My top kitchen essentials for a healthy capsule kitchen
I’ve forever been in love with the idea of a capsule wardrobe! You know, that tightly-edited selection of a few handfuls of clothes that are all-things amazing - that are well made, and high-quality… things that fit impeccably, that work for the life I live right now (not a '…someday when…’). Things that can be effortlessly put together with each other in countless ways.
Sigh…
easy, pieces I love, that make me feel good, and that make getting dressed exciting - knowing I have what I need to show up looking my best no matter what happens to be on my calendar.
I’m not there yet -with my capsule wardrobe - but I’m getting there! Just taking the time to clear out, recycle or donate anything that I never wear, or things that I didn’t love or that didn’t fit well was a first step. Then focusing on on only allowing something new into the mix if something else went out.
I crave that ease and simplicity in all areas of my life. And, over the years on my own wellness journey I’ve found that the dreamy, minimal, ‘capsule’ concept works especially well in the kitchen. Yes, I’m all about eating a diet full of whole, nutrient-dense plant foods, and avoiding packaged or processed foods. Having said this though - I don’t enjoy spending hours in the kitchen or complex recipes. Over the years I’ve developed a love for minimal living and have curated a tight selection of kitchen essentials that help to make my meals easy and effortless.
Here’s a short list of my top healthy kitchen essentials
High quality knives - two are musts: a chefs or santoku knife and a smaller paring knife. Invest in quality from a reputable retailer, keep them sharp and store properly in a knife block or in knife covers.
Non toxic storage - I love Weck glass jars and also have a handful of other glass containers of different sizes and shapes with the locking lids. And, Stasher bags are AMAZING (these are your replacement for single use plastic bags). You’ll find SO MANY ways to use them from art supplies, to travel snacks, to make-up.
Food processor - I use this all the time - for no-bake cookies, cacao/avocado mousse and so much more.
Ninja/nutribullet - if you love smoothies this is a game-changer! Powerful, easy to use, and easy to clean. Pop all of your ingredients in, zip it up and you’re set - you can even drink from the cup you blended in if you like and then just put it in the dishwasher when you’re done. It’s great for sauces too.
A beautiful wood cutting board - there are some great ones out there! An everyday work-horse in the MW Kitchen and any kitchen, really - where eating more whole, nutrient-dense plants is important. It doubles as a board for serving too.
Juicer - while not an essential per say for every kitchen, if ‘juice is your thing’ and you want to make your own rather than purchasing out to assure freshness, nutrient density and avoid sneaky additives this is one area where investing is key. I prefer the twin-gear, high powered Green Star or Vitamix. Some studies show these two workhorse options process the raw produce in a way that keeps the temperature low - thus preserving more of the vital nutrients (and aren’t those healing nutrients the very reason we’re juicing anyway?). Yes, both are INVESTMENTS. But if you know you’ll use it regularly you’ll recoup your investment many times over. I’ve had my Green Star for over 10 years and it still works beautifully.
Stainless steel or cast iron pans - two great options that tend to be the safest and minimize the opportunity for any nasty chemicals to leach into your food. I find 3-5 get 90% of the use in most kitchens. These can include: a skillet, 2 different size sauce pans, and a larger dutch oven for slow cooking soups & sauces.
These are foundational items for a thoughtfully curated MW CAPSULE KITCHEN. Take these suggestions and run with the ones that light you up, and that you know you’ll use. Here’s to simplicity. Here’s to banishing clutter. Here’s to your health! xox