It's so tempting at Christmas to go with the tried-and-true shortbreads, wine, gourmet hampers and the latest gadget that will never be used. That's why I've come up with my ten favourite kitchen helpers that are useful and will help you maintain a healthy diet.
Kitchen gadgets make great gifts and can be inexpensive or pricey. They make life easier when you need to mix, blend, purée, chop, slice or grate food. The problem is there are so many gadgets out there - what’s worth spending the money on? And what’s going to help people to health? Here are 10 gifts that enhance health and wellness and that I think are value for money.
Take a look! Oh, and have a really lovely and safe Christmas.
This is absolutely top of my list! A must-have item in your kitchen it will help you to sauté those healthy fish fillets or skinless chicken breasts without oil or with a light spray from the can. Not to mention whipping up a marvellous quick omelette when there's nothing in the fridge but eggs!
When we buy for oursleves we tend to buy cheap and then throw away. Why not lash out on a really top quality one that will last and give a gift that will still be in use several Christmases from now. And if you can get one with a lid, so much the better!
See my post Healthy cooking tips and tricks for more ideas.
Start checking just how big that portion is! You'll be surprised once you start weighing pieces of steak or choc-chip muffins or measuring a tablespoon of oil.
We really do live in an over-sized food world and it's most obvious in the area of beverages and snack foods. Compare the portion you're about to devour to the portion listed on the back of the label under the ‘Per serve' column. Make sure they're the same!
Check out my post How big are your portions? to see how much our portions have been "up-sized" in recent years.
These are great for making hearty, healthy soups with no preservatives and additives! They also make great fruit smoothies for breakfast or home-made, healthy dips to serve with crisp fresh vegie sticks at your next barbie. Best of all, they're easy to clean.
Read my Joy of soup post for more ideas.
This can be either a double pan, a simple mesh insert that sits inside your usual pan, a bamboo basket that sits on a wok or a fancy electronic gadget. Whichever you choose, steaming retains more colour and more nutrition. If I'm on my own, I cook a mix of 4 or 5 vegetables in the one pot so I have variety.
Steaming is #1 in my post 12 ways to cook for health - take a look.
I was given one a few years back and mostly use it for making char-grilled sandwiches. However, I do pull it out when I want to grill minute steak and hamburgers quickly. It has a gentle slope so that as you cook, the fat runs off into a little tray along the base. When you're finished cooking, you unclamp the little tray and tip out the liquid fat into a container and into the bin.
Oh, and did I mention it makes wonderful char-grilled asparagus spears (love them with a dip) and eggplant slices? Looks like a professional has done the job.
The Julienne Peeler is great for getting kids interested in vegies. If they can play with the food to make fun spirals and be involved in the making of the meal then they're more likely to eat the vegies they created. You can make zucchini noodles with this gadget and it's a space saving option over traditional spiralizers.
I have the Pro Mandolin vegetable slicer and it makes perfect cuts. Now you can make thin raw beets for salads, butternut squash slices for vegetable lasagna, and much more. Give your salads and garnishes that professional look.
Read my post 10 ways to get your kids to eat their vegies for more ideas.
I would be lost without my wok. I use it all the time. It's a must for those healthy stir-fries, home-made fried rice, curries and soups – anything that needs a deep bowl to cook in. It's quick, healthy and there's minimal clean-up afterwards. Perfect!
Take a look at my post 7 reasons why I love my wok to find out more.
I bought one of these a couple of years ago and love it. It has the spout at the base. When you cook a roast just pour the pan juices/dripping into it and leave it to settle for a few minutes. Then toss in a few ice cubes. The fat rises to the top while the clear gravy liquid sits on the bottom allowing you to pour off the nice meaty liquid without getting all the fat in there as well.
Special teapots with matching cups are not things people usually buy for themselves, they seem too indulgent somehow and that's why it's such a nice gift to give. Team them up with Number 10 and you'll have a sure-fire winner!
Exotic teas always make a great gift. Try spicy chai, jasmine and green tea blend or lemongrass and ginger. If the recipient isn't so adventurous then a set of classic teas like Orange Pekoe, Lady Grey and English or Irish Breakfast never fail to please. Not to mention all the lovely caffeine-free and herbal options that you can have before bed.
You can read the 7 reasons why I love tea, here.
Written by guest contributor, dietitian-nutritionist Catherine Saxelby, and reproduced here with permission from www.foodwatch.com.au.
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