5 Kitchen Tools I Can't Live Without

So, you're working towards those healthy lifestyle goals.

Perhaps the pandemic shifted your priorities and you’re taking your health more seriously than ever before, or you've got the desire to bump up your energy to keep up with the kiddos and all their activities, or you're just starting to learn about how clean eating can hugely impact your life.

Wherever you're at, I've got some must-have kitchen gadgets that are going to make those goals more attainable and sustainable.

Want to know a secret? I’m a closet minimalist. I can’t stand too much S-T-U-F-F and clutter drives me crazy. The plus side to this is I’ve dialed down my kitchen essentials and now I get to share them with you!

Here are FIVE kitchen essentials I cannot live without:

1. Global 8" Chef Knife. Hands down the best kitchen investment I've ever made. I use my Chef Knife for EVERYTHING. The utility and paring knife are awesome too. Forget a huge knife set, this is literally all I use!

2. Instant Pot. This is the kitchen appliance that actually lives up to its hype! I use this bad boy several times a week for everything from broth to hardboiled eggs, soups, stews, artichokes, spaghetti squash, sweet potatoes, roasts, steaks, and any slow cooker dish you want to make in a fraction of the time. My crock pot is collecting dust in the garage because I haven't touched it since I got my Instant Pot.

3. Cast Iron Skillet. I was late to the game in getting a cast iron but now that I have one I can't imagine life without it! It has a permanent spot on our stove and I use it to cook everything.

4. Breville Smart Oven Pro Convection Toaster Oven. I love this toaster oven for so many different reasons! It has a bunch of features and all of the pre-sets turn out perfectly: from toasting, baking, roasting, broiling, pizza, and more. It's large enough to hold a chicken so I can cook a LOT of different dishes without heating up the whole house with our regular oven. The convection setting makes reheating leftovers quick and safe, as I'm weary about the potential dangers from using a microwave. Another appliance that we use several times a day!

5. GIR Silicone Spatulas. Indestructable, super-hygienic and dishwasher safe, these will be the last spatulas you ever buy. They won't warp, burn, or stain, and the full-body silicone design means you don't have to separate them from a wooden handle to get them clean - freaking fantastic. I use the "ultimate" for every day cooking, the "skinny" fits perfectly in the blender for scraping out every last drop, and the "mini" reaches tough spots with ease, like scraping tomato paste out of those tiny cans. And they last for EVER while still looking brand new.

I'm all about helping you become more confident and efficient in the kitchen. Cooking and meal planning doesn't need to be your whole life, but when you have it mastered it enhances EVERY other aspect of your life.