This is a fantastic list! I eat 90% real food around here too and we love it! I wanted to add a suggestion to the books/movies recommendation list... Hungry For Change and the accompanying Food Matters recipe book. Such great info in there! I'm sure you and your readers will love it!
That's too funny, I absolutely LOVE my Thermos hot/cold "water" bottle too. I got it for Christmas and I have seriously put it to the test. Glad to hear I'm not the only one that loves it! Thanks for sharing all these favorites, there are a couple of things I want to try.
Is there a reason you don't use a tortilla press? I was thinking about getting one b/c I want to start making our tortillas, and we eat a lot of them. I thought it might make the process faster.
Your recommended reading has given me a few titles to look for at the library. I was surprised, however, to not find Nina Planck's "Real Food: What to Eat and Why" on your list. She also has "Real Food for Mother and Baby" which is fantastic for anyone pregnant, breastfeeding, or even thinking about getting pregnant. I believe she is also working on a cookbook.
She approaches real food in a practical, down to earth, common sense way. Her books are easy to read! I highly recommend them!
Thanks,
Maria
We miss mayonnaise at our house. It's all made with soybean oil and other stuff. We tried Hain and found the taste terrible. I'm too "chicken" to try making my own. Any suggestions?
We've been using Hellmans Olive Oil Mayo (I'm in Canada, no idea if available in USA?). The oils listed are canola and olive, and not too many other ingredients. Perhaps an 'okay' choice out of what's available?
I swear I saw you write about Danish ebleskiver pancakes not long go, but after an hour scouring your site I just can't find it! I am looking for the recipient since I just got an aebleskiver pan.
Could you please tell mewhat kind of lunchboxes do you use for your girls? Does the ziplock container stand on its side or layinf flat. I am afraid the sandwich might get tossed all around if I turn the ziplock on the side. Thank you.
The ziplock container is on its side in their lunchboxes, which are Land's End and Old Navy (we have two different ones). If you're worried about the sandwich you can use a toothpick (just instruct them to take it out before taking a bite).
Lindsay- we just got a Ninja at Kohls & love it-use at least once a day many times twice a day. I got the NJ600. It was on sale for $99 & I had a 30% off coupon so I only spent $70! 3 parts-pitcher, blades & lid are dishwasher safe. There is a NJ602 model that has a bunch of other accessories but we have a food processor so I didn't see the need for it. It does a great job, not as great as a Vitamix-but WAAAY cheaper
Check Vitamix website. They have a guarantee. I can't remember now what happened with mine a while back but whatever it was with the problem got replaced and I haven't had a problem since.
You will love it when you get it! Costco has the rep there twice a year and you can get a great deal!
Jennasays
I just bought the Breville Hemisphere Icon. Cook's Illustrated ranked it even with the Vitamix (their longstanding winner) this year. About $200 but totally worth it if you use your blender a lot like we do. It's so awesome, I almost cried.
cutting a mango can be done relatively easily...i learned it while in Brazil. :) You should start by cutting through the "middle" just slitghtly off center from the stem (leave the peel on) as you come down (gently) with the knife and you feel it hit the pit, let the knife "follow" the seed down to the bottom of the fruit. Do the same thing on the other side of the stem comming down the fruit as close to the seed as possible. You now have two mango "halves" still in the skin. you should then score the fruit across the fleshy surface (resulting in squares, think like a checkerboard) you then turn the skin "inside out" which pushes all these little squares up into the air (my kids call it "spikey hair" :) you then can eat the fruit directly off the skin with your teeth. well, to make it more clear, here's a youtube video that demonstrates it! :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvLdPjpELyU
Hi- I recently started juicing to include more fruits and vegetables in my diet. I did a bit of online research and purchased the Omega Vert juicer. I love it! It is easy to use, and more importantly, easy to clean. There is a website called discount juicers.com that shows youtube clips comparing the various juicers. I watched several before I decided. Mine was pricey, but I don't regret the purchase.
