Myth
Eating after 8 pm should be avoided during weight loss.
Fact
Calories are calories, they don't understand time. It doesn't matter at what time you eat, what matters is what and how much you eat. However, many diet plans suggest eating before 8 pm because some tend to eat more at night, especially when they have skipped a meal during the day.
The biggest impediment in losing weight is going for a workout. The busy routine, physical and mental stress, and several other commitments -- all these keep you from finding time to look after yourself and maintain your fitness. How about trying something at home to shed those extra pounds?
Yes, that's right! At home and that too in your very own lovely kitchen. Your kitchen gadgets will surely help you lose weight; you just need to have the perception to look at them as your tools for weight loss. It's time to stop working hard and start working smartly. The otherwise popular gadgets for preparing some mouth-watering and lip-smacking recipes should now be helpful in achieving your weight loss goal. The following article will unravel before you all those ordinary (seeming) cooking utensils and storage containers that will play a major role in your weight loss plan.
Kitchen Scale
This is the first and foremost thing your kitchen should have if you are planning a weight loss program. Rather, every kitchen should be equipped with one kitchen scale. What will the scale do for you? The perfect portion scale will track the calories, cholesterol, fats, carbs, and sugars in the food, tell you what exactly you are eating, and help you make healthier choices. There are several types of portion scales, right from the traditional metal ones to the digital ones in the market. You can pick the best one as per your need.
Oil Mister
Oil can be the biggest culprit for many people to gain weight. Normally, we tend to "pour" oil in the pan while cooking some recipe and don't realize if it's extra. Instead, how about "spraying" the oil rather than pouring it? If you stop pouring oil freehand and use an oil mister while roasting, frying, or grilling food, you will be consuming very less fat while saving around 120 calories for every tablespoon. Try choosing the reusable misters, which are eco-friendly as well as less expensive than the disposable ones. Additionally, fill the mister with some dried herbs and canola or olive oil, which will enhance the flavor of the food, yet cut out those extra calories.
Vegetable Steamer
Not only for losing weight, a vegetable steamer is an all-time favorable equipment to cook healthy and nutritious food. When the food is cooked in the steamer, it doesn't come in contact with water, and hence, the nutrients of the food are retained till consumption. After raw food, steam cooking takes the second position in being one of the healthiest cooking methods. The steam collected in the steamer allows faster cooking and takes less time for the food to get completely cooked, keeping it tender and tasty. Use of a steamer instead of grill or other cooking equipment that involves more use of oil or fat is always a better choice because of its quality of sealing in all the nutrients in the food and at the same time, keeping it tasty and flavorful.
Measuring Utensils
It goes without saying that if you have measuring cups and spoons in your kitchen you are bound to add the correct amount of ingredients and therefore measure the portions by size and not by weight. This will also make you limit the use of extra fat while preparing a recipe. It is difficult to decide the correct amount of ingredients that will be going into the dish, just by looking at them. Moreover, approximate values, especially of the food items, like peanut butter, salad dressing, nuts and cereals, are pretty deceptive and the greatest contributors to weight gain.
Herb Mill
The most undesired thing while attempting weight loss would be to compromise on the taste while making a few modifications in the diet. That is why many people don't seem to be keen or hesitate to take up the weight loss challenge. But let me tell you that adding fresh herbs to your recipes can be the best option to add a very low or absolutely no-calorie flavor to the food. These herbs will work as great substitutes for cream, butter, and oil in many of your recipes. At the same time, it will offer the desired flavor to the food.
Grater
If you want the flavor and taste of cheese on your favorite dish, but don't want those extra calories along, then the best way is to grate the cheese over food instead of slicing or eating it in cubes. Moreover, grating it from the fine shredding side of the grater than from the coarse side, will be more beneficial from the point of view of reducing weight; in the sense that it will amount to far fewer calories per meal, yet keep the flavor intact.
