portion-control dressing lid screws onto most store-bought dressing and measures out one serving at a time to keep you from overdoing it when pouring dressing onto your dish. PRICE: $6 WHERE TO FIND: jokari.com
7. Instant Pot
You already know that cooking more meals at home will help you lose weight, but planning, prepping, cooking and cleaning take time that you don't always have. The Instant Pot can help. The device uses high pressure that allows the temperature inside to rise well above boiling, so food cooks in a fraction of the time it takes to cook in the oven or on the stove. With the Instant Pot you can make an entire beef stew in a mere 20 minutes. PRICE: $136 WHERE TO FIND: instantpot.com
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8. Chef’n SaladShears
Gadgets that do the chopping for you slash the time and effort it takes to pull together healthy meals. A mini food processor can dice foods with the press of a button. Plus, you can also use it for making healthy eats like hummus, guacamole, blended soups or mashed sweet potatoes. For a low-tech option, a manual chopper like the Chef'n SaladShears slices through lettuce and other nutrient-packed leafy greens that you may have otherwise left on the store shelf. PRICE: $10 WHERE TO FIND: chefn.com
9. Misto Olive Oil Sprayer
Whether you're pouring EVOO into a hot pan for sauteing or drizzling on meat and veggies for roasting, at 120 calories per tablespoon it easily adds up -- even though it's full of the healthy type of fats. With an oil mister, you spritz instead of glug so you use only as much of it as you need. You'll still get some heart-healthy unsaturated fats, but without as many calories. PRICE: $7 WHERE TO FIND: amazon.com
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10. Krupps Egg Cooker
People who start their day with a high-protein breakfast like eggs are less hungry and lose more weight than those who scarf down carbs like cereal, bread or pastry, according to research. An egg cooker makes perfect soft-, medium- or hard-boiled eggs with the flip of a switch. You can also whip up omelets or poached eggs with less effort and cleanup than slaving over the stove. PRICE: $30.00 WHERE TO FIND: amazon.com
What Do YOU Think?
What's your favorite kitchen gadget? What's on your wish list? Share your suggestions with other LIVESTRONG.COM readers in the comments below!
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