I have a question about the mason jars. I see pictures of your freezer with mason jars in it, do you use the two-part lids that they come with or buy plastic lids for them? I read on Amazon that the plastic lids leak when placed on their side which suggests they are not airtight. How long do you store things for? Which lid do you recommend for longer term storage?
I use the metal 2-part lids...I've never tried the plastic ones. Since my jars stay upright the soup leaking is not an issue for us. The metal tops work great for us and we usually try to eat what's been frozen within a few months...4 - 5 months at the most.
Love your blog! Was curious if you use your cast iron skillet for pancakes? When I tried it they stuck to the pan, despite my putting melted butter in the pan.
I actually use a griddle for pancakes that's built in with our stove. They should work in a cast iron skillet though...try adding more butter next time!
This is so funny! I was just on Amazon debating on getting the Norpro ice pop makers and I hesitated because many reviews said they had a smell to them and made the food taste weird. So I didn't get them and then my email came in with this post. What are your thoughts?
Ours don't have an odor at all. I do clean them very thoroughly (one reader suggested using a bottle brush) so my guess is those people didn't get them clean all the way. Hope that helps!
I love this list! I am recently married..so we are just building up our Kitchen. I wanted to buy a lot of these but it is hard to know what is good and what is bad..long lasting or cheaply made. Great idea <3
Lisa, thank you so much for compiling this list. I know where to start from. As for lunchboxes, I send my kindergartener with a stainless steel box from planetbox.com. It's a bit pricey, but worth every penny, as she opens it and sees five compartments, one for sandwich, 3 for veggies/fruit and 1 for a small treat. Love
I have those silicone pops and was wondering whether your kids actually find them easy to eat from. My son can't seem to figure it out and instead, ends up with a big mess! We've started sending a spoon with them, which kind of defeats the purpose! Thanks.
oh man, my husband is not happy you took the time to post all of this.. now I've got a loooong list of new appliances I want :-) tee hee. I guess now he won't have to think too hard on what to get me for my birthday haha.
Great list! I have a lot of these, but might disagree about some being "essential" Panini press? (What about grilling on the stove?) Donut maker? Not so sure. I have a bread machine, but haven't been able to get bread the consistency I want - dense, full of holes with crackly crust. LOVE my crockpot, however. Use it almost every week.
I'm with Jenn on the olive oil sprayer. I've tried several models and none have really worked.
Love my "spice" measuring spoons (Metal) from King George Flour. They're flat on the bottom, rather than rounded, making them easier to dip into small cans/bottles of spices etc. I have two sets!
Thanks for all you do to bring awareness to "real food"
Thanks for this post! It's super-helpful, and I know I'll be referring back to it to decide what I need to add to my arsenal next.
Of the things on this list that I already have, many of them were given to me as gifts (I love my waffle iron!) or can even be found at thrift stores. I've seen many abandoned bread and ice cream makers at secondhand shops, and as long as you can make sure they have all the parts, they're just as good as new. And if the idea of that grosses you out, I can almost guarantee that someone you know has some of these items they're not using anymore. A coworker and I were recently discussing how we found bread makers in our mother-in-laws attics!
It just takes a little extra effort and patience to be frugal, and it's not like the bread machine is a purchase that simply can't wait!
I bought an oil sprayer and ended up throwing it away. It made a mess and produced too much "mist" to be useful for cooking. Do you have a make/model to recommend?
I am a Pampered Chef consultant and I must recommend our kitchen spritzer to you. You can view it on my website - http://www.pamperedchef.biz/pamelaspage. It's only $13.50 and includes a replacement spray mechanism. I love mine!!
