Do you need ideas for gifts for yourself? Maybe you’re wanting to eat and live healthier, but it’s all the practical things you’re not sure what to do about. Things such as what cooking pans to use, which blender brand, what storage containers for leftovers, what knives, cutting board, small appliance, etc.
And I’ve already had people asking me some of these questions. So since today is the week prior to Thanksgiving week, I thought I’d share what some of my personal favorite appliances, gadget, and tools are that just make healthy cooking and living easier, quicker, and more convenient. And the good news is that many are on sale right now!
High-speed blender – A high speed blender is on the top of my list of appliances to help with healthier eating. I have a Vitamix. It’s a workhorse in the kitchen, but other good brands include Ninja, Nutribullet, and Blendtec. You can whip up healthy smoothies full of nutritional foods like spinach, hard vegetables, protein powders, and fruit with no residual ingredients at the bottom of the blender. I also make hot and cold soups, dairy-free cream sauces, shakes, ice cream, dairy-free cheesecake fillings, homemade nut butters, nut milk, salad dressings, and mix batters for baked goods. Cleanup is super easy, too.
Knives – You need a good knife if you’re going to chop vegetables, fruit, poultry, meat, nuts, and more. You don’t want a cheap knife because it’s more apt to be dull or become dull quicker so you’ll cut yourself. (Ask me later how I know : ) Cutco is a great brand. My hubby sold them in college so some of ours are about 35 years old. We have added others over the years. Here’s the good news: If one breaks, which happens seldom, you can send it in for a complete replacement. And they will sharpen the knives at no charge. Remember, you get what you pay for so get a good quality knife. If you can only buy one good quality knife right now, do that.
Cooking utensils – You also need a good set of cooking utensils – either wood, bamboo, or stainless steel. You don’t want to use the cheaper plastic or Teflon ones because those are made with toxic chemicals such as phthalates and bisphenols (BPA) and PFAS (“forever” chemicals) which can leach into your food. They’re in all kinds of cookware, air fryers, and utensils. Research has shown that those substances can lead to endocrine issues, immune system damage, reproductive problems, and possibly harm the liver, pancreas, testicular, or mammary glands. There is silicone which I have used, but I have recently seen some research showing it’s not safe after certain temperatures so be cautious with that.
Pots, pans, baking sheets, cake pans – For the same reasons stated above, don’t use toxic nonstick pans like Teflon. There are safer ones such as stainless steel, ceramic, glass, cast iron, and enamel-coated cast iron. I personally like Calphalon and Breville and have several in various sizes. There are also some hybrid brands out there, too.
Pressure cooker and slow cooker – I’ve talked about these many times, but they will save you time in meal prep and cooking. You can walk in from a busy day with dinner all ready. I use the Instant Pot pressure cooker and love it for really quick cooking. It can cook frozen meat even! But I love my crockpot as well. And either are useful for meats, veggies, soups, broths, desserts, eggs, yogurt, and more.
Cutting boards – Don’t use plastic for your cutting boards. If you do, every time you’re cutting, tiny plastic particles, microplastics, are being released into your food. Then you eat them and over time, these may lead to immune issues and other chronic health conditions. Use wooden boards and clean frequently. And don’t use the same board for raw food as cooked. Get several boards.
Glass storage containers – I don’t like to use plastic to store food due to the toxins so I use glass storage containers which you can buy online or in home good stores. I like Glasslock, but there are many great brands. Or for a cheaper option just use mason jars which come in a variety of sizes. Or simply wash and reuse old glass jars.
Miscellaneous – If you have sore muscles, I highly recommend a massage gun. I have the SonicPro which I love. It has eight massage heads. Another favorite of mine are hot/cold rice packs which help when you have sore muscles or aches and pains. Heating it also helps if you have a stomachache, migraines, a headache, or arthritis. Get a stainless steel water bottle to help you drink water throughout your day. In fact, buy several so you can leave one in your car, one at work on your desk, and even one by your bathroom sink.
Perfumes/air fresheners/skincare/beauty – Most store-bought perfumes and air fresheners have artificial fragrances which give me headaches and make me nauseous. I can’t even go inside one of those stores. And research does indicate that these environmental toxins may cause health issues. So instead, I use quality essential oils as a perfume. I dilute it and put in a roll-on bottle. Plus, in my house I diffuse essential oils for a natural fragrance. And find healthier allergenic skincare and beauty products. I personally use Mary Kay.
Favorite books – Some of my favorite books for self-help, motivation, goal-setting, personal development, health and wellness, and spiritual growth include Atomic Habits, Tiny Habits, The 4:8 Principle, Get Out of Your Head, Eat That Frog, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis by Isabella Wentz, Made to Crave, Super Gut by William Davis, and One Perfect Word by Debbie Macomber. And, of course, the best book of all is the Bible. There are easy to read translations you can use such as the NIV, Living Bible, or The Message. And you can even read it online as an e-book with various apps. You can read most of the books I’ve listed online or listen to audio books.
And if you’re wanting to begin 2025 with a healthier gift for yourself, I’m hosting a Wellness Retreat in January at the beach! This would be a perfect Christmas or holiday gift for yourself. Check out the details here.
Leah Cheshire, MCD, CCC-SLP, NBC-HWC is a national board certified health and wellness coach and a speech-language pathologist who works with women who have brain fog, fatigue, joint pains, weight issues, autoimmune, hormonal, and digestive issues. She’s also an autoimmune warrior herself and has found success using nutritional and lifestyle modifications for both herself and clients. Click here to contact her for a free discovery call.
