My top kitchen picks for busy parents
As a mum of three young children under the age of six, I know just how challenging it can be to balance healthy eating with a busy family schedule. Between school drop-offs, activities, and work, finding time to cook nutritious meals can feel impossible – yes, even for a Registered Dietitian. But over the years, I’ve found that having the right kitchen gadgets not only simplifies meal prep but also helps us stay consistent with healthy eating. These great kitchen appliances save time, make cooking fun, and let me put wholesome, tasty meals on the table with minimal fuss.
From quick smoothies to hearty soups and homemade chips, these gadgets are staples in our household, and I use them almost daily. They make it so much easier to eat tasty, healthy food even on our busiest days. Here’s my tried-and-tested list of essential kitchen tools that can help make healthy eating easier and more accessible for any family.
1. LINKChef Food Processor
The LINKChef Food Processor is a a godsend for quick and easy food prep. With its bi-level stainless steel blades, this food processor effortlessly chops, slices, and dices even the toughest veggies. The bi-level bit is great as with previous choppers I’ve had to keep stirring the veg to make sure it was all evenly chopped. I use it for everything from prepping salads and sides to making homemade pesto and dips. But it’s main use is that it’s especially handy for chopping onions and garlic, which saves me from teary eyes and garlic-scented fingers! And, celery and carrots which make up the foundation of lots of winter stews and soups. Compact and easy to clean (rinse it then lob it in the dishwasher), it fits perfectly into our already crowded kitchen without taking up too much counter space. For busy days, it’s a real lifesaver in getting meals on the table faster. The blade is super sharp so store it somewhere safe. I’ve a locked (magnet) cupboard for such things.
Key Benefits:
- Time-Saver: Quickly chops and dices, reducing prep time significantly.
- Versatile Blades: Stainless steel blades handle everything from soft veggies to nuts.
- Compact Size: Takes up minimal counter space, ideal for smaller kitchens.
- Easy to Clean: Dishwasher-safe parts make cleanup quick and easy.
2. NutriBullet Blender 900
The NutriBullet Blender 900 is my go-to for making healthy smoothies, nut butters, and even soups. This high-powered blender can tackle everything from frozen berries to leafy greens, creating smooth, creamy blends that even the kids love. With its 900-watt motor, it easily pulverises seeds, stems, and skins, meaning you get the full nutritional benefit of each ingredient. I love using it for green ‘hulk’ smoothies packed with spinach, kale, and fruit—it’s a quick and easy way to give the kids a nutrient boost without them even noticing. The oversized cup option is perfect for making larger batches or meal-prepping smoothies for the week, and it’s also easy to clean, which is a big win when time is limited! I use the smoothie style lid to pour out pancake mix easily and accurately on the frying pan, and to pour my smoothies into kids cups without creating a mess.
Key Benefits:
- High Power: 900-watt motor easily blends even tough ingredients like leafy greens and nuts.
- Compact but Mighty: Small enough for the counter, powerful enough for any blend.
- Nutrient Extraction: Pulverises seeds, skins, and stems to retain nutrients.
- Quick Cleanup: Easy to rinse, and many parts are dishwasher-safe.
3. Morphy Richards Slow Cooker
The Morphy Richards Slow Cooker is a must-have for creating hearty, home-cooked meals with minimal effort. I often load it up with a mix of veggies, beans, lean meats, and spices in the morning, and by dinner, we have a hot, flavourful meal ready to go. It’s perfect for everything from soups and stews to pulled meats and casseroles, making it incredibly versatile. The “set-and-forget” nature of a slow cooker means I can focus on other things while dinner cooks itself. With a variety of sizes available, you can choose the one that suits your family’s needs best. For us, it’s invaluable in keeping our family meals both healthy and low-maintenance. I use my slowcooker on weekdays in particular, either cooking it overnight or putting it on first thing. I usually organise the dinner the night before, and leave the inner bucket and lid in the fridge overnight, and then return it to the slowcooker, and turn it on before heading to work. The meals are often cooked for longer than recommended, but this hasn’t mattered yet!
Key Benefits:
- Effortless Cooking: Set it up and leave it; dinner is ready hours later.
- Versatile Options: Perfect for a wide variety of dishes from stews to casseroles.
- Multiple Sizes Available: Choose the size that fits your family’s needs.
- Energy-Efficient: Uses less energy than an oven, saving on utility bills.
4. Morphy Richards Soup Maker
The Morphy Richards Soup Maker is a fantastic tool for quick, homemade soups, especially on busy days when you want something warm and nutritious. This model includes four settings—smooth, chunky, juice, and blend—making it incredibly versatile. I used it a lot when weaning too and when making veg rich sauces for pasta meals e.g. butternut squash or tomato-based sauces. So, it’s not just a soup maker but a smooth sauce maker (great for fussy eaters and hidden veg recipes). With its 1.6L capacity, it’s perfect for preparing family-sized portions or batch cooking for the week.
I love the sauté function, which lets me cook ingredients like onions or garlic directly in the soup maker before adding other ingredients. It helps bring out deeper flavours and reduces the need for multiple pots and pans. The sleek, brushed stainless steel design is easy to clean and looks fine on the countertop. With this soup maker, our family can enjoy fresh, healthy soups in under 30 minutes, ideal for a cozy, hassle-free meal. I often use frozen veg like chopped onions, garlic, peas etc… as well as cupboard options e.g. tinned tomatoes, lentils etc… I also regularly buy the fresh veg soup mixes in the supermarket where I simply have to add stock and hot water. I choose a low salt stock option so that I can give the soup to my kids.
