5 kitchen items that assist you in achieving your healthy-eating objectives

5 kitchen items that assist you in achieving your healthy-eating objectives

The health of your kitchen is directly proportional to your own. You'll feel better right away if you stick to fruits, healthy grains, fresh foods, and organic products in the kitchen instead of processed, preservative-laden trash. The same can be said about kitchen gadgets that encourage you to cook in healthier ways. While the internet is full with fancy salad spinners and avocado slicers that are more for show than for purpose, there are some simpler alternatives that will help you make healthier eating decisions. We've compiled a list of five things you should be investing in right now.

 

1. Invest in a juicer.

If you ask a dietitian, they will always advise you that eating your fruit rather than juicing it is the best option.A juicer, on the other hand, is a terrific way to get those greens in if you like to sip rather than chew.Invest in a slow-speed juicer to keep the nutrients in your fruits and veggies. Avoid centrifugal juicers since they burn out nutrients and leave you with coloured water. If you enjoy citrus fruits, you'll want to invest in a citrus press. According to health and nutrition expert Rakhee Jain Arora, "this helps separate the molasses in an effective way without stripping away the micronutrients of the fruit." Juices are only nutritious if the ingredients are properly squeezed. As a result, getting the appropriate juicer is crucial. Jain Arora favours a juicer with a "wider mesh" to keep the fibre.

 

2. Prepare in a urli

Embrace your Indian heritage and reap the health benefits that come with it. While many people use a urli to decorate their homes, it is also an excellent tool for making Indian curries and gravies. It's a wide-mouthed, heavy-bottomed vessel that prevents food from burning easily. “Urlis are traditionally used to produce Ayurvedic remedies and temple food,” explains Kaviya Cherian, founder of Green Heirloom, a Kochi-based studio that handcrafts urlis. “A good digestive system is the foundation of every healthy person, and bronze alloy, which is used to produce traditional urlis, has the ability to naturally alkalize food. Furthermore, studies have shown that when cooking using bronze utensils, micronutrients are properly preserved,” explains Cherian.

 

3. Purchase a spiralizer.

Nothing beats a good spiralizer for cutting carbs. It will give your salad or main dish more body and won't make you want spaghetti or noodles (maybe a little bit).

“When compared to an electric spiralizer, hand-held spiralisers are the easiest to use and less expensive. While you won't lose nutrition by putting your vegetables through an electric processor, which might happen with a juicer, a hand-held one is better for a novice and is easier to clean,” explains Karishma Dalal, creator of Bombay Salad Co. Her favourite is a horizontal one with a rotation lever on one side and spikes on the other to keep the vegetables in place.

4. Use a sprouter box made of clay.

There is no shortage of evidence that eating sprouts on a daily basis is beneficial to your health. A bowl of pre-soaked lentils, beans, moong beans, barley, quinoa, chickpeas, and barley can significantly increase vitamin and mineral consumption. A sprouter is a special bowl that is meant to allow grains and seeds to germinate. When you soak your seeds and grains ahead of time, anti-oxidants are released into the water, which you can then discard. A terracotta sprouter is ideal if you're seeking for kitchen gadgets made of environmentally friendly materials. Whether it's curd or sprouts, anything made of terracotta imparts an earthy flavour to your cuisine. “Terracotta also distributes heat evenly, burning less fuel, and the sprouter aids grain growth,” explains Riddhima Khandelwal, creative director of Jaipur-based Ellementry, a company that creates cookware and serveware out of natural materials.

 

5. Use a cast-iron pan.

If Emily in Paris wasn't enough to persuade you to use cast iron cookware, then this will. Cooking in cast iron has a number of advantages. For one thing, it is not chemically treated, and for another, the material maintains heat better, allowing food to be cooked faster and with fewer nutrients being lost. “It also has a longer shelf life, making it more suitable for everyday use,” adds Prateek Kabra, Wonderchef's head of product development. Because cast iron skillets are naturally non-stick, Kabra recommends them not only for cooking international cuisines but also for making Indian mainstays like rotis. Due to its heavy bottom, it can also be used to prepare dum biryani and gravies. Furthermore, pre-seasoned cast-iron can help to increase the iron content of food. A little but significant amount of iron is absorbed into the meal during the cooking process, making the dish healthier,” adds Kabra. To prevent the cookware from rusting over time, make sure it's completely dry and seasoned (here's a guide).