Thanks for sharing! I thought my kitchen was almost complete, but I'm thinking the tortilla press might have to happen soon. I'll try the recipe for the homemade tortillas hopefully this week. I'm getting tired of trying to find a healthier tortilla and not finding it. I found a package that touted how it was cholesterol and trans fat free and healthy for you, but after looking in the ingedients I found partially hydrogenated oils in the list which is just a bad. Also, an appliance in my kitchen that is definitely one of my faves is my VitaMix blender! I make fresh fruit and veggie smoothies a LOT, and one good way to get my toddler to eat her leafy greens. Plus you can make soups, yummy Starbucks alternative iced coffees, dressings, desserts and nut butters!
I recently bought a Ninja, and even though it's not a VitaMix or as good as the real thing, it's cheaper and I looooove it! I use it everyday! The reason I didn't buy a VitaMix was because of the price, but now that I see how much I use my Ninja, if it were to break, I'd bite the bullet for a VitaMix. However, I hope that this wont be the case and that I get to enjoy my Ninja for years to come!
Sarahsays
I have a Ninja Pro, purchased for $109 (slightly on sale)from bed bath and beyond over a year ago. It is very comparable in function to the vitamix at a much lower cost, and works very well as a food processor. I use mine at least once per day, and it is still going strong after a year. If you can't afford a Vitamix, I highly recommend the Ninja!
Mariasays
My husband got me a Vitamix for my birthday this year! It's spectacular!
I really enjoy your site - and loved looking at all the kitchen equipment that you use. I know they can make life much easier. One thing that has bothered me in the past is your assertion that you could make meals for your family on the same amount of money that people on food stamps receive. The reality for people in poverty is that they won't have all this equipment, even if they had the time to stay at home and dedicate entire days to cooking for their families. Maybe this is an entirely misplaced rant and I apologize. I'm sure you realize how very fortunate you and your family are. I know you work hard and so does your husband. Not everyone is so lucky. I'll have to read over those past posts where you mentioned food stamps and see why it bothered me so much.
I hear where you're coming from, Jennifer, as I thought the same thing; however, in Lisa's defense, most of her recipes on real food on a budget don't require fancy equipment. I've made all of them and I don't have most of the those gadgets. :) The harder thing for people on a food stamp budget to accomplish is the real foods lifestyle, which often requires one person to be a stay at home parent. We don't get food stamps, but we are on an even smaller budget. I know if I didn't stay home, it would be nearly impossible to shop, coupon, and make from scratch our real food lifestyle.
I've thought the same thing. But rice, beans or sprouts, and fresh or frozen veggies don't cost much or require lots of equipment. I grew up in a Filipino household, on a small farm. I grew up on minimally processed, real food on a very limited budget. When I moved out and had my own family I really appreciated the amount of work my mother put into making those meals. On the flip side, if you live in a poor area of the city, without transportation, you can be stuck eating ramen noodles and whatever else is in the local convenience store for $1. I've been there, too :)
Jennifersays
Thanks for your reply. You make good points. There are many real food recipes that Lisa has that don't require special equipment. It's so nice when on parent can stay home to do all the work involved in buying and preparing real food. In addition it is usually necessary to have a reliable car for reaching markets with real food and being able to take advantage of bargains. Many people don't have reliable transportation. Life can be so difficult for so many people.
100 Days of Real Foodsays
It was merely a cost comparison only...I've openly shared that I am lucky enough to also have access to many helpful resources such as kitchen equipment, cooking skills, time, and transportation.
I make everything 100% from scratch (bread, crackers, smoothies, etc) These are ALL of my appliances. Cuisine Art Food Processor, Kitchen Aid Mixer, Kitchen Aid Pasta maker attachment, waffle iron, toaster, rolling pin, George Forman Grill "my panini machine", air pop corn popper, Pizzelle press (I am Italian and YES, this is necessary), cast iron skillet, crockpot, and an enameled cast iron stock pot. I dont have MOST of the items listed above. If I was only going to own TWO appliances I would get a used Kitchen Aid mixer & a high end blender over $100+ All of these you can get used on Ebay and/or garage sales. Post on your facebook page what you are looking for. You would be surprised what people are not using and would love to give you for free!
