I’m sure most nutrition and dietetics students can agree that finding time to fulfill our many responsibilities while fitting in exercise and healthy eating is not a walk in the park. After a long day, all I crave is a healthy meal that will power me with the nutrients I need to continue giving every day my very best. However, with limited time, preparing a meal that is both healthy and delicious is quite a challenge.
Luckily, through lots of trial and error, I’ve found it is possible to make quick and nutrient-dense meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner with the help of a few kitchen supplies. These tools make food prep easy by decreasing the amount of time you spend in the kitchen and allowing you to nourish yourself with a variety of yummy meals, while still having time to complete other responsibilities. If you’re a nutrition and dietetics student, these are four kitchen appliances you need to make your favorite healthy meals in record time.
Slow Cooker
Do you wish you could come home after a busy day to a warm and soothing meal that’s already prepared? After juggling two exams, a rigorous work schedule and running errands, nothing sounds better than a cozy plate of food that requires absolutely no cooking time. With a slow cooker, you can! In the morning before you leave home, put your favorite protein (chicken, turkey and tofu work wonderfully) and veggies in your slow cooker with a delicious mix of sauces and spices, and when you get home, it’ll be piping hot and ready to eat.
Single-Serve Blender
One of the best ways to cram a ton of nutrients into your breakfast without having to sacrifice time, especially when you’re in a rush to head out the door, is a smoothie. Make smoothies with any mix of fruits, vegetables, milks, protein powders, nuts and seeds for a meal that will kick-start your day and keep you full until lunchtime. The best way to make smoothies is with a single-serve blender: Pour all ingredients into the portable cup, blend, put a top on it and go! There are many smoothie recipes online that honor a variety of food preferences.
Small Convection Oven
Toast is a great companion to any breakfast, lunch or dinner. A small convection oven is the perfect way to get toast to your desired level of brown and crispness quickly, without accidently burning it over your stove. Similarly, you can prepare and freeze a lasagna or salmon fillet in advance, so that when you come home, you can just remove it from the freezer and place it in the oven to cook thoroughly in record time. The options are endless, and the versatility is vast, making this appliance a must-have.
Hot Water Kettle
There are so many things you can make with a hot water kettle. Besides heating up water or milk for your morning coffee or tea in less than two minutes, it also works to heat water quickly for a bowl of oatmeal. Instead of spending minutes over the stove, stirring oats until they’re the perfect consistency, get the delicious texture of warm oats by heating a cup of water in the kettle, then pouring it in a mason jar with rolled oats. Mix well for a couple of seconds, top with your favorite fruit and sweeteners such as a drizzle of honey or maple syrup, and you have a hearty, fiber-rich breakfast that took virtually no time to prepare.
Hopefully these tools help you to easily create meals that are both tasty and wholesome, the perfect combination for any nutrition and dietetics student!
