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This just in: New research from the American Academy of Neurology has found that highly processed foods, such as soft drinks and frozen foods, are linked to cognitive decline. The study found that people who received more than 20% of their daily calories from processed foods saw faster cognitive decline over a period of 6 to 10 years compared to those who ate less processed foods. While the study did not establish causation, it did establish a strong association.
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If you’re looking to reduce the amount of food you eat, we’ve got your back with tools to help you eat healthy and delicious. We know that cooking healthier meals can be prohibitive and expensive, so read up on a variety of kitchen appliances for every budget.
►Related: Inside America’s obesity epidemic: How America’s weight (and weight loss) isn’t easy
Meal kit delivery services
The first step to eating healthier is making sure you have the right ingredients. This is made easy thanks to food items like those offered by Home Chef. On the same subject : Ukraine sends more food as concern over giant nuclear plant grows. With so many well-written recipes to choose from and quality, ready-to-eat meals, we’ve found Home Chef to be the best cooking tool available. If you want more flexibility, try Hungryroot which offers simpler recipes and ingredients that are not region specific.
Having a recipe is only half the battle – many people turn to highly processed foods because they’re more convenient (hey, it’s called fast food for a reason). After a long day at work, many understandably don’t have the energy to cook, especially if you’re not a professional cook. It’s easy to order something from the nearest drive-thru or pick up a frozen dinner from the grocery store. Fortunately, thanks to pre-made food, you don’t have to sacrifice convenience for health. Freshly’s ingredients taste so fresh that review editor Meghan Kavanaugh can hardly believe that Freshly’s food is not microwaved.
$70 per delivery from Hungryroot
Meal prep containers
Putting your food in a container can go a long way to helping you eat healthier. If you divide your food into smaller containers, you will have an easier time keeping track of your food intake. Besides this, containers allow you to prepare food and store it in advance or store uneaten food for later use. Of the container sets we tested, the Pyrex Ultimate 10-pc Storage Set was our favorite. Its beautiful glass is resistant to go in the oven and microwave safely. The Easy Find Lids Food Box is a cheaper alternative that is easy to store and comes with replaceable, tight-fitting lids.
Knives
With all the fresh fruits, meats and vegetables you will be using, you need to find a way to cut them. Whether you’re dicing, slicing or chopping, a knife will be your new best friend. Or, knives, seeing as the knife you use will vary depending on the cooking task at hand. We’ve tested several knife sets and found the Wüsthof Classic 8901 7-piece Slim Knife Block Set to be the best. Knives and shears are made from carbon steel, which is the best knife material because of its strength. This may interest you : USDA session looks at poultry-related food safety, antimicrobial resistance. The setting is sharp and comfortable. In addition, the wooden fence is very good. While the Cuisinart C77TR-15P Triple Rivet Collection 15-Piece Knife Block Set isn’t as sharp as other sets, it does come with more knives and is a great budget option at under $100. To make your knives last longer, we recommend getting a sharpener.
Food processors
Don’t be alarmed: Despite the name, food processors won’t make your food “highly processed.” Instead, this handy device will make preparing your new equipment quick and easy. The Cuisinart DFP-14BCNY, which we rated the best food processor around, chops onions, grinds peanuts, slices tomatoes, kneads dough—and does it all very quickly. This may interest you : Food is a factor causing double inflation. For something a bit more economical, we recommend the Black & amp; Download: FP4200B. While it only holds eight cups of food compared to the Cuisinart’s 14, it’s more capable of chopping your ingredients with ease.
Spiralizers
A spiralizer is a tool that cuts food into long thin slices. Whether you’re julienned carrots for bibimbap or using zucchini as a free substitute for noodles, the OXO Good Grips Tabletop Spiralizer has you covered. We found it to be the best spiralizer on the market thanks to its water saving, easy operation and reliable parts. Veggetti is a handheld alternative that has most of the benefits of a large diverter at a fraction of the cost.
Slow cooker
The slow cooker is a tool in many kitchens because of the ease it provides. The unofficial term for slow cookers seems to be “steal it and forget it” because that’s how they’re used. You put all your ingredients in a pot and let it simmer for hours, while you go about your day. We found the Cuisinart 6-Quart 3-in-1 Cook Central Multicooker to be the best slow cooker on the market thanks to its robust temperature controls and intuitive controls. For a low-cost slow cooker, we recommend the Hamilton Beach Set and Forget 6-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker. It comes with a serving spoon and lid clips that make transporting the slow cooker easy.
