Trying to eat healthier in 2026? Here's what 5 dietitians recommend buying

"I love PackIt’s Large Bento Box because it lets me pre-chop vegetables for easy snacking or to add to meals throughout the week. It keeps chopped veggies crisp and fresh, and the removable dividers allow you to adjust each compartment based on how much of each vegetable you’re storing. If eating more vegetables is on your 2026 goals list, pre-chopping them at the start of the week makes it quick and easy to add veggies to meals or snacks." — Sarah Glinski, RD

Related: The best portion-controlled meal prep lunch boxes

"One roadblock I frequently hear when it comes to eating more produce is the feeling that it’s expensive and goes bad quickly, leading to unnecessary food waste. One of the best ways I’ve found to avoid sad, soggy raspberries just a day or two after buying them is by investing in a set of produce containers with removable colanders.

"By allowing airflow and preventing produce from getting smushed at the bottom, these containers help extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables. They’re also easy to stack and clean. Plus, because they have lids, you can easily bring them to a friend’s house or a picnic." — Kelli McGrane, MS, RD, Yahoo Wellness Editor

"Mason jar salads and soups are easy to prep on the weekends, so people have a grab-and-go lunch option on busy workdays. Smaller mason jars can be used for overnight oats and chia pudding." — Lauren Manaker, MS, RD

There’s no shortage of mason jars to choose from; however, we like these glass jars with bamboo lids for their aesthetics — because, yes, looks can make healthy eating feel a little more special. Another perk: unlike metal lids that can rust over time, the bamboo lids don’t and are easy to hand-wash. As a bonus, the jars are available in multiple sizes to suit a wide range of uses.

"I’m going to be honest: I’m not a fan of reusable bags for meal prepping. Yes, I know they’re more environmentally friendly and should, in theory, save me money, but I’ve yet to find a brand that’s easy to keep clean and in mint condition for more than a month or two.

"That said, because I’m trying to cut back on plastic where I can, I’ve started using compostable food storage bags, especially for freezer storage. One of the best habits I’ve adopted is making large batches of foods — think spinach banana muffins, pumpkin pancakes, veggie egg bites, butternut squash mac and cheese cups and sweet potato empanadas — and freezing whatever my family won’t get through in a week. These bags take up less space than glass containers, help prevent freezer burn and include space to label the contents and add a use-by date." — Kelli McGrane, MS, RD, Yahoo Wellness Editor

Related: The best nontoxic cooking utensils

"My must-have kitchen gadget recommendation for the new year is a citrus squeezer. It’s great for making your own salad dressings and marinades, and for adding a splash of lemon or lime to your water to encourage better hydration." — Lisa Andrews, MEd, RD, LD, founder of Sound Bites Nutrition, LLC

The Zulay Kitchen Metal 2-in-1 Lemon Squeezer is a no-frills option that works with both limes and lemons — and adds a nice pop of color to your kitchen. It's easy to hold and won't break the bank.

"I was sent this Instagram-worthy blender to test, and admittedly, I figured I’d use it a couple of times before reverting back to either my Magic Bullet or my larger Ninja. I’ve owned it for almost two months now, and I can honestly say I use it every day — sometimes multiple times a day.

"The Mighty 850 Plus is sleek — meaning it doesn’t take up too much valuable counter space — yet powerful enough to make velvety-smooth green smoothies, herb-based sauces and protein shakes with ice or frozen fruit. The glass containers are both attractive and easy to clean, and the multiple container sizes and lids make it a truly versatile appliance. I usually have at least one homemade sauce stashed in the smaller container in my fridge, while the medium one gets cleaned daily for protein shakes and the larger one gets put to work throughout the week for sauces, soups and two-serving smoothies." — Kelli McGrane, MS, RD, Yahoo Wellness Editor

"Silicone muffin tins are a versatile tool for meal-prepping healthy, portion-controlled meals and snacks. They’re perfect for making egg muffins — a protein-packed breakfast that can be customized with veggies, cheese and lean proteins — and stored for busy mornings. You can also use them to make mini meatloaves, energy bites or even frozen yogurt cups." — Lauren Manaker, MS, RD

We like the Vinino silicone muffin pan in particular because its metal-reinforced frame makes it easy to move in and out of the oven — and if you’ve ever had muffin batter spill everywhere thanks to flimsy silicone molds, you’ll appreciate the added stability. That said, non-reinforced pans are typically more affordable; just be sure to place them on a baking sheet for proper support.