Thanks for sharing! I love your reading recommendations.... I see lots of things in your kitchen that are in mine. My new favorite kitchen toy is my immersion blender!
This is fabulous! Thanks for putting the time into compiling all your kitchen essentials in one place. I continue to learn new things and gain inspiration from you.
Mango Slicer :) Definitely putting that on my list of must haves. I didn't know there was such a thing and I need it. My sister told me "just look it up on the internet & you'll be fine". I still haven't figured out how to avoid that darn pit in the middle :)
Great list! Thanks so much - what tremendous effort you must have put into this. Just a tip for your grapefruit spoons. We use them for so much more than grapefruit - and who doesn't like a multi-tasker. We hull strawberries, scoop out the core in a pear, eat with cantaloupe by the slice...any soft fruit works.
For the ice pop makers (first item), do you have suggestions for filling them? I've not been successful with things like applesauce and would love some tricks. Ours have been spending lots of time in our closet. :-(
We put smoothies and yogurt in ours most of the time and my kids love them (frozen or mostly defrosted, which is what happens by school lunch time). I hope that helps!
If you don't have a funnel, you can always try putting the applesauce in a ziplock type bag and then cut off one corner and squeeze it in. Or, if you happen to have pastry bags floating around, use them to fill the tube.
cara says
Lisa, what brand of blender do you have? I have been unhappy with several over the years. I'm in the market for a new one so we can make smoothies!
100 Days of Real Food says
I honestly have a cheap-o blender from Target because I am holding out for a vitamix!
Sara says
This is a fantastic list! I eat 90% real food around here too and we love it! I wanted to add a suggestion to the books/movies recommendation list... Hungry For Change and the accompanying Food Matters recipe book. Such great info in there! I'm sure you and your readers will love it!
Gretchen Balogh says
Have you checked out the site Gotta Eat- Can't Cook? Lots of healthy recipes with easy to follow directions with lots of Photographs and videos!
Mariel says
That's too funny, I absolutely LOVE my Thermos hot/cold "water" bottle too. I got it for Christmas and I have seriously put it to the test. Glad to hear I'm not the only one that loves it! Thanks for sharing all these favorites, there are a couple of things I want to try.
cara says
Is there a reason you don't use a tortilla press? I was thinking about getting one b/c I want to start making our tortillas, and we eat a lot of them. I thought it might make the process faster.
100 Days of Real Food says
I do use a press for corn tortillas...it's shown above.
Maria says
Hi Lisa,
Your recommended reading has given me a few titles to look for at the library. I was surprised, however, to not find Nina Planck's "Real Food: What to Eat and Why" on your list. She also has "Real Food for Mother and Baby" which is fantastic for anyone pregnant, breastfeeding, or even thinking about getting pregnant. I believe she is also working on a cookbook.
She approaches real food in a practical, down to earth, common sense way. Her books are easy to read! I highly recommend them!
Thanks,
Maria
Sharon Urlacher says
We miss mayonnaise at our house. It's all made with soybean oil and other stuff. We tried Hain and found the taste terrible. I'm too "chicken" to try making my own. Any suggestions?
100 Days of Real Food says
I would just use the storebought stuff in moderation...not a lot of great mayo options out there!
Maria says
We've been using Hellmans Olive Oil Mayo (I'm in Canada, no idea if available in USA?). The oils listed are canola and olive, and not too many other ingredients. Perhaps an 'okay' choice out of what's available?
Roslene says
You could look into Grapeseed oil mayo (it's almost just like mayo, but the taste is amazing, and it's vegan).
Assistant to 100 Days says
Grapeseed oil is actually a refined oil (here's a detailed explanation on oils: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/05/14/mini-pledge-week-10-no-refined-oils/). For more information on mayonnaise specifically be sure to check out this post: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/04/17/real-food-condiments-do-they-exist/.
