9 Kitchen Tools that Make Losing Weight Easy AF

In the world of nutrition, there exists a paradox: We know cooking at home is healthier, but more often than we'd like to admit, we opt for takeout or a giant bowl of cereal.

"With busy lives, many people don’t feel they can’t devote 30 minutes or more to prepare a meal, especially when they can just get carryout or microwave something in five minutes," says Kristin Kirkpatrick, R.D., the wellness manager for Cleveland Clinic's Center for Lifestyle Medicine.

But home cooked meals matter especially if you’re trying to shed weight. That’s because when you cook, you’re in charge of the ingredients and the cooking methods. And that helps you keep a better eye on calories, carbs, unhealthy fats, and sugar, says Kirkpatrick. "These are all key in shedding pounds."

Despite what Pinterest food porn tells us, healthy cooking doesn't have to be super complicated, says Ilyse Schapiro, R.D., author of Should I Scoop Out My Bagel?

The right kitchen tools can help you simplify home cooking and trim your waistline, says Schapiro. 

Here's what you should stock up on: 

Lemon Zester:

A simple zester can add serious flavor from limes, oranges, and lemons to your food without adding fat or salt, says Kirkpatrick.

Brussels Sprouts Tool:

Brussels sprouts are great for weight loss because they’re a cruciferous veggie packed with nutrients (and not so many calories) but it can be seriously tough to cook them perfectly so they don't get soggy and gross. 

Enter this useful tool that removes the core for more even cooking and loosens the leaves for better broiling or roasting.

Spiralizer:

Pasta for dinner every single night may be a recipe for weight gain but that’s where spiralized veggies comes in. Whipping veggies into noodles helps you cut back on carbs and pack more filling nutrients into your diet...but still lets you enjoy that pasta texture.

Oil Spritzer:

Olive oil is healthy, yes, but overdo it and you’ll rack up the calories, says Schapiro. This little spray bottle works to reduce the amount of oil you use while evenly coating whatever you're cooking. "You can use it with veggies, eggs, or chicken," she says.

Mandoline:

Let's be real, chopping can be tedious AF. But since you've got to dice up fruits and veggies to get them ready for snacks, salads, or veggie chips, it's kind of a necessary evil. However, this tool helps make it a little less time consuming. Choose between three different thicknesses and throw the device in the dishwasher when you’re done. Beet chips, anyone?

SteamerCase:

Steaming your veggies sans butter or oil can seriously cut calories, says Schapiro. This steam case cooks your veggies in their own juices (in the oven or microwave) without adding to the pile of dishes you've got to do. "Just make sure to incorporate a variety of vegetables so you don’t get bored and overeat elsewhere!" she says. (Get healthy recipes that can help you lose weight with Women's Health's Body Clock Diet.)

Salad Chopper:

Obviously, salads are a great weight-loss food for a reason. Done right (read: no high calorie toppings), salads are a high volume food, which means they’ll fill you up, says Schapiro. Aim for a green leafy base, crunchy veggies, plus a protein (like chicken, shrimp, turkey, or egg), she suggests. Even better: Chop your greens up into little bites you get more ingredients in every forkful (hence our addiction to Chop't). 

Pressure Cooker:

Half the battle in weight loss is having good for you foods on hand. And whether you’re prepping in advance or just need to whip up veggies in a flash, a pressure cooker can be your BFF: "You can put all of the ingredients in first thing in the morning, and when you get home from dinner your meal is made," says Schapiro. Walk in the door ravenous? It only takes between four and seven minutes to steam veggies like green peas, sweet corn, or baby carrots. Win-win.

Food Processor:

Made-from scratch soups, salsas, smoothies, or nut butters might seem out of your league, but that’s where a great food processor comes in. "It’s the best way to finely chop veggies and incorporate them into your meals," says Schapiro. Even better: You add the ingredients and let the machine chop, shred, process, and puree away.