"The Ninja Creami makes it easy to create frozen treats at home using simple, nutrient-dense ingredients. It’s ideal for blending canned pineapple or peaches (packed in natural juices) into sorbets, making it easier to enjoy more fruit with no added sugar. You can also use it to turn protein shakes into higher-protein, lower-sugar ice cream–style desserts, offering a satisfying and nutritious option when a sweet craving hits. With full control over the ingredients, it’s a versatile way to enjoy refreshing, nutrient-packed desserts." — Lauren Manaker, MS, RD

"Feel like cooking takes too much time? My number one trick for cutting down prep time is investing in a food processor with an S-blade and a shredding attachment. Trust me on this one: if spending time chopping and shredding vegetables into small ribbons or pieces isn’t your idea of fun, you’re going to love owning a food processor.

"And the best part? You don’t have to spend a lot to get a quality option. The Hamilton Beach Food Processor costs less than $100, yet comes with all the attachments you need to prep healthy meals — including an S-blade, shredding disk and spiralizer (hello, zucchini noodles). The motor is plenty powerful, and operation is straightforward." — Kelli McGrane, MS, RD, Yahoo Wellness Editor

"Yes, it’s 2026, and I just jumped on the air fryer bandwagon about six months ago. As someone who doesn’t eat a lot of fried foods anyway, I assumed it would just be a bulky appliance that collected dust on my counter. And while I was partially right — it is quite bulky — I was very wrong about the dust. In fact, I use my air fryer multiple times a week.

"Whether you’re looking for an easy way to prep veggies — if you haven’t tried air-fried broccoli with a little fry seasoning sprinkled on top, you’re missing out — or a healthier way to crisp up sweet potato fries, chicken or fish, I promise you’ll use the Ninja Air Fryer more than you probably realize. While it won’t fool anyone into thinking you deep-fried your food, it will deliver a satisfying crunch in about half the time it would take in the oven.

"Greek yogurt donuts ready in just 8 minutes? Don’t mind if I do." — Kelli McGrane, MS, RD, Yahoo Wellness Editor

"Another reason people struggle to eat more nutritiously is that they don’t know how to make whole foods taste craveable. If you want to do yourself a big favor in 2026, don’t go on a diet — spend time building your understanding of flavor instead. Learning how to balance flavor and developing an intuition for which foods pair well together can make healthy eating far more enjoyable.

"Two of my favorite resources for this are Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat by Samin Nosrat and The Flavor Bible (which also has an excellent vegetarian-focused version). Research shows that people who cook more tend to eat more fruits and vegetables compared with those who cook less often. And you’re more likely to cook when you feel confident you can create something you’re going to love." — Shauna McQueen, MS, RD, founder of Food School

"I follow a lot of food blogs, but one I consistently return to is WellPlated, which is why I quickly snatched up Erin Clarke's cookbook when I saw it was officially available on Amazon. The recipes are beginner-friendly, yet flavorful enough for more seasoned home cooks. I also appreciate that they’re designed to be leftover-friendly, making packing lunches the next day a breeze. Sure, you could look up recipes online, but I’ve found that having a physical cookbook is faster and far less overwhelming than sorting through millions of options on the internet." — Kelli McGrane, MS, RD, Yahoo Wellness Editor

"Despite being a dietitian with recipe development experience, figuring out what to make for dinner every night — something my young kids will eat and I’ll enjoy — can be exhausting. I’ve been following Amy Palanjian for five years, and many of her recipes have become staples in our household. The spinach pasta and Greek yogurt pizza dough show up at least once or twice a month in our rotation.

"What I love most about Dinnertime SOS is that, like Palanjian's blog, the recipes are easy to make, don’t require specialty ingredients you can only find at niche stores, and are truly family-friendly. Every recipe includes a photo, which makes this book especially helpful when I let my kids flip through and decide what looks good to them. I also appreciate that the explainer content is just as helpful as the recipes." — Kelli McGrane, MS, RD, Yahoo Wellness Editor