Jayme Muenz says
I swear I saw you write about Danish ebleskiver pancakes not long go, but after an hour scouring your site I just can't find it! I am looking for the recipient since I just got an aebleskiver pan.
100 Days of Real Food says
It was on facebook! :) http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.189769597734057.47450.111437015567316&type=3#!/photo.php?fbid=354764094567939&set=a.189769597734057.47450.111437015567316&type=3&theater
Vanessa says
Costco carries Snapware glassware containers, sometimes with a coupon. They are really great for food storage,
Marcie says
I saw the Ziplock lunch containers at Target yesterday for $2.97. :)
Radka says
I meant lunch bags not boxes:-)
Radka says
Could you please tell mewhat kind of lunchboxes do you use for your girls? Does the ziplock container stand on its side or layinf flat. I am afraid the sandwich might get tossed all around if I turn the ziplock on the side. Thank you.
100 Days of Real Food says
The ziplock container is on its side in their lunchboxes, which are Land's End and Old Navy (we have two different ones). If you're worried about the sandwich you can use a toothpick (just instruct them to take it out before taking a bite).
Lindsay says
My blender just died. Vitamix too $$$$. Anybody have a good blender they suggest? We use ours mainly for smoothies.
100 Days of Real Food says
We just have a cheap-o basic one from Target ...don't LOVE it, but it does the trick!
Andrea says
Lindsay- we just got a Ninja at Kohls & love it-use at least once a day many times twice a day. I got the NJ600. It was on sale for $99 & I had a 30% off coupon so I only spent $70! 3 parts-pitcher, blades & lid are dishwasher safe. There is a NJ602 model that has a bunch of other accessories but we have a food processor so I didn't see the need for it. It does a great job, not as great as a Vitamix-but WAAAY cheaper
El says
Check Vitamix website. They have a guarantee. I can't remember now what happened with mine a while back but whatever it was with the problem got replaced and I haven't had a problem since.
Marcia says
You will love it when you get it! Costco has the rep there twice a year and you can get a great deal!
Jenna says
I just bought the Breville Hemisphere Icon. Cook's Illustrated ranked it even with the Vitamix (their longstanding winner) this year. About $200 but totally worth it if you use your blender a lot like we do. It's so awesome, I almost cried.
Jessica says
cutting a mango can be done relatively easily...i learned it while in Brazil. :) You should start by cutting through the "middle" just slitghtly off center from the stem (leave the peel on) as you come down (gently) with the knife and you feel it hit the pit, let the knife "follow" the seed down to the bottom of the fruit. Do the same thing on the other side of the stem comming down the fruit as close to the seed as possible. You now have two mango "halves" still in the skin. you should then score the fruit across the fleshy surface (resulting in squares, think like a checkerboard) you then turn the skin "inside out" which pushes all these little squares up into the air (my kids call it "spikey hair" :) you then can eat the fruit directly off the skin with your teeth. well, to make it more clear, here's a youtube video that demonstrates it! :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvLdPjpELyU
Michele says
We call it a "Mango City!"
Tanya Schubert says
Do you have any recommends on a juicer? I was not sure if you juiced or not..but I was curious to see what you used if you did have one <3
100 Days of Real Food says
I don't have one so I can't really weigh in on the topic...sorry!
Dee Moore says
Hi- I recently started juicing to include more fruits and vegetables in my diet. I did a bit of online research and purchased the Omega Vert juicer. I love it! It is easy to use, and more importantly, easy to clean. There is a website called discount juicers.com that shows youtube clips comparing the various juicers. I watched several before I decided. Mine was pricey, but I don't regret the purchase.
Hope this helps!
Maxine says
The Jack LaLanne juicer is terrific, and I feed the leftover mash to my chickens!
