We’ve gathered a list of 14 budget friendly low amylose meal prep tools to help you begin your new life without mold. The goal of this collection is to simplify meal preparation, clean the air you breathe, and spark a little joy in your environment. If there’s anything you would like to add- please share your items here. The MFM community alway welcomes innovative solutions that support physical & mental health while recovering from mold illness.
Sadly, the road that leads to recovery from mold exposure is not cheap. I recall investing a lot of my hard earned money on new medical expenses like multiple doctor visits, supplements, and prescriptions. There might not be much left for non essentials. But now that the bulk is behind me- I can honestly say there were a few things that did not cost very much and made a huge difference. There are also a few items I wish I had invested in to make the process easier. This post is a collection of both and I hope you find some items very helpful to you. (as you probably already know, purchasing items through the MFM links can result in a few cents of earnings for the MFM team. Our product choices have been made with your wellbeing in mind; not the small kickback. It takes quite a few purchases to equal the cost of a bunch of fresh organic kale lol! But we are extremely grateful for any and all purchases made through these affiliate links. Happy shopping- we wish you well on your path)
One good thing in the household budget category of health costs- switching to all fresh food and preparing all of my own meals was actually more affordable than the casual dining and occasional drinks & snacks with friends from life before mold illness.
But the budget was still tight. All those extra medical bills pinched resources for a long time.
The intention of this post is to show you the bare minimum kitchen equipment is possible, and also to inspire you to reward yourself for eating clean! There will always be “next year’s new & improved model” and new kitchen conveniences to enhance your meal preparation process. Buy what you can, when you can. You do not need a lot of money to prepare healthful, low amylose, anti inflammatory meals. Yes, there are a few crucial items that will be reviewed below, but the investment is small ~especially if you are only cooking for one or two.
Let’s start with the absolute essentials needed in the kitchen as you begin your mold free, low amylose, and anti inflammatory meal plan.
The best kitchen tools really do make healthy meals easy!
The bare minimum for low amylose meal prep:
Preparation tools
Victorinox Fibrox Pro Chefs knife – you will be cutting a lot of vegetables
Glass containers with lids – no plastic food containers for now
Non toxic skillet – give yourself a break from additional toxins
Large cutting boards – one for animal proteins and one for produce
Microplane Premium Classic Series Zester Grater, 18/8, Black
Water filter for faucet, tabletop pitcher
Mood boosting kitchen tools:
Clean, attractive glass drinkware – drinking water from an old plastic tumbler doesn’t feel the same as sipping cool, filtered water from a glass you love holding.
Clean attractive glass or stainless steel portable water bottles – put the ugly ducklings aside for another time in life. Right now you need all the inspiration you can get!
Here are the winners for the bare minimum kitchen tools while recovering from CIRS/Biotoxin Illness:
Chefs knife: Victorinox 8″ Fibrox Pro
I was nervous spending over $30 on a kitchen knife. Could it really be that much better than the Core santoku style knife I purchased years ago for $9.99? That knife seemed fine- until I tried my first step toward a proper cutting tool- the Victronix was a game changer for me. Effortlessly shearing kale from the stem, beautifully slicing slivers of onion, and even comfortably went right through the butternut squash. I felt like a chef preparing perfectly sliced meats and ever so finely minced fresh herbs to adorn my new anti inflammatory meals. Life’s little pleasures! Easy peasy quick buy on Amazon for a good price, and did I mention America’s Test Kitchen also loves this product? That’s actually how I discovered it. Bonus- it stays sharp for a while and comes back from the knife sharpening guy like brand new each and every time. It’s a keeper.
Glass containers with lids
I switched to glass a few years go and never looked back. The classic pyrex set of nesting bowls works well for me, and someday I will invest in a small set of rectangular containers, as they will stack efficiently in the refrigerator. For under $3 per container, you can’t beat the peace of mind that comes with food storage in glass vs plastic. And they never stink like the previous food- the same container used for chopped garlic one day used for berries the next day. Phew. No invisible mold in glass.
This handsome wooden lid set is good looking, but I am unfamiliar with the pros & cons of acacia wood. https://www.crateandbarrel.com/pyrex-wood-lid-storage-6-piece-set/s295435
Non toxic skillet
I think a medium skillet is one of the most versatile cooking tools of all time. I regularly use a 10inch stainless steel and simple cast iron skillet that I’ve had for years. There’s no perfect option that combines optimum convenience, low price, and zero toxicity potential. But there are a few that come close.
