If you have basic kitchen equipment, you likely have everything you need to get started meal planning. However, there are some gadgets out there that you can invest in to make things more organized and to save time. Here are our top picks:
Containers
Plastic with dividers- These ones are light weight (good for transporting), leak-resistant, BPA free, stackable, and microwave/freezer/dishwasher safe: 2 Compartment Meal Prep Containers
Plastic without dividers- These ones are also light weight (good for transporting), leak-resistant, BPA free, stackable, and microwave/freezer/dishwasher safe: Fitpacker Meal Prep Containers
Glass (with dividers!)- Heavier and more delicate, but perfect for if you want to be able to take meals out of the fridge and put them directly into the oven. Leak-proof, airtight lid, BPA-free, stackable, Freezer/microwave/oven/dishwasher safe: Glass Meal Prep Food Storage Containers Set
Reusable Sandwich Bags
These are great if you want to cut down on the bulk and size of standard meal prep containers. Perfect for salads, stir-fries, smoothies- keep them in the fridge/freezer, and just dump out into a bowl/frying pan/blender.
Stasher– made with silicone, is airtight and freezer/microwave/dishwasher safe. You also can write notes on them with dry erase markers: Stasher Reusable Silicone Food Bag
ReZip– Come in larger sizes and are better at holding liquids than Stasher. Freezer safe. Not microwave/dishwasher safe: BlueAvocado 4 Piece (re)zip Seal Essential Set Bag
Lunch Boxes
Small, but aesthetically pleasing: Hango Insulated Lunch Box Cooler Bag
Lunch box that holds 4 containers and a water bottle: Fitpacker Meal Prep Bag
Backpack that holds 3 containers and 2 water/shaker bottles: 6 Pack Fitness Expedition Backpack
Duffle bag holds 4-6 meals, water bottles, and your gym clothes: IsoDuffle
Scales
Basic food scale- pretty cheap, and among the highest rated on Amazon: Ozeri Pronto Digital Multifunction Kitchen and Food Scale
Food scale that shows nutrition facts: Greater Goods Nourish Digital Kitchen Food Scale and Portions Nutritional Facts Display
Food scale that hides away in a cutting board for those of us worried about counter space: Gourmia GKS9140M Cutting Board Digital Scale
Smart body fat scale that syncs up with fitness apps (not a feature of Strongr Fastr currently, but we hope to add in the future): Weight Gurus Bluetooth Smart Connected Body Fat Scale
Time/Labor Savers
Rice cooker/ steamer combo- this machine can cook rice and steam veggies/fish/meat simultaneously. Rice cookers will never burn rice and truly make it a breeze: Aroma Housewares Digital Rice Cooker
Salad spinner- to keep salads super fresh, it’s really important that they are as dry as possible; this one does the trick: OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner
Shredding claws- if you’re going to be making recipes with shredded meat, these melt-proof shredding claws help you shred hot meats with a lot less effort and time: Bear Paws Shredder Claws
45 second omelet maker- For super quick morning meals, this helps you make an omelet in under a minute. Since it uses the microwave, this allows you to make omelets at work! 45 Second Omelet Maker
Vegetable chopper- when you start meal planning, there can be A LOT of chopping; make it go faster: Vidalia Chopper Pro