Getting Started

How to prepare your kitchen for your healthier way of eating:

Better Bytes will show you how to stock your shelves for well… better bites.

• Xylitol – Xylitol is an all-natural replacement for sugar. Unlike artificial, carcinogenic options like Nutrasweet or Spelnda, xylitol is not synthesized. In fact, our bodies even produce it naturally! I love so many things about xylitol, but the very best part, in my opinion, is that it can be used just like regular cane sugar.  There’s no need even to make measurement conversions – just use xylitol wherever you would use regular sugar. What’s more, it tastes just like sugar. Not only is it safe for people unable to tolerate sweets, such as diabetics and hypoglycemics, but its low glycemic index makes it a great choice for anyone wishing to eat healthier. Xylitol even possesses several health benefits; perhaps the most well known is its contribution to dental health. But that’s not all xylitol does -  it even has antibacterial abilities, and it won’t contribute to candida yeast buildup like table sugar. Xylitol is available in both bags and individual packets, making it a convenient choice for baking and cooking, as well as tea and coffee.

Recommended Brand: Xylosweet- available  for $23.99/5 lb bag on amazon.com

• Proctor Silex Chopper – Affordable and user-friendly, this is one kitchen appliance that won’t sit in the cabinet. I use mine almost every day. In less than thirty seconds, the Proctor Silex Chopper will dice almost anything – garlic, onions, peppers, tomatoes, and most vegetables. I’ve even used it to dice almonds. It’s a big time saver, since chopping vegetables by hand can be a big time consumer for a cook. I won’t keep blabbing like a Home Shopping Network host, but this product is a great buy.

Recommended Brand: Proctor Silex – available for $12.99 from amazon.com

• Garlic – I can’t say enough good things about garlic. Anti-fungal and flavorful, I don’t cook very many things without it. It’s always good to have a few bulbs on hand. Garlic keeps well for quite a while, but if you’re concerned about it spoiling, you can always store it in an inexpensive garlic keeper.