Kitchen conditioning

By Jamie Gold Special to the U-T 2 p.m.Jan. 17, 2014

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Theres a saying in fitness circles that great abs are made in the kitchen, not the gym. Essentially, it doesnt matter how many crunches and sit-ups you do if your pantry, fridge and stomach are filled with junk food. You may get a fantastic six pack, but no one will see it, notes Chula Vista-based registered dietitian Elisha Daigneault.

This is not an article about eating right or working out, though doing both has helped me lose 100 pounds and keep the weight off for the past two years. This is about remaking your kitchen so it supports your health and fitness resolutions for 2014 and beyond.

I always start a remodeling plan by asking clients whats remaining in the space, if anything. If your New Years resolution is to lose weight and get fit, whats remaining in your kitchen is a crucial question. Donate or store away the ice cream maker and deep fryer. They dont need to occupy visual, mental or counter space. Consider replacing them with a slow cooker, juicer, indoor grill and steam oven, all of which can help you make healthier food.

Slow cookers add convenience to healthy meal prep.

Small appliances like a slow cooker or grill are great for making cooking more convenient, Daigneault notes. But she adds that their lack should not be a hindrance to eating well. For example, if you dont have an indoor electric grill, a grill pan that sits on a stove or cooktop burner can certainly suffice, and a steamer insert can substitute for a countertop or built-in steam oven. Your schedule, space and budget will dictate which options work best for your kitchen. The point is to optimize your ability to make healthy meals at home.

If youre planning a kitchen remodel or appliance upgrade, consider a combination convection-steam ovens as a microwave replacement. Theyll do everything the micro will, except make popcorn and thats frankly no loss to your health goal.

Another remodeling must-have is adequate cooking ventilation. So many cooks dont use their hoods because theyre noisy and inefficient. Pair a good, quiet vent hood with a new induction cooktop or range and youll have a high-performance cooking zone.

I recommend induction ranges and cooktops over gas or electric whenever possible because theyre safer (using no flame); easier to clean, so youll cook more often; more energy efficient, saving you money for organic food and workout gear; and faster, so youll get dinner on the table quicker.

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Kitchen conditioning