Key Benefits:
- Four Cooking Settings: Choose from smooth, chunky, juice, or blend for a range of textures.
- Sauté Function: Sauté ingredients directly in the soup maker for added flavour.
- Large Capacity: 1.6L, ideal for family meals or meal prepping.
- Easy to Use and Clean: Simple controls and a brushed stainless steel finish make it both functional and stylish.
5. Ninja FlexDrawer Dual Zone Air Fryer
The Ninja FlexDrawer Dual Zone Air Fryer is perfect for busy families who want quick, healthier meals with flexibility. This model features a unique FlexDrawer design, allowing you to switch between a large single compartment or two separate cooking zones. It took me a while to come around to the bigger airfryer with a large drawer, but it hasn’t let me down. This flexibility lets me cook multiple foods at once—for example, making crispy homemade wedges for the kids on one side and a roasted veggie mix on the other. Each side can have different temperatures and cooking times, so everything is ready simultaneously. There is a removable divider in the middle that you can slide out to create one large cooking area that allows you to cook a large roast like a chicken of leg of lamb and potatoes.
I originally had the Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer AF400UK and loved it, but as our family grew and appetites increased, I upgraded to the larger FlexDrawer model. Both models have been excellent, providing delicious, healthy meals with minimal oil, and I’d recommend either depending on your family’s needs. Cleanup is a breeze with the non-stick, dishwasher-safe parts, and it’s so much quicker than using an oven! I will admit to nearly always using silicon inserts in it, as they can be lashed into the dishwasher to be cleaned. Anything to save time, you know yourself.
Key Benefits:
- Flexible Cooking Options: Switch between one large drawer or two independent zones.
- Dual Cooking Zones: Set different temperatures and cooking times for each zone.
- Healthier Alternative: Enjoy crispy, fried foods with minimal oil.
- Easy Cleanup: Non-stick, dishwasher-safe parts for quick and hassle-free cleaning.
6. Instant Pot Duo Plus
The Instant Pot Duo Plus is all about convenience in the kitchen, combining 9 cooking functions into one versatile device. However, it’s mainly used to slow cook. This 5.7L smart cooker is perfect for pressure cooking (when you realise you never put the slow cooker on, or you feel it needs more cooking cause the meat is tough or there’s too much fluid), slow cooking, steaming (I bought the insert and it’s great for new potatoes and in season fresh veg), sautéing, and more, all with a quiet operation that won’t disrupt the household. It’s designed for hands-off cooking—simply choose a function, set the time, press start, and let the Instant Pot handle the rest. A progress bar and alerts keep you updated as your meal cooks.
My husband bought me this for Christmas one year, which at the time I felt had the same vibe as buying me a hoover, but once I got over the initial trauma of getting an appliance for Christmas I have to say… I was fairly enamoured with my posh new machine.
The WhisperQuiet technology makes it the ideal solution for early or late cooking sessions. With 25 customizable cooking programs, including options for yogurt (still on the to-do list), sous vide (e.g. steak), and baking, it’s perfect for everything from breakfast porridge (e.g. using pinhead oats), rice cooker (unreal for parties when you’re scared of mucking up the rice) to one-pot dinners. And boiling the Christmas ham and pudding! Its 6-portion capacity feeds the whole family or makes meal prep easy, and cleanup is a breeze with dishwasher-safe parts. Yes, apparently I’m adverse to washing anything by hand!!
Key Benefits:
- 9-in-1 Multi-Cooker: Combines pressure cooking, slow cooking, rice cooking, steaming, sautéing, and more.
- WhisperQuiet Technology: Minimizes noise, ideal for quiet, hands-off cooking.
- Customizable Programs: 25 smart programs for a wide range of recipes.
- Large Capacity: 5.7L size, serving up to 6 portions—perfect for family meals or meal prep.
- Easy to Use: Step-by-step instructions with a progress bar for added convenience.
7. Fullstar Chip Maker & Vegetable Chopper
Despite not being a household name brand, this gadget isn’t just a vegetable chopper—it’s also our go-to for making perfect homemade chips! With multiple blade options, I can cut potatoes into consistent, chip-sized slices in seconds. Once they’re prepped, they go straight into the air fryer, meaning we can enjoy tasty, healthy chips any time. The kids love them, and because they’re air-fried, I know they’re healthier than traditional fried chips.
Aside from making chips in a ridiculously short space of time, it’s also brilliant for chopping, dicing, shredding and spiralling vegetables. This chip maker one of my favourite gadgets and it was super cheap too. We eat a lot of airfryer chips (and do ‘chips but with other root veg too). Plus, it’s easy to clean and has a built-in container to keep everything tidy, making it a must-have in our kitchen!
Key Benefits:
- Versatile Blades: Allows for various chopping styles, including perfect chip-sized cuts.
- Fast and Efficient: Cuts prep time for slicing potatoes, carrots, and more.
- Easy to Clean: Built-in container reduces mess and makes cleanup a breeze.
- Perfect for Healthy Chips: Makes air fryer-ready chips that taste great without excess oil.
Having these gadgets makes healthy eating so much easier and quicker, which is essential with three young children and a busy schedule. They’re used almost daily in our house and make it so much easier to eat tasty, healthy food. These essential kitchen appliances are perfect for prepping family-friendly meals without sacrificing nutrition or flavour. They’re worth every penny in helping us maintain a healthy lifestyle.