Pressure cooker
Pressure cookers increase the pressure to match the slow cooker. In addition to slow cookers, pressure cookers can make rice, yogurt, and more. Instant Pot Ultra 10-in-1 is the best cooker because of its consistency in food preparation and ease of use. Whether you’re craving tender and flavorful meat or delicious yogurt, the Instant Pot Ultra delivers amazing results. It is very intuitive to use and offers settings such as a cake maker and an egg cooker. The Crockpot Express Easy Edition is our premium choice, with great customization options and many pre-programmed cooking programs that make meal prep a breeze.
Juicers
While fruit juice is richer than soda, it is still packed with added sugar. If you want a sweet drink, a natural drink without any additives, consider buying a juicer. Besides health, juicers are great because they allow you to organize your drinks as you wish. Why get apple juice or orange juice when you can get a combination of the two? The Omega J8006HDS is the best juicer on the market thanks to its high juice output and easy operation. The Omega H3000D Cold Press 365 is less expensive than its sister juicer and with its compact size, it will make a wonderful addition to your kitchen.
Water bottles
If you’re looking to cut out highly processed drinks like soda, then you should drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated can help you eat healthy, as we often mistake thirst for hunger. We tried different water bottles and found the Brita stainless steel water bottle to be the best. It keeps the strong smell and its metal keeps the cold water cold for up to 24 hours.
Air fryers
Trying to eat healthier, but love fried food? We have a solution. Because it uses hot air to cook food instead of oil, food prepared in an air fryer has fewer calories and less fat compared to food made with deep frying. We recommend the Philips Premium Airfryer XXL after testing several fryers on the market. It has a high efficiency, allowing large portions of the family to come out well and efficiently without the need for preheating. We chose the COSORI Pro Air Fryer for our best value—like the Philips air fryer, the COSORI allows you to fry several foods at once and you can guarantee that it will be good and tasty.
Hand mixers
While mixing, stirring and pounding ingredients can be a good workout for the hands, they also take a lot of time. Mixers control these processes, leading to faster food preparation. Hand mixers are best for smaller jobs. We recommend the Cuisinart Power Advantage Plus, which integrates the appliance well together and offers multiple speed settings. It also comes with a special guide full of recipes. The Black + Decker Easy Storage Combination, a less expensive option, is easy to use and easy to clean.
Stand mixers
Stand mixers are superior to their handheld brethren and nothing is more indicative of this than the best mixer around, the KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixer. The Artisan Stand Mixer supports multiple attachments (like an ice cream maker and a pasta maker—for dinner, of course), which allows you to prepare a variety of foods. While the less expensive Hamilton Beach Seven-Speed Mixer isn’t perfect for every mixer, it’s easy to use and a great mixer.
Tofu press
Tofu is a wonderful food for healthy eating. It has fewer calories than beef or pork and while it has a reputation for being unhealthy, it can be packed with flavor if you do it right. Tofu is very absorbent, so if pressed properly it will taste like a sponge. While there are DIY solutions for pressing tofu blocks, the easiest, safest way to do it is by using a tofu press. We found the NOYA Adjustable Tofu Press to be the best, pressing large blocks of tofu dry, and without cracking, in just 15 minutes. You can also use a press to soak the tofu in the sauce after you press it.
Blender
Shakes and smoothies are delicious but can be too sweet from any store. To make the healthiest drink at home, it’s time to invest in a blender.
“If you’re struggling to get enough fruits and vegetables throughout the day, mixing them into a delicious smoothie is a great way to pack them in,” says Cooking Editor Danielle DeSiato. Her favorite nutrient-dense slimie is a combination of frozen bananas, strawberries, spinach, half an avocado, a splash of maple syrup, almonds and milk—either almond or goat.
The Vitamix Ascent Series A3500 is our favorite blender of the many we’ve tested. It has a responsive touch screen that comes with five presets to make blending smooth. If that’s not enough, the blender’s Bluetooth function allows you to connect it to a mobile application that features recipes and additional settings such as baby food, nut milk and ice cream. The Instant Ace Nova is an inexpensive blender that is easy to use, cleans itself and blends perfectly.
Egg bite maker
If you’re looking for a fun and easy way to make portions of your fresh homemade meals, we recommend using the Dash Egg Bite Maker. This is a great little tool to fit into any kitchen, easy to use and versatile. Don’t let the name fool you – it can be used to make small desserts and custards, with a perfect egg bite.
Kitchen scales
A kitchen scale provides another way to share your food. They are also the most efficient way to get your ingredients right when cooking or baking, and they are also very helpful in brewing coffee because of the precision required. Of the standards we tested, we found the Escali Primo to be the best. It’s easy to use, its display stays on for as long as you need it and it has options for both imperial and metric units.
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