The X-trema ( https://www.xtrema.com/) brand ceramic skillet is very safe (no toxic leaching)- but breakable. Their saucepan is probably more practical
The Green Pan is my go-to and it’s under $25
https://www.greenpan.us/products/frypans
https://madeincookware.com/ produces beautifully crafted, non toxic cookware that will someday be part of my collection. If it is in your budget, one of their skillets would be a commendable addition to your anti inflammatory meal preparation
Large cutting boards
I’ll be honest here- I use a polypropylene cutting board sometimes. I love the convenience and price point of the Ikea FINFÖRDELA. (https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/finfoerdela-flexible-chopping-board-dark-gray-dark-turquoise-30335898/) At $1.99 it’s large enough to lay out a full head of broccoli or kale and flexible so I can easily transfer the freshly trimmed produce to the pan or bowl. I do not use it for meats or fish- Those I gently cut on a ceramic plate. I am meticulous about cleaning all surfaces immediately after cutting and always store materials only after completely dry and in a well ventilated spot to avoid mildew. I’ve never, ever had a spec.
If you are throwing your cutting boards in the dishwasher to “sanitize”, stop for a moment. What kind of soap and rinse aid are you using? How long did the board sit around before you ran the dishwasher? You know there’s residue all over your cutting board from the cleaners… Best to switch to an FSC Certified bamboo board, but watch out for the nasty coatings.
This is on my wishlist for sure-
Grater/zester/microplane
Why does the name of the tool be complicated? An essential part of your delicious mold free, low maylose meal preparation is bringing in as much fresh flavor as possible given the limited selection of approved produce. I personally found a whole new world of taste bud happiness by adding citrus zest. And no other tool makes this any easier- delicately fine little flavor flakes from orange peel quelled my sugar cravings. The fresh scent of lemon in the middle of winter chased away the dark & cold, and rushed in a scent of summer in the medterranean. It’s only a $14 Microplane 40020 Classic Zester/Grater, Black. I love this tool.
Water filter
Let’s not debate the importance of clean water when it comes to recovery. Here it will really be up to you and your budget- as drinking water purification can become expensive. Start small if you need to- perhaps the Brita Everyday Pitcher. It’s Under $30 and well worth the security. But please, no matter what you choose for storing your filtered water- keep it clean! Mold will grow on anything if you are not careful. Never let it sit in the sun, or in a warm place. Wash it regularly with soap and water inside and out.
Mood boosting kitchen tools
Clean, attractive glass drinkware
Since you will now be avoiding juice, milk, soda, alcohol, and a number of other tasty beverages as part of your healing protocol- your water might as well look and taste its best! A few personal favorites in the affordable but aesthetically pleasing category are these:
A personal favorite- timeless, elegant, and French I LOVE THESE for everyday use https://www.duralexusa.com/collections/drinkware
Portable, reusable water bottles. They’re everywhere. But some are better; try to avoid the swag free bottles with lots of colorful printing please. A few good choicse for metal are Kleen Kanteeen, MIIR, Healthy Human,
Glass: Ello and similar purifyou (I was so excited about ello company but sadly customer service lack of follow up on a promise to re-ship dethroned them. Nice looking though)
https://www.elloproducts.com/water-bottles/clean-water-thrive-20oz-glass-water-bottle
Retap, https://retap.com/products/buy-retap-drinkware.html
My favorite (hope I never break it lol) https://www.worldmarket.com/product/recycled+spanish+glass+to+go+tumbler+with+straw.do?sortby=ourPicks&from=fn
That wraps up our first post about budget friendly kitchen essentials when preparing CIRS approved, Low amylose, anti inflammatory meals.
A low amylose diet is beneficial for CIRS recovery according to Dr. Shoemaker. Elevated MMP9 levels can often be reduced by following a strict low or no amylose diet. Ask your health professional to monitor your bloodwork details.
The information we provide at Moldfreemenu.com is intended to provide information to better understand how a healthy diet is part of healing from biotoxin illness and not intended to replace consultation with a qualified medical professional.Specific medical advice including diagnosis and treatment will not be provided. This diet does not cure mold illness but does help reduce inflammation- thus reduce symptoms triggered by inflammation.