We spend countless hours working on our fitness goals. Whether it’s sweating like crazy during a cardio session, punching a heavy bag, throwing weights around, taking classes, or a combination of all of the above, the time we spend on our physical activity should be complemented with a diet suited to help us achieve our goals. Why leave the nutrition aspect, which is most critical, up to chance? What am I saying exactly?… You are going to spend a lot of time in the gym, but you’re also going to be in the kitchen quite a bit. In order to find success, food prep is a priority. Your kitchen will need some basic tools to get you through food prep with ease. Some people like to cook food in bulk 1 or 2 days per week, and then store everything in large containers. Others, like myself, prefer to cook more frequently, 3 or 4 days per week, in an effort to eat food that is more fresh. This approach still requires an arsenal of plastic storage containers of various sizes. Here is a quick list I put together of kitchen essentials to make food prep easier:
- digital food scale
- measuring spoons
- various size plastic storage containers
- plastic baggies – snack, sandwich, quart size
- multiple large frying pans/skillets with lid or mesh splash guard
- metal baking trays
- ceramic bakeware
- aluminum foil
- spatula
- large spoons – plastic or wood
- cutting boards – I prefer wood for veggies and fruit, plastic for raw meats
- various size cutlery – the sharper the better
- thick oven mitts
- timer
- coffeemaker
- Optional – Radio/iPod docking station – Music is a must for many people
Of course, this list may be missing some items, but it is a good starting point.