Healthy eating is work, but tools make it easier

Being the Dinner Diva that I am, I find the propensity toward convenience foods is rather distressing. True, it is helpful to have something to pull out of your hat when you need to fly out the door for baseball practice, but it doesn't have to come in a box from the freezer and go into the microwave. There is a better solution.

Everything in life worth something takes some form of effort. This is also true with trying to eat healthier. It will require some effort on your part. But with a little bit of forethought and a few good moves, it won't be too hard. Plus, I would never leave a mom in the lurch without one or two quick tricks — we all need them, don't we?

But to do it right, we need to start with our kitchen tools. I have some good gear I wouldn't want to be without. And then I have some real time-saving tools I call my indentured servants because these babies make life a whole lot easier.

• Good, sharp knives: A dull knife will make tomato sauce out of your tomatoes. It is a joy to work with a good knife. I have had my Henckels chef knife for more than 20 years and it's just as wonderful as the first day I bought it. Good knives are a great tool, if they are kept sharpened.

• A few cutting boards: Working with just one cutting board is a mistake. With all the scary information out there on salmonella and the rest, it might not be a bad idea to be a little more kosher about your cutting boards: use one for vegetables, fruit, etc. and one only for meat. It's a lot cleaner.

• A flat-bottomed wok: This is another tool I have owned for a long time. This stainless, well-seasoned pan has scrambled eggs and cooked countless stir-frys. I truly wouldn't be without it, and the flat bottom is essential — no fussing with a ring and a wobbly pan on the stove.

• Vegetable steamer: Unless you forget about your vegetables in the steamer, you almost can't wreck them. Plus, they're never soggy.

• Popsicle molds: Cheap and easy dessert for your kids and you, for that matter. Buy a couple of sets.

• Stainless or non-aluminum cookware: Aluminum has been linked to all kinds of health problems, and rather than debate the issue, why not just get some decent stainless steel pots and pans and forget about it.