Charlee says
I have a citristar juicer that does citrus fruits and I love it
Stephanie says
I have a question about the mason jars. I see pictures of your freezer with mason jars in it, do you use the two-part lids that they come with or buy plastic lids for them? I read on Amazon that the plastic lids leak when placed on their side which suggests they are not airtight. How long do you store things for? Which lid do you recommend for longer term storage?
100 Days of Real Food says
I use the metal 2-part lids...I've never tried the plastic ones. Since my jars stay upright the soup leaking is not an issue for us. The metal tops work great for us and we usually try to eat what's been frozen within a few months...4 - 5 months at the most.
Kerry says
Love your blog! Was curious if you use your cast iron skillet for pancakes? When I tried it they stuck to the pan, despite my putting melted butter in the pan.
100 Days of Real Food says
I actually use a griddle for pancakes that's built in with our stove. They should work in a cast iron skillet though...try adding more butter next time!
Cortney@EvanHasLanded says
This is so funny! I was just on Amazon debating on getting the Norpro ice pop makers and I hesitated because many reviews said they had a smell to them and made the food taste weird. So I didn't get them and then my email came in with this post. What are your thoughts?
Cortney@EvanHasLanded says
oh I didn't get an email just saw your FB status ;-)
100 Days of Real Food says
Ours don't have an odor at all. I do clean them very thoroughly (one reader suggested using a bottle brush) so my guess is those people didn't get them clean all the way. Hope that helps!
Tanya Schubert says
I love this list! I am recently married..so we are just building up our Kitchen. I wanted to buy a lot of these but it is hard to know what is good and what is bad..long lasting or cheaply made. Great idea <3
Radka says
Lisa, thank you so much for compiling this list. I know where to start from. As for lunchboxes, I send my kindergartener with a stainless steel box from planetbox.com. It's a bit pricey, but worth every penny, as she opens it and sees five compartments, one for sandwich, 3 for veggies/fruit and 1 for a small treat. Love
Sara K says
I have those silicone pops and was wondering whether your kids actually find them easy to eat from. My son can't seem to figure it out and instead, ends up with a big mess! We've started sending a spoon with them, which kind of defeats the purpose! Thanks.
100 Days of Real Food says
They just put their mouth over top or "push up" the smoothie if it's still pretty frozen...no issues here, but might take some practice!
Merriett Ferris says
oh man, my husband is not happy you took the time to post all of this.. now I've got a loooong list of new appliances I want :-) tee hee. I guess now he won't have to think too hard on what to get me for my birthday haha.
Carol says
Great list! I have a lot of these, but might disagree about some being "essential" Panini press? (What about grilling on the stove?) Donut maker? Not so sure. I have a bread machine, but haven't been able to get bread the consistency I want - dense, full of holes with crackly crust. LOVE my crockpot, however. Use it almost every week.
I'm with Jenn on the olive oil sprayer. I've tried several models and none have really worked.
Love my "spice" measuring spoons (Metal) from King George Flour. They're flat on the bottom, rather than rounded, making them easier to dip into small cans/bottles of spices etc. I have two sets!
Thanks for all you do to bring awareness to "real food"
Mallory says
Oh, and Lisa, I have no idea how to cut a mango without mangling it! I thought it was just me.
Mallory says
Thanks for this post! It's super-helpful, and I know I'll be referring back to it to decide what I need to add to my arsenal next.
Of the things on this list that I already have, many of them were given to me as gifts (I love my waffle iron!) or can even be found at thrift stores. I've seen many abandoned bread and ice cream makers at secondhand shops, and as long as you can make sure they have all the parts, they're just as good as new. And if the idea of that grosses you out, I can almost guarantee that someone you know has some of these items they're not using anymore. A coworker and I were recently discussing how we found bread makers in our mother-in-laws attics!
It just takes a little extra effort and patience to be frugal, and it's not like the bread machine is a purchase that simply can't wait!
jehan says
Thanks for the list! Good tools make cooking real food easier and much more enjoyable :)
Jenn says
I bought an oil sprayer and ended up throwing it away. It made a mess and produced too much "mist" to be useful for cooking. Do you have a make/model to recommend?
