The Starting Lineup
As you begin to experiment with lower carb, anti-inflammatory eating there are some key kitchen essentials that can help along the way. For the Ignite Phase (first 4 weeks) of the 131 Method, and for any low carb eater, I recommend starting with these super helpful kitchen tools. The items will be in frequent use – and will make clean up/prep easier, the food or drink taste better, and align with a mission to cook with safer materials. Read on and see how many you already might have, and if not, why you might love having them!
Milk Frother
The milk frother comes in handy for mixing collagen and grass fed butter into bulletproof coffee in the mornings, and can be used when adding powdered bone broth to sauces, or soups.
Lemon Juice Squeezer
Whether it’s Friday night and you’re mixing margaritas for the girls (tequila has 0 carbs 😉 ), or it’s an early Mon-Fri morning, this tool will give your recipes a juicy, anti-inflammatory edge! Whether you use this for margaritas, or for lemon and ginger tea in the morning, it’s all about balance right? This little unit is constantly going from our dish drainboard, to drawer and then counter again. Available on amazon here!
Garlic Press
This one I picked up at Safeway because this one broke after a lot of use. is great for pressing fresh ginger (anti-inflammatory, and digestively beneficial) into your morning tea, or into veggie-filled delicious supper recipes.
Glass Measuring Cups
Are your measuring cups plastic or glass? In an effort to reduce the amount we let food interact with plastic and heat, try to stick with glass, stainless steel, and cast iron materials in your kitchen. With glass measuring cups, any recipe calling for melted butter or coconut oil means you can fearlessly melt it with a glass measuring cup in the microwave.
Bamboo Steamer
Mmm! Do you like crisp, steamed veggies? A bamboo steamer will have a low carb dinner ready in no time, and not to mention a great veggie broth base boiling underneath it!
Dalcini Stainless Steel Food Storage
Do you find lugging glass storage containers a pain? They’re heavy, they hit you on the hip or bang loudly on the door as you make your way out to work . . . or is that just me?! Plastic is getting a bad rap so what else can you use?
{ENTER DALCINI – stainless steel]
Not only are these light and easy to clean – the coolest thing about them is the company is Canadian! While they are NOT microwave safe – they are oven safe. Or you can put the goods in a bowl or plate for the microwave and voila. They’re durable, easy maintenance and eco-friendly stainless steel food containers.
Cast Iron Frying Pan
These make the best tasting food, while giving your muscles a workout to lift or clean it! hah! A cast iron frying pan can be put right into the oven too. I suggest getting one with a side handle for easier lifting. I use this for eggs, quiches, browning meat, buffalo chicken dip, and mmm pancakes too. While non-stick pans are deemed ‘safe’, with cast iron – you don’t need to worry about any overheating, chipping or replacing regularly to avoid toxins.
Melon Baller Scoop
Low carb muffins, cookies, fat bombs – this this little guy will get in the action ALL THE TIME (and help you to portion!) Way better than freestyle pouring or messing with ‘ye old’ spoon-scraping-spoon technique of the past. Find this on amazon!
Silicon Muffin Cups
While I ‘err on the side of caution when using silcone in the oven, I do find them wonderfully handy for making brain bombs, or gummies that will set in room temperature or the fridge. I do my best to bake with cookie sheets, muffin tins and parchment paper – nothing plastic or silicone if possible, and have recently switched from aluminum foil to parchment paper. These handy silicone cups I use all the time for room temperature, or fridge and freezer recipes like tart cherry gummies, or these delicious chocolate peanut butter brain bombs.
Baking Cups (Parchment Paper)
For easy clean up and delicious PB & J Muffins . . . these are my go-to every time. Available in large size and mini!
Food Processor
Trust me – there’s going to be a cheesecake in your future with a butter, pecan, and almond flour base that this powerful machine will make a cinch! Fat burning soups, hemp heart cookies and more will come out of this baby!
At the end of the day, remember that your kitchen can be as simple or equipped as you want it!
The size of your family, budget, and style of eating are factors that will determine the set up you need.
For health and environmental reasons we try to use glass, stainless steel, and wooden items in place of plastic, aluminum, and non-stick products whenever possible.
Enjoy your kitchen, your food, your way.
As a newbie, it can be hard to sort out what you really need in your kitchen. What is essential? What is fun? What will you put in the ‘re-gift’ pile this Christmas?
I hope this post is useful as you learn to nourish yourself and plays a small part in making your journey to healthy homemade meals a lifelong one!
