Tools

What tools/appliances do you use to aid in your weight loss and food prep? I have a convection oven, similar to the NuWave oven, which roasts chicken perfectly and cooks turkey bacon with hardly no fat left on it. I also use my George Forman grill to cook beef and pork steaks after I trim the fat off.

I remember someone on this forum mentioning the Magic Bullet, do you like using it? Does it work well making smoothies, etc.? What other appliances are you using?

Food scale, toaster oven, and microwave is all I ever needed.  I figure if you keep it simple you're likely to keep it up.

Very good point. I need a decent food scale. I have one that is by no means accurate. Doesn't do any good to measure your food when it's not right LOL

I haven't had surgery yet, but I saw where someone had a coffee scoop that was 2 tablespoons, since so many things like peanut butter have a 2 tblsp serving size. Also, possibly buying baby or children's size utensils and plates may help.

Thanks Jessica. I haven't had surgery yet either but that is another thing I need to invest in (measuring spoons). They, for some reason are like socks, some always come up missing and I can't find them.

I literally could not live without my Vita-Mix. I use it for more than just smoothies, although I really look forward to having it post-op to prepare my meals. I use it to grate cheese, grind spices and make very creamy soups and sauces with less calories because I do stuff like blend cauliflower very well to subsitute for cream in sauces, and that sort of thing. I make really good salsa in it. And I use it to make mayonnaise and salad dressings, too. Anyone who is interested in from-scratch cooking should look into owning one.

I don't have a blender either. I have a Cuisinart type blender/chopper though.

The best tool that I use to aid in my weight loss is therapy... lol. I know that's not really the kind of thing you were looking for, but it is the god's honest truth!!

I hear you Nikki. I haven't had my psych eval yet. And when I go to see the surgeon and nutritionist again tomorrow, I am going to ask about support groups because that I something I know I will need, monthly at the minimum!

I'm still preparing, but I bought smaller plates and also a NinjaPrep.  I was going to get a Bullet, but I read a lot of reviews and Consumer reports, and the Ninja Prep thing got the best reviews and ratings, so I went with that.  

My checklist asks if I've got measuring cups and spoons but, um, I already cook so of course I have those things!  My nut also says the the crock pot is really useful since it keeps meats moist.  So if you didn't have a crock pot, it could be useful?