Making New Year’s resolutions is the easy part. You’ll eat healthy this year. Swap fries for salad and cake for fruit. You’ll focus on more plant-based dishes and be creative when it comes to dessert. But preparing healthy meals takes a lot of work, so maybe you gave up around the end of February.

Investing in a few new kitchen gadgets can rejuvenate your resolutions! The right gadgets cut down on food prep time and inspire you to try new recipes and cooking techniques. Read on for some of our favorite healthy-eating tools.

Are you someone who spends a lot at the smoothie shop? A good-quality blender can inspire you to prepare your own delicious combinations at home. Start with a simple formula: 

Toss in your favorite extras like Greek yogurt, nut butters or protein power, and mix everything together. 

This is where a good blender makes a big difference. That hand-me-down from your mom might leave pieces of kale leaves or banana bits intact. A good blender purees the ingredients into a delicious, refreshing treat. That same blender will come in handy if you have a family member who hates chunks in the tomato sauce. Puree some diced tomatoes, add Italian herbs and skip the store-bought sauce with its added sugar and unpronounceable ingredients.

Toss in your favorite extras like Greek yogurt, nut butters or protein power, and mix everything together. 

This is where a good blender makes a big difference. That hand-me-down from your mom might leave pieces of kale leaves or banana bits intact. A good blender purees the ingredients into a delicious, refreshing treat. That same blender will come in handy if you have a family member who hates chunks in the tomato sauce. Puree some diced tomatoes, add Italian herbs and skip the store-bought sauce with its added sugar and unpronounceable ingredients.

You’ve probably heard of the Instant Pot and the other electric pressure cookers on the market today. Pressure cookers allow you to prepare food quickly and easily without worrying about defrosting time. Are you craving tacos? Throw in a couple of frozen chicken breasts, a serving of taco seasoning, half a jar of salsa and about 1/2 cup of chicken broth. Pressure-cook the concoction for 15 minutes, allowing the pressure to release naturally afterward. Shred the chicken and spoon it onto tortillas for a low-fat dinner. Many pressure cookers allow you to easily hard-boil eggs, steam vegetables, cook rice, and make yogurt, too.

A fresh salad can be delicious, but sometimes you just don’t feel like chopping all the ingredients by hand. That’s why we like the inexpensive food chopper and mandolin combination that allows you to quickly transform veggies into uniform pieces or thin slices. A set of salad chopping tongs transforms a bowl of greens and veggies into a yummy chopped salad, while an herb stripper tool easily removes the stringy stems from kale or cilantro.

Once you’ve used a good knife, you will never want to prepare food without it. It’s much easier to cut the skin off a chicken breast or chop some veggies for a healthy snack when you’re not trying to saw through them with a dull blade. A good knife doesn’t have to be expensive, either. We’ve found several online that have fantastic ratings but cost less than $50. 

Yes, gadgets are fun. But, if you’re like us, you might think twice about pulling out an appliance every time you want to prepare a side dish. Behold, the silicone steamer. Fill a pot with water, stick the silicone steamer inside and add your favorite vegetable combination to steam while you’re preparing the rest of your dinner. The silicone steamer won’t scratch the bottom of your pot, and it’s a lot easier to stash in a cabinet when you’re not using it.

Let this year be the year you make healthy changes in your diet. Treat yourself to a few new tools that help you look forward to cooking foods without the added preservatives, sugar and sodium that can clog your arteries and set up residence around your waistline. It’s time to take care of you.

If you want to learn more about good nutrition, we can help. Our staff of registered dietitians are committed to helping you improve your quality of life through the foods you eat. Contact us at 317-468-4880 for more information.