What’s on this Dietitian’s Christmas List? (for real)
Every year my family asks me to make them a list of what I want for Christmas. They’re so sweet. What a blessing that I’m at that point in my life where I don’t need much. The basics are covered, thanks in large part to the generosity of our friends and family on our wedding day 2+ years ago. So, what typically ends up on my list is some cookbooks, kitchen gadgets and a few other household items that I wouldn’t normally buy for myself. Here are some highlights from this year’s list and years past:
1) The Instant Pot
Amiright? A lifesaver. I got this product a year ago and I haven’t taken full advantage of all that it can do. I have been tempted to try to make some yogurt, but I haven’t been brave enough to try that yet. I mostly do starches – potatoes, rice and quinoa. I love using the Instant Pot for this because it cooks so fast! Before I had one I got the timing all wrong – parts of the meal were ready to go and other parts were just getting started. Now, much of the meal is ready (and warm) ahead of time. Also, the model I have doesn’t have the slow cooker function so you won’t need the second item on my list if you ask for the all-in-one.
2) Slow Cooker
I LOVE slow cooking. And I always stick to the recipes that are the dump-and-go type where you don’t have to pre-cook anything first. I think that it takes the simplicity out of slow cooking if you have to use multiple dishes. Then I saw this. Its inside compartment allows you to cook on the stove or in the oven before beginning the slow cooking process. How amazing is that? No extra dirty dishes to clean! It’s a bit of an investment but slow cookers last a long time, so it’s worth it.
3) A Cookbook Holder
I got so excited when I saw this. It must have been made for me! I had a cookbook holder, but I don’t use it because it doesn’t keep the book in place and I always dirty the pages from the cooking splatters! This is a simple way to keep your book in place, protected and on nice display too!
4) The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook
I love cookbooks so much that I often read them before bed. (Anyone else do that?) I got my first Smitten Kitchen cookbook about 6 months ago. I love these recipes, and when they came out with a Smitten Kitchen Everyday I added it to my Christmas list. I also follow the author on Instagram and she is so great! If you follow her Instagram stories you will see the behind-the-scenes of all the fun stuff she is making. The best part is she appreciates food; it’s an art to her. This is a great gift for that foodie in your life too. You can find her here.
5) The Ultimate Sponge
These are literally the best sponges ever! I know I sound crazy but just trust me. I don’t know what makes them different. I bought them a while back because I was out of sponges and I saw that they had over 1,000 reviews on Amazon and I thought, “Hey, I might as well give them a try.” I was not disappointed. They seem to have a lifespan that is 10 times longer than the sponges I was buying before. I am never buying other household sponges again. This might sound over the top, but I am totally going to give these sponges as well as my favorite essential oil dish soap to all the women in my family for Christmas. THEY ARE THAT GOOD PEOPLE.
I should also mention that even though these sponges might be great and hold up forever that doesn’t mean they are bacteria-free. Make sure you are still sanitizing and discarding your sponges often to avoid harmful bacteria. See this article for more details on that.
6) Snapwear for Storing Leftovers
I love Snapwear. I only have a few but I want to eventually own the whole set. It seems silly buying food storage containers for myself when I already have plenty. (It’s just the cheap plastic kind.) So, I will wait patiently for these plastic food storage containers to run their course. The reality is that putting leftovers in glass containers makes all the difference. You can stick those leftovers right into the microwave (without worries over plastic toxins like BPA). You can put these in the dishwasher as well. What I love most about Snapwear is that I can throw it in my bag for work and it won’t leak! Sometimes it’s the little things in life.
7) Chocolate Covered Cashews (seriously yum!!)
These are my all-time favorite snack. I keep these in my desk at work because they are the perfect afternoon pick me up with the chocolate and the protein! These are going in my husband’s stocking because he loves them tool!
8) Insulated beverage container
There’s nothing like the perfect water bottle. And don’t even bother with the non-insulted kind. This one keeps beverages hot for hours – perfect for coffee and tea drinkers. Needless to say, cold beverages stay cold in the summer too. It doesn’t leak and there’s no condensation either. It’s a wide mouth so it’s easy to clean and no messing with straws and wonky lids. Plus, this brand is pretty reasonably priced compared to other more high-end containers. I keep the 12-ounce size in my purse at all times because it fits perfectly. Did I mention that it never leaks? It’s also the perfect fit for car cup holders.
9) The Chemex
This is my favorite way to make coffee. I prefer my morning cup of coffee to be the pour-over type. And this devise is a super easy way to make it, especially if you are making it for a crowd! Plus, it makes me feel like I’m a coffee pro even though it’s super simple. When I am not using it for coffee I will even fill it up with water and have it on our dinner table because it’s so pretty! This is a great gift for a coffee lover in your life!
10) Books, books, and more books
In addition to all these goodies don’t forget about our non-diet book list and some other resources we recommend. These books make such a great gift for that special someone who you’ve been praying might experience healing in their relationship with food. Body love and kindness IS possible and these books can help the ones you love find healing.
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Nicole resides in the East Bay Area where she works in private practice as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. She is a Mom of two and serves alongside her beloved husband in their local church. Most recently she's devoted her time to cleft and craniofacial awareness, education and interventions when her second daughter was unexpectedly diagnosed with a cleft palate at one week old. She completed both her bachelor's degree and her dietetic internship at California State University, Chico, where she was also a NCAA cross country and track athlete. Through those experiences, God prompted her to help people of all shapes and sizes discover health, body peace and acceptance through the unconditional love of Jesus. Nicole most enjoys spending time around a table and eating delicious food with the people she loves.
