What is a Dietitian and How Can They Support You?
Xavier Toledo, MS, RD, LDN
July 7, 2024
By
Xavier Toledo, MS, RD, LDN
As a plant-based dietitian, I know firsthand how important the right kitchen tools can be in making plant-based cooking easy, enjoyable, and delicious. While these tools can make your cooking experience more convenient and versatile, it’s important to note that you can absolutely cook amazing plant-based meals without them. If you can’t get these tools for any reason—whether it’s financial, access, or space—there’s no shame in that. The essence of plant-based cooking is about making the best use of what you have. With that said, here are some helpful kitchen tools that can enhance your plant-based cooking experience.
Why This Made the List: Tofu can sometimes be seen as bland or mushy, but that’s often due to improper preparation. A tofu press removes excess water from tofu, allowing it to better absorb marinades and achieve a firmer texture. This is crucial for making delicious and versatile tofu dishes, from stir-fries to grilled tofu steaks.
Ideas for Use:
Further Reading: Check out my full review of our preferred tofu press that makes pressing tofu a breeze.
Why This Made the List: I love my non-stick pots and pans set. It makes clean-up a breeze and drastically reduces the amount of oil needed to cook (if needed at all). A high-quality non-stick pan is perfect for sautéing vegetables and making plant-based meals. It’s easy to clean and reduces the need for added fats in cooking.
Ideas for Use:
Further Reading: Check out my full review our preferred non-stick pots and pan set that makes cooking and clean up a whole lot easier.
Why This Made the List: An air fryer uses hot air to cook food with little to no oil, ideal for making crispy vegetables, tofu, and plant-based snacks. It’s a great cooking method that preserves the nutrients in vegetables while providing a satisfying texture. And here’s a bonus tip: if you have a multi-functional air fryer like the one I have and recommend, you can do even more!
Ideas for Use:
Further Reading: Check out my full review of our air fryer of choice for those looking for a great all-around appliance.
Why This Made the List: I love how easy and convenient the Instant Pot makes cooking. The set-it-and-forget-it feature is perfect for my busy schedule, allowing me to get some work done while my meal cooks. A multi-function electric pressure cooker that can sauté, steam, and slow cook, perfect for preparing beans, grains, soups, and stews.
Ideas for Use:
Further reading: Read more about the Instant Pot I have as well as the others on the market by visiting the product page here*.
Why This Made the List: I’m a huge smoothie guy, but there are so many more use cases for blenders than you might think. I’m still exploring all the possibilities and I’m excited to share my findings with the Choose More Plants community as I come across them. A powerful blender is crucial for making smoothies, soups, sauces, and even homemade nut butters.
Ideas for Use:
Further Reading: If you’re looking for a high-performance blender, check out my review of our standard pick and premium pick.
Why This Made the List: A mandoline slicer allows you to quickly and uniformly slice vegetables, perfect for salads, stir-fries, and vegetable chips. It speeds up prep time and ensures even cooking.
Ideas for Use:
Further reading: Read more about the mandoline slicer I have as well as the others on the market by visiting the product page here*.
Why This Made the List: My partner makes us such tasty salads for dinner, so our salad spinner gets heavy use. A salad spinner quickly and efficiently dries washed greens, ensuring your salads are not wet and soggy. This tool makes it more convenient and desirable to prepare fresh salads.
Ideas for Use:
Further Reading: Read more about the salad spinner that I have as well as the others on the market by visiting the product page here*.
Good news: Xavier will be offering personalized nutrition counseling to the Choose More Plants community soon. This service will be tailored to your unique needs and goals, helping you make sustainable dietary changes. Join his waiting list to be the first to know about pricing, availability, and detailed service information when it launches.
Beyond nutrition counseling, Xavier is available for consulting, talks & workshops, and more. Learn more here.
Subscribe to our newsletter and become part of a group of people dedicated to choosing more plants. Enjoy exclusive content, free resources, and insider tips to help you on your journey.
