Lets face it, everyone can use a little help in the kitchen, some more than others (yes, me….I love eating; cooking is not my forte).  However, I do have some favorite tools in my kitchen that are tried and true.  These tools help me make my food a little healthier, save me a little time, can prevent food waste, and keep my family healthy and safe.  I’m not affiliated with any of the companies, so feel free to check out other brands or options; these are just the ones I have personal experience with.  Maybe you have one or two already (or all six)?

1. It’s summer, and it’s hot.  What’s a person to do?  Grab a popsicle to cool off of course.  But let’s take it up a notch.  How about an easy homemade popsicle using this fun mold?    Make any combination of flavors you want using fresh fruit.  Then add some milk or yogurt to make it creamy, or peanut butter for flavor; you can even throw some vegetables in there!   My family currently has a batch of berry banana popsicles in the freezer at this very moment…though not for long.
   
2. Gone are the days of the plug in popcorn maker that melts butter in the back while popcorn shoots out the front…no one else had that growing up as a kid, just me?  Personally I have a hard time keeping an appliance that only does 1 thing, so ditching that outdated corded monstrosity for a sleek….collapsible (you read that right! collapsible!) bowl that pops popcorn in the microwave on command was a no brainer.  Now I can make popcorn without all the preservatives and flavor it myself- chili lime anyone?  This one comes in tons of colors to match any kitchen theme.
   
3. It’s garden season, and with that comes fresh herbs.  But unfortunately, I don’t get to snip fresh herbs all year long here in PA.  So what’s a person to do during winter, use dried?  Or maybe buy a big bunch at the grocery store, use 2 pieces, and then watch the rest die?  I hope not.  In comes the herb keeper.  Use what you need of the fresh herb, then place the herb and a little bit of water in the keeper to extend the life of your herbs by a couple days up to a couple weeks.  Save the herbs!  
   
4. I love salad, but I admit, it takes a little time to wash and chop all those veggies. Let’s pick up the pace with the salad spinner.  Not only does it dry the salad greens like a CHAMP, it is super fun to use, plus, you can store the greens right in there once you’re done.  WIN WIN WIN.  You could even throw the toppings right in there and use it to serve, even more wins!  While it’s not as compact as the popcorn popper, it does get a lot more use, so I’ll let it slide.
   
5. Want to make your life a little easier AND a little safer?  Try these cutting boards.  They are color coordinated with little pictures to help you keep your food safe.  Never cut anything on the same cutting board that you cut raw chicken/fish/beef.  Now you don’t have to worry about cross contamination since your produce has its own cutting board.  Bonus:  They’re dishwasher safe!
   
6. One of our long time readers swears by this 3 in 1 avocado slicer.  Who’s got time for a knife and a spoon and individually slicing the avocado into the perfect portions? Additionally it has a neat part that helps you get the pit out without slicing your hand!  No one!  Especially a teacher as busy as Katie. So she keeps this handy little tool in her kitchen drawer when she wants to add avocado to her sandwich in place of mayo, or top her salad with heart healthy fats, or to whip up some quick guac!  

Which one would you like to add to your kitchen?  

If you want to be part of the giveaway, head back to Facebook or Instagram (after checking out the rest of our website of course☺) and follow the rules below:

1. Follow us on Instagram or Facebook (or both!)
2. Share the Post
3. Tag a Friend (more friends = more entries)
4. Tell us which number you want to win!
5. Bonus entry if you tell us about a kitchen tool you like to use not on this list!

We’ll pick a random winner on 8/6/2021 at 5pm and announce the winner on our social media page!  If it’s you, get in contact with us and we’ll send you your gift!

Good luck!

 Stay Happy, Stay Healthy

This blog was written by Chris Henigan MS, RD, LDN, co-founder of Simple Start Nutrition.  For more blog posts and nutrition information follow @simplestartnutrition on Instagram and Facebook.  Also feel free to contact us, by visiting our website (simplestartnutrition.com) to schedule an appointment to discuss your nutrition related needs.  We’re here to help