Kitchen Gadgets to Aid Weight Loss for Bariatric Patients
We are regularly on the lookout for new kitchen gadgets or utensils to recommend to our bariatric patients. We know that preparing food at home is almost always healthier than convenience or restaurant food, so anything that can make food prep or cleanup quicker or more fun can help promote weight loss. The right tools can help you succeed in your journey to achieving better health! Here are some of our favorites:
- Spiralizer A spiralizer creates mock noodles out of vegetables such as zucchini, cucumbers, carrots and summer squash. This can great way to add texture back into your diet and transform vegetables into nutritious dishes. Top with your favorite marinara or other healthy sauce.
- Chopsticks Eating with chopsticks can help decrease bite sizes. If you aren’t very accustomed to using them, they may slow down eating – and that can be a good thing! Eating more mindfully typically results in healthier choices.
- Kitchen timer Use a kitchen timer to help regulate meal times, as an indicator to pause in between bites, or as a reminder to drink water to stay hydrated.
- Cup warmer A cup warmer placed under a ceramic plate can keep food warm so that you do not feel rushed to eat quickly.
- Oil Mister Keep olive oil in a specialized mister to lightly and evenly coat pans before cooking to prevent food from sticking or spritz to add flavor to a meal. A quick spray will deliver fewer calories than pouring from the bottle.
- Crock Pot Liners and Aluminum Foil You may be more likely to cook healthy meals at home if cleanup is as easy as possible. Look for liners for the slow cooker to help clean up after making recipes such as slow cooker beef and broccoli. Line baking sheets with aluminum foil for easy cleanup with recipes such as cheesy pizza chicken.
- Digital Food Scale Measure portions and ingredients before cooking to make sure you aren’t unknowingly eating more calories than budgeted – for example a 5 oz sweet potato has 120 calories, but an 8 oz sweet potato has almost 200 calories.
- Muffin Tins A muffin tin is a great way to quickly cook individual servings of proteins, make perfectly portioned meals such as mini meatloaves or make healthy grab and go breakfast items such as egg muffins.
- Hot Air Fryer Deep fried foods are not part of a healthy diet, but if you miss the crisp crunch of fried food, then an air fryer may be a great investment. An air fryer works by circulating very hot air to cook food to lightly crisped perfection with about 80% less oil than traditional frying. Make lower fat chicken tenders, crispy shrimp and sweet potato fries, or air fry veggies for a side the whole family will love.
We’re Here For You
The staff at DFW Bariatric Institute is dedicated to helping patients succeed with their weight loss and healthy living goals. Contact us to schedule an appointment with our registered dietitian or one of our experienced bariatric surgeons.
