Kitchen Tools for Weight Loss

You’ve already made the commitment to start your weight loss journey, now you might need to update your kitchen equipment to accommodate the ease of preparing low-calorie, low-carbohydrate meals. Several affordable options are available; you don’t need to spend a fortune to cook “light.”You might not know the first thing about how to cook for yourself, or maybe you are the chef of the house, but are learning how to cook more healthily. Whatever the case may be, we’ve put together some kitchen tools for weight loss that will transform your kitchen.

Kitchen Scale

Food portion measurement is absolutely an essential component of your weight loss success. A digital kitchen scale will help you easily determine the weight of your ingredients. Scales are priced between $10-50; you’ll want something that’s accurate and measures in ounces and grams. There are also smaller travel-size scales you can take with you when you are on the go!We recommend: Ozeri Touch II Professional Digital Kitchen Scale ($20), EatSmart Precision Pro Digital Kitchen Scale ($20)

Spiralizer

Replacing pasta in any dish will significantly reduce calories, and more importantly decrease the number of carbs. Opting for a vegetable replacement where a cup of spiraled zucchini is only 5 carbs, leaves you feeling full and satisfied, instead of stuffed and tired. Although there is a range in price, any of these vegetable spiralizers will work to provide you with a low-carb side to your dish.We recommend: Veggetti Spiral Vegetable Slicer ($10), Veggetti Pro Table-Top Spiralizer ($20), Paderno World Cuisine Tri-Blade Plastic Spiral Vegetable Slicer ($30), KitchenAid Spiralizer attachment ($85)

Food Dehydrator

Dried vegetable chips, beef and turkey jerky can be great low carb snacks. These items are often expensive in stores, so a food dehydrator is a great investment! When you make your own snacks at home, you can reduce fat, sugar and sodium levels in your snacks—all factors that lead to weight loss. Dehydrators can be purchased for between $40-$220.We recommend: Nesco American Harvest FD-61 Snackmaster Encore Dehydrator ($73), Waring Pro DHR30 Professional Dehydrator ($50), Excalibur 2900ECB 9-Tray Economy Dehydrator ($177)

Electric Vegetable Chopper

Vegetables, vegetables, vegetables…you’ll be eating a lot of these (as they are low in carbs) and what a better way to simplify your life and save your fingers than to purchase a good electric vegetable chopper. These are usually smaller than a normal food processor; some of them chop in shapes. You’ll have perfectly uniform, fresh veggies in no time! They are also great for making a quick batch of tasty salsa. You can find these from $20-$70.We recommend: Black & Decker EHC650 2-Speed Food Chopper with3-Cup Bowl ($33), Cuisinart DLC-2ABC Mini Prep Plus Food Processor ($40)Now you’ve got some idea of a few cooking tools that lighten your load and ultimately lighten your plate. Pick up a few of these items and get cooking. You’ll be making healthy meals in no time!