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Sometimes, eating right can feel like such a hassle. You know that it’s the best thing to do for yourself—but it’s so much easier to opt for an unhealthy grab-and-go snack or pick up something greasy at a fast food joint.
If you’re ready to commit to eating healthfully, you’re going to need to devote a little more time to grocery shopping and prepping in the kitchen—there’s no way around it. But there are a few shortcuts you can take: these kitchen appliances and gadgets will give you just the boost you need on your quest for eating clean.
A Blender
There’s no better way to start you day then with a cold smoothie jam-packed with nutrients from your favorite fruits and veggies. For smoothie devotees, the blender is undoubtedly the VIP of kitchen appliances.
Pick a tough and powerful blender than can pulverize sturdy greens and frozen strawberries. The Vitamix is the grand-daddy of blenders, but the price tag is pretty steep. The Blendtec is almost as powerful, but only half the price.
A Salad Spinner
If you’re tired of tossing wilted greens the day after you bought them, then it might be time to look into a salad spinner. Lettuces and other greens have to be washed before being consumed, but if they’re not thoroughly dried, they’ll wilt at warp-speed. A salad spinner is what you need to properly wash and dry your greens and herbs—hello, salads!
A Juicer
You don’t need to be on board the juice cleanse train to enjoy a freshly squeezed cup of juice. Healthier than their sugar-laden store-bought counterparts, homemade juices are so delicious that it’s almost like sipping dessert. A juicer is a must for anyone looking to add more fruits and vegetables to their diet.
A Food Processor
Store-bought foods are easy, but they’re often loaded with nasty chemicals and preservatives. You can avoid these unnecessary add-ons by making your own convenience foods with the help of a food processor.
Once you add a food processor to your kitchen, you’ll be unstoppable: homemade hummus, peanut butter, and other spreads will be at your fingertips, and chopping and slicing vegetables will be a breeze. Be sure to pick up an easy-to-clean model, or else your food processor will be at risk of gathering dust and taking up precious cupboard space.
An Immersion Blender
Save on money and stock up on nutritious meals by whipping up sauces, soups, and dressings in no time with the help of an immersion blender. Hand blenders go where no other device can: inside a stockpot to puree a chunky soup, into a cup to stir up a single-serving smoothie, or into a jar to emulsify oil and vinegar for a tangy dressing.
A Steamer
It looks a little alien– the moving parts, the perforated metal—but in fact, a steamer is a simple tool that allows you to cook up veggies the healthy way. Get a shallow pot of water boiling and pop the steamer on top, then cram in broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, or whatever else you want to steam up. It’s a quick and easy way to add veggies to your meal, and you won’t lose any of those precious nutrients in the cooking process—truly a win-win.
