Fad diets can be a real pain in the rear, but so can the desire to lose weight and wanting to fit into that beach outfit can seem like the be all and end all to some people. It is just often quite hard to stick to a specific diet if your heart isn’t in it, and some people hate exercise just as much.
So how can we find that one formula to fit us? Unfortunately, a lot of finding the right diet is by trial and error and something that works for a friend or a relative might not work on the same level for you. A lot of sensibly dieting is about what you are willing to give up and what effort you are willing to put in in order to see results.
At the end of the day, if you aren’t willing to try and stick to something for a certain period of time, or even try and change your dieting and eating habits for life, dieting is not for you. One major negative aspect of fad diets is that they are often a short-term solution. In order to gain or lose weight and keep it that way, you need to change your approach to food in general. Think more healthily, and you will come to lead a healthier lifestyle.
A good way to start is where the food lives. Yep, right in the kitchen. Look at its layout, is there anything that makes you prone to laziness or high in fat, unhealthy foods? If the size of your freezer has something to say about the amount of frozen meals you buy on a regular basis, perhaps you should consider changing your kitchen in order to kick-start changing your diet. We’ve taken a look at 5 helpful dieting appliances which every health-fanatic should consider for their kitchen.
1. Blender
Milkshakes and smoothies are a great way of getting your 5 a day, particularly those pesky vegetables. While most people are fortified fruit fans, vegetables come somewhat lower on many peoples ‘favourite food’ lists, so anything that sneaks a vegetable into your diet is welcome. One of the best things about a blender is that you can mix both fruits and vegetables in a good amount while still retaining some good flavour. You can also make delicious smoothies that you can freeze as a sweet treat if you’re a fan of ice cream.
2. Griddle
A griddle is a great, affordable way of grilling your food without having to wait until you use your barbeque in the summertime. Grilling your food is a lot healthier than frying it, and there are a wide range of different foods that you can grill to perfection for a number of simple, healthy yet delicious meals. One part of dieting being such an issue is the ease of cooking unhealthy foods. Therefore, having appliances such as a griddle that is designed to make your life easier makes it more likely for people to make the right choices when it comes to foods.
3. Food Steamer
A food steamer locks in the nutrients and the moisture in your food that is often lost through oven cooking or boiling it. Remember how dry your chicken can be when you cook it in the oven? Try steaming it for a little while. It really helps to lock in the juicy flavour of many different types of foods and it is often very easy to use. Steaming your chicken will also reduce the need for oil when cooking, which makes choosing a steamed chicken better for your diet in every way possible.
A steamer can steam vegetables in great quantities, making it perfect for large roasts or just preparing vegetables for something like a soup or stew. As an appliance that is easy to use and makes food both more vibrant and more nutritional by not boiling off the good bits, a food steamer is an essential for any healthy kitchen.
4. Slow Cooker
Like with a steamer, putting food in the slow cooker helps it to stew in its own juices, meaning that fewer nutrients are lost in the cooking of the food. A slow cooker often has a range of settings, from soup and stew to pork belly and a number of more complicated meals for those among us who feel like trying out gourmet food every now and then. Great for people who have time to prepare meals in bulk, the slow cooker isn’t an ideal choice for impatient eaters but it will really add a new layer of flavour to your food.
5. Good old Kitchen Scales
Much of diet control is done by controlling portion sizes. You will often find that you are eating lots of the right foods, but you just happen to be eating too much of them. Getting a plain set of kitchen scales will help you to measure out more reasonably sized portions. For example, you can have a bit more veg and a bit less meat, it is all about control. It is also a good idea to always leave your plate with something left on it. You can always scoop it up and make something of the leftovers!
Willpower and effort goes a long way when getting back into a good diet but it is important of many people to realise that this will not be a short term change that you can switch back when you reach your ideal weight. This is why you need to find a diet that is suited to you, so that you can carry on in that habit for the rest of your life. A good diet doesn’t just occur for a couple of months or a year; a good diet lasts for the rest of your life. Hopefully these great appliances will help you choose the best diet for your lifestyle.
Article provided by Mike James, an independent content writer working together with Middleton Bespoke, a Sussex-based, luxury, interior design specialist.
