New-build homeowners are embracing wellness at home by making healthy eating one of their primary goals with kitchen design.

“When technology supports wellness at home, every meal becomes an opportunity to reinforce healthