Whole 30: Day 14 – Investing in New Cooking Gadgets
Ever since I learned the importance of eating real, whole foods, I started cooking way more than I used to.
I always loved cooking and even went through a phase in high school where I devoured the food network and cooked almost every day. In college, the passion subsided a bit but once I moved back to Cayman, the passion awoke from its slumber.
I love to fry, bake, sautee, steam, juice, blend, broil, grill – every cooking method you can think of. I love to make sweet potato pancakes, meatloaf, butternut squash mash, cauliflower rice, fried chicken, brownies, roasted green beans, and the list goes on and on. Many of my family members and friends have tasted my cooking and said I should be a Chef. And although that’s a great compliment and I’m humbled by it, I don’t do anything special in the kitchen that they or anyone else can’t do.
All it takes is making time to learn the basics, grabbing recipes you want to try and using good cooking utensils/gadgets.
My New Cooking Gadgets & Ingredients
As my birthday was approaching a couple weeks ago, whenever people asked me what I wanted, right away I told them – cooking utensils/gadgets or gift certificates to places where I could get those things. There were many cooking gadgets I didn’t have yet, and I was eager to get them and update old ones to be able to try new cooking methods and recipes. So, based on my birthday gifts and the gift certificates, so far I’ve gotten the following new cooking gadgets/utensils:
- Sharp Set of Knives (The slice on my thumb will prove their sharpness)
- Pans & Pots (non-stick for the win)
- Dish Drainer (old one needed updating)
- New Chopping Board (with different chopping surfaces for meat, chicken, fish, and veggies with a wooden base – amazing!)
- Mini grill (get that BBQ on!)
- Juicer (green juice and carrot juice for the win!)
- Four sided grater (for some homemade coleslaw! grate those carrots!)
- Mixing Bowls (can never have too many of these!)
I also added some cooking ingredients to my cupboard and fridge that I was itching to get such as organic vegetables for juicing, organic chicken broth, almond butter, and frozen fruits for smoothies and baking (organic mixed berries, cherries, and mango/pineapple/strawberry mix).
I can’t tell you how excited I am about all of the above. See, not only do I love learning about the science behind real, whole foods and its effects on your body, but I love to use these foods in a variety of ways to excite my taste buds, senses, and adventure when it comes to eating well.
Suggested Cooking Gadgets to Purchase
So, I encourage you to go out and buy that one cooking gadget/utensil you’ve been itching to get! If in Cayman, you can get many of the below suggestions, as well as pantry items from one or more of the following: Foster’s, Kirk, Bay Market, Hurley’s, Priced Right, Cost-U-Less, Kirk’s Home Center, and A.L. Thompson’s.
- Julienne Peeler: You can make zucchini into noodles for spaghetti and noodle salads!
- Cutting Boards: Wood is better than plastic as both may start to chip away, but wood getting in your food is better than plastic.
- Citrus Squeezer: Super helpful when it comes to squeezing limes or lemon to prevent seeds from getting in the food
- Glass Containers: Plastic containers have BPA which can leak into your food, especially when heated. BPA has been known to link to some cancers in individuals. I have both plastic and glass, but am trainsitioning into just glass slowly but surely. Also, don’t heat up your food in plastic containers as that will most definitely leak into your food.
- Blender and Juicer: Homemade smoothies and juices are so much better for us than a lot of those we buy out there. They can sometimes be cheaper as well!
There is so much more cooking gadgets and utensils you can use so don’t limit yourself to the list above. I encourage you this week to research and find one that interests you and if you have the means to do it, treat yourself and get it this week. If not, save up and get it as soon as you can! It will spice up your cooking skills, recipe collection, and make this health journey ten times more exciting, sustainable, and worth it 🙂
Be sure to comment and let me know what cooking gadget you get!
