Special thanks to Jenny Craig for their sponsorship of this post.
I’ve been on the Jenny Craig program for about 8 months, and it’s been an amazing ride! I’m approaching my goal, and thought this would be an excellent time to share a few kitchen essentials that have really helped me to crush my goal!
These are great items to add to your holiday gift list, and to add to your repertoire. Another great idea is to add these to a rewards list. After you reach your first goal, invest in a new tool! This way, you’re building your kitchen arsenal, while at the same time propelling your progress!
The Obvious: A Microwave
Of course, a microwave comes very much in handy on this program. I left it off this list, as it seemed pretty foundational; however, please make sure you have one of those as well!
1. Air Fryer
If you buy just one thing to outfit your kitchen to prepare you for success, please prioritize an air fryer. You won’t regret it!
When I first heard about the air fryer craze, I immediately said: “I don’t need an air fryer.” And then, I traveled to visit my friend Crystal and learned all about its magic.
I don’t use my air fryer to “fry” things. Instead, I use it to rapid roast veggies, broil pizza, and cook just about anything I can super quickly and easily! With the summer months upon us, it’s also a great way not to heat up your entire kitchen just to make a toasty dinner! Here’s a link to the one I use (and LOVE.)
Jenny Craig Foods that I Cook in My Air Fryer: Cheesy Chicken and Potatoes, Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich, Pepperoni Pizza, Toasted Chimichanga, Barbecue Chicken Flatbread, Cinnamon Coffee Cake, Chocolate Walnut Brownie, Chocolate Lava Cake, and much, much more!
Protip: You can cook anything you normally would cook in the oven at the same temperature, but at 50% of the time! Also, accessory kits are available for most airfryers. For mine, I have a tiny round baking dish that I use quite a bit (especially with the Jenny Craig desserts!)
2. Food Thermos
As you get acclimated to the Jenny Craig program, you’ll quickly realize that planning becomes incredibly important. The old adage is definitely true: When you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
I’ve found that on busy days and those when I’m traveling via planes, trains, and automobiles, I like to have my Jenny Craig food ready to go! Cooking my Jenny Craig food in the morning, and placing them in a food thermos like this one has been a lifesaver.
Protip: A food thermos also works when you’re traveling through US Airports. In my carry on, I usually remove the thermos, as it can look a little suspicious inside my bag. I have had TSA ask me to open it more than once, but they’re super nice about it. Another tip: Open your thermos before takeoff, if you plan to eat its contents in the air. Cabin pressure changes can make the thermos nearly impossible to open. Once you reach 30K feet, re-close the thermos until you’re ready to eat it.
3. Stasher Resuable Bags
While the majority of your foods will be cared for with the Jenny Craig menu, you’re going to want to keep some snacks on hand. During my Sunday food prep each week, I portion sliced veggies and fruit to make sure that I get all of my fresh items in daily! I started to feel a little guilty about how many ziptop bags I was going through until I found these Stasher Bags.
They’re reusable, environmentally friendly and a great investment while you’re on the program and for the the long term! I’ve spotted these on Amazon and at Target as well!
Protip: These are great for daily snacks, and amazing for travel! Easy to clean and highly durable.
4. Chef’s Knife
When I’m food prepping and preparing my Fresh & Free Additions throughout the week, I’ve found that having a quality and sharp knife helps the process significantly. I invested in this knife last fall as a reward to myself for staying on track. I absolutely love it, and I use it every single day!
After testing out a few knives, I fell in love with the Global brand and bought this chef’s knife and a paring knife set. Love them both!
Protip: Pair this purchase with a sharpener, and sharpen your knives frequently – A valuable lesson I learned from my sister-in-law!
5. An Insulated Water Bottle
Drinking water is incredibly important to having great health! I’ve often found that when I think I might be getting hungry, I”m actually just dehydrated! I try to stay ahead of dehydration by keeping a water bottle with me at all times, and chugging that H2O.
With that, I’ve become OBSESSED with these Simple Human water bottles. They’re insulated, so they keep my water cold. I’ll drink any temperature of water, but I like it best when it’s cold!
Protip: Opt for the medium sized bottle so that you get extra steps in walking to the kitchen (and to the ladies’ room!)
6. Spiralizer
If you don’t already have a spiralizer in your cupboard, what exactly are you waiting for??? I’m such a fan of my spiralizer, and use it for salads and veggie adds, and I absolutely love how it slices red onion!
I’ve had my Paderno spiralizer for YEARS, and it’s incredible. It’s dishwasher-safe, and has multiple blades for various sizes of noodles and a variety of shapes.
Protip: It’s not just for zucchini. Example: I don’t even like zucchini! Instead, I spiralize carrots, broccoli stems, beets, cucumbers, and the list goes on and on…
7. Vegetable Chopper
This vegetable chopper is a secret weapon in my kitchen. This spring, I started eating this chopped salad every single week. While I food prep every Sunday, I don’t want to spend hours and hours dicing vegetables.
This accordion-style chopper is genius and has so many plates for whatever you’d like to chop, and into any shape that makes sense!
Protip: If you find yourself picking up diced veggies in the produce section at your local grocery store, you’ll save so much money in the long run with this convenient chopper (and you can customize for exactly what you need!)
Click here to see a full listing of my Jenny Craig Recipe Creations!
Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Jenny Craig; however, all of the opinions and comments about the program are exclusively my own and do not necessarily represent that of the brand.