Let's Get Started

First and foremost, if you have any food allergy, or for any reason, have been advised by a physician that you should avoid any food or ingredient, absolutely avoid it.  I cannot be held responsible for you eating something that you know you shouldn't.  Please use a substitute instead, if it's a seemingly necessary component.  I will have links to substitute lists if you need a quick reference.

As I said in another post, there is a start-up cost for eating healthy.  Think of it this way, though:  you won't have to order expensive specialty food from a diet organization, and as long as you have a good stock of your basic ingredients on-hand, you won't ever have to go grocery shopping when you really don't feel up to it.

One of the best investments is a vacuum sealer for food storage.  I can't recommend a brand, as this is an item that I've not yet purchased for myself.  However, I know that even in off-the-shelf plastic "zip" bags, food tends to go bad if not used quickly or frozen.  Therefore, vacuum sealers are a better investment in the long run, but disposable bags will do in the meantime for shorter term storage.  I would recommend buying some inexpensive rectangle baskets to stack your bags in, whether they are "zip" bags, or vacuum sealed.  From what I understand, there are some vacuum sealers that have jar attachments, so that you can "can" things as well.  Never having "canned" in my life, I really don't know how that works.  Yet.  It's on my to-learn list.

Alternatively, you may wish to purchase some larger food storage containers with lids.  Seriously consider the cost of the bags, baskets, and/or containers before deciding against the vacuum sealer.  What works best for one person, won't work for everyone.

I just put a manual citrus press on my wish list! This is why:  5 Reasons to Drink Lemon Water  

I really like the type that she has, a counter-top model with a manual lever.  They can be found pretty cheaply on eBay and Amazon.  However, upon reading reviews on a couple of inexpensive models on Amazon, I'm re-considering buying a plastic hand-held or bottle-top model instead.

Other items on my wish list include a pasta maker and pasta drying rack (and a handy-dandy ravioli stamp, although a knife and fork will do for cutting and pinching rectangles).  I plan on testing out some home-made pasta recipes using GF flours.  I don't care for any of the store-bought GF pastas that I've tried so far, and I've heard that fresh pasta tastes far better anyway.  My theory is that fresh GF pasta *has* to taste better than store-bought, right?

If you're switching over to GF (and perhaps other allergen-free) foods, it's said that you should replace your cookware that has previously touched allergen-laden ingredients.  I would think you could just wash them really well, but I've read that it doesn't fix the problem.  I'm no expert on that, either.

Whether you're going to "can" or not, a few canning jars can't hurt.  I haven't learned the ins and outs of canning and storing food in such jars yet, so I don't know what kind of sealing is necessary per block of time that you'll be storing the food.  I plan on making my own condiments, sauces, and dressings--so I will need canning jars for sure.  For short-term storage, you may be able to just clean out the jars you've bought with the store brands in them.   However, judging by the tip about cross-contamination from containers/cookware previously touching allergy-laden ingredients, you may want to just start fresh with new jars. 

Another thought on this is, the recipes may make more than those containers can hold--so you may need extra containers anyway.  I know that when I made my own taco seasoning not long ago, I had to use a larger storage container than I expected.  My estimation would have been about half the size that I wound up with!  The spaghetti sauce recipe that I use only makes a little more than necessary for one meal, but I'd like to make some in advance, for days that I don't feel up to making it on the spot (and really, if I can pour a little off from each batch, I basically get a "free batch" with none to waste!).

I promise, as I learn to "can", I will post tutorials for that, too; along with a "necessary equipment" list.