Pam says
Jenn,
I am a Pampered Chef consultant and I must recommend our kitchen spritzer to you. You can view it on my website - http://www.pamperedchef.biz/pamelaspage. It's only $13.50 and includes a replacement spray mechanism. I love mine!!
Jennifer says
I have the pampered chef one and love it. No more Pam at my house!
Tasha says
Tip: after you use the spray "burp" it by unscrewing the cap. You'll hear it hiss. Then, put the cap on. A Pampered Chef consultant taught me that.
Becca says
Thanks for sharing! I thought my kitchen was almost complete, but I'm thinking the tortilla press might have to happen soon. I'll try the recipe for the homemade tortillas hopefully this week. I'm getting tired of trying to find a healthier tortilla and not finding it. I found a package that touted how it was cholesterol and trans fat free and healthy for you, but after looking in the ingedients I found partially hydrogenated oils in the list which is just a bad. Also, an appliance in my kitchen that is definitely one of my faves is my VitaMix blender! I make fresh fruit and veggie smoothies a LOT, and one good way to get my toddler to eat her leafy greens. Plus you can make soups, yummy Starbucks alternative iced coffees, dressings, desserts and nut butters!
100 Days of Real Food says
I know people love their Vitamix Blenders, but they are so expensive!!
Veronica B. says
I recently bought a Ninja, and even though it's not a VitaMix or as good as the real thing, it's cheaper and I looooove it! I use it everyday! The reason I didn't buy a VitaMix was because of the price, but now that I see how much I use my Ninja, if it were to break, I'd bite the bullet for a VitaMix. However, I hope that this wont be the case and that I get to enjoy my Ninja for years to come!
Sarah says
I have a Ninja Pro, purchased for $109 (slightly on sale)from bed bath and beyond over a year ago. It is very comparable in function to the vitamix at a much lower cost, and works very well as a food processor. I use mine at least once per day, and it is still going strong after a year. If you can't afford a Vitamix, I highly recommend the Ninja!
Maria says
My husband got me a Vitamix for my birthday this year! It's spectacular!
Jennifer says
I really enjoy your site - and loved looking at all the kitchen equipment that you use. I know they can make life much easier. One thing that has bothered me in the past is your assertion that you could make meals for your family on the same amount of money that people on food stamps receive. The reality for people in poverty is that they won't have all this equipment, even if they had the time to stay at home and dedicate entire days to cooking for their families. Maybe this is an entirely misplaced rant and I apologize. I'm sure you realize how very fortunate you and your family are. I know you work hard and so does your husband. Not everyone is so lucky. I'll have to read over those past posts where you mentioned food stamps and see why it bothered me so much.
The Poorganic Life says
I hear where you're coming from, Jennifer, as I thought the same thing; however, in Lisa's defense, most of her recipes on real food on a budget don't require fancy equipment. I've made all of them and I don't have most of the those gadgets. :) The harder thing for people on a food stamp budget to accomplish is the real foods lifestyle, which often requires one person to be a stay at home parent. We don't get food stamps, but we are on an even smaller budget. I know if I didn't stay home, it would be nearly impossible to shop, coupon, and make from scratch our real food lifestyle.
jehan says
I've thought the same thing. But rice, beans or sprouts, and fresh or frozen veggies don't cost much or require lots of equipment. I grew up in a Filipino household, on a small farm. I grew up on minimally processed, real food on a very limited budget. When I moved out and had my own family I really appreciated the amount of work my mother put into making those meals. On the flip side, if you live in a poor area of the city, without transportation, you can be stuck eating ramen noodles and whatever else is in the local convenience store for $1. I've been there, too :)
Jennifer says
Thanks for your reply. You make good points. There are many real food recipes that Lisa has that don't require special equipment. It's so nice when on parent can stay home to do all the work involved in buying and preparing real food. In addition it is usually necessary to have a reliable car for reaching markets with real food and being able to take advantage of bargains. Many people don't have reliable transportation. Life can be so difficult for so many people.