Kitchen Scissors
What could be better than getting rid of that excessive fat from meat before it goes into your stomach and increases the bulge out there? A pair of kitchen scissors is the tool that you need to do away with the excess fat and lower your calorie intake coming from meat. It can also be used to cut pizzas and snip herbs for adding flavor to the food. Look for an appropriate pair of scissors, or you will end up either hurting yourself or damaging the food. The grip, weight, and feel of the scissors are important aspects to consider while purchasing one for your kitchen. Moreover, one must handle it personally before purchasing to get a hang of it.
Vegetable Juicer
Fruits and vegetables are the main building blocks of a healthy diet. Also, it is necessary to consume these food items as they are fresh and possess all the nutrients. However, chopping all these fruits and vegetables by hand becomes quite a tedious task; hence, using a juicer to extract their juice is a better option. Furthermore, protein drinks and low-calorie smoothies can also be prepared using a countertop blender, hand-held stick blender, a wire whisk, or shaker.
Smaller Plates, Cups, and Taller Glasses
Choosing smaller plates in your dinner set will allow you to fill the plate fully, yet eat less. If you don't believe me, try this trick to see the difference. This method actually tricks your brain into believing that you are eating the same amount like before. People have a tendency to finish whatever amount of food is served in their plate. So, when you have a smaller plate and you finish everything served to you, it is lesser than the food served in a larger plate. Hence, opt for the plates that are approximately 9 inches and avoid picking up the ones that are 12 inches or more.
Likewise, drinking from a taller and narrower glass will give you an illusion of having more, but actually, you will be having less as compared to a glass that's wider. Same is the case with tea or coffee cups. The smaller the cup, the better it is for you to lose weight and maintain your physique.
Convection Oven
Avoiding fried food is the biggest challenge for weight watchers because of the tendency of fried food to soak in maximum oil from the pan. Hence, a convection oven can be of great help to serve both the purposes -- limiting the fat and calorie content of the food as well as maintaining the texture, flavor, and taste of the food. The oven has fans installed inside that circulate hot air evenly onto the food. The hot air blows against the food, helps to heat it faster, and ultimately cooks it in less time. The food that is air-fried in a convection oven has a good taste and flavor without the added fat and calories that come from the oil used in frying. Moreover, the food cooked with this method is more appetizing than the food that is cooked in a conventional oven.
Slow Cooker
It is one of the best kitchen gadgets for losing weight as the food that is cooked in a slow cooker goes through moisture-rich cooking, which obviously requires less oil or fat. On the contrary, food that is cooked using the dry heat method requires relatively more oil, which ultimately increases the calorie count of your food. Additionally, cooking at home is the primary requirement of a weight loss schedule and with the help of a slow cooker, you can cook more often at home and keep your diet under control. It also limits your snacking on other food while preparing your lunch or dinner because the food is already cooked and ready in the cooker until you are back home.
Storage Containers
Using storage containers is the simplest method to keep your diet under control, lose weight faster, and maintain the consistency. Storage containers can be used for two things: (I) Storing natural and healthy foodstuff in larger quantities for a longer duration; and (ii) Storing items that we normally crave for (like pastas) in lesser quantities so that they can be consumed less. Additionally, fresh fruits and vegetables, if stored in glass or similar transparent containers, will grab your attention and you will eat more of them. On the contrary, pastas and other partially unhealthy items when stored in opaque containers will be out of sight (ultimately out of mind!) and can be eaten once in a while.
- Apple Divider
- Metal Tea Ball
- Vegetable Peeler
- Meat Thermometer
- Nonstick Muffin Pan
Planning and following a weight loss schedule at home is quite easier with these handy kitchen tools. However, keeping a track of those extra calories while eating out will need some tricks. You will have to train your eyes for some visual comparisons and determine the appropriate size of your serving. For instance, if a meat serving is approximately equal to the size of the deck of cards, then it's the perfect amount to be consumed. It is believed that if you frequently use the measuring scale and other tools in your kitchen, you will be soon accustomed to the serving sizes and easily identify the correct serving size of your meal by just looking at it.