100 Days of Real Food says
It was merely a cost comparison only...I've openly shared that I am lucky enough to also have access to many helpful resources such as kitchen equipment, cooking skills, time, and transportation.
Lori B. says
I make everything 100% from scratch (bread, crackers, smoothies, etc) These are ALL of my appliances. Cuisine Art Food Processor, Kitchen Aid Mixer, Kitchen Aid Pasta maker attachment, waffle iron, toaster, rolling pin, George Forman Grill "my panini machine", air pop corn popper, Pizzelle press (I am Italian and YES, this is necessary), cast iron skillet, crockpot, and an enameled cast iron stock pot. I dont have MOST of the items listed above. If I was only going to own TWO appliances I would get a used Kitchen Aid mixer & a high end blender over $100+ All of these you can get used on Ebay and/or garage sales. Post on your facebook page what you are looking for. You would be surprised what people are not using and would love to give you for free!
Jaime Kihn says
Why so expensive for the Ziplock lunch containers? I bought them for under $3 at Meijer.
Liz says
Thanks for sharing! I love your reading recommendations.... I see lots of things in your kitchen that are in mine. My new favorite kitchen toy is my immersion blender!
Stacy says
This is great!!! wanted to let you know I just found the Ghee at Wal Mart on the rice aisle with some ethnic foods.
Krystal says
Thank you! I just purchased the tortilla press (new in box) from Goodwills 50% off sale for $1. They also had the xo salad spinner *new for $3.
100 Days of Real Food says
Wow...that's a bargain!
Jessica says
This is fabulous! Thanks for putting the time into compiling all your kitchen essentials in one place. I continue to learn new things and gain inspiration from you.
Marsha says
Mango Slicer :) Definitely putting that on my list of must haves. I didn't know there was such a thing and I need it. My sister told me "just look it up on the internet & you'll be fine". I still haven't figured out how to avoid that darn pit in the middle :)
100 Days of Real Food says
Peel it with a carrot grater first than use the mango slicer...so easy!
Brenda says
Cut the end off to see which direction the pit is going in then slice the cheeks off the mango.
Carrie says
Googled "crock pot ghee" and it's so easy and so much cheaper!
carie connell says
I hope you will add us to your kitchen list once you get our product and love it! .....we are selling on Amazon! Enjoy! This is an awesome page!
Food Babe says
Love this new section of your site! Thanks for taking the time to share all of the tools and gadgets with us real food lovers!
LSW says
Great list! Thanks so much - what tremendous effort you must have put into this. Just a tip for your grapefruit spoons. We use them for so much more than grapefruit - and who doesn't like a multi-tasker. We hull strawberries, scoop out the core in a pear, eat with cantaloupe by the slice...any soft fruit works.
100 Days of Real Food says
wow...good to know!
Lyn @ Life Lyn Style says
For the ice pop makers (first item), do you have suggestions for filling them? I've not been successful with things like applesauce and would love some tricks. Ours have been spending lots of time in our closet. :-(
JCravens says
Lyn have you tried using a funnel? They come in several sizes and some should slip right over the end.
100 Days of Real Food says
We put smoothies and yogurt in ours most of the time and my kids love them (frozen or mostly defrosted, which is what happens by school lunch time). I hope that helps!
LeeAnn M. says
If you don't have a funnel, you can always try putting the applesauce in a ziplock type bag and then cut off one corner and squeeze it in. Or, if you happen to have pastry bags floating around, use them to fill the tube.
Pam says
A gravy boat, makes it easy for me.
Katrina says
We fill them with chocolate almond milk and they are the perfect fudge treat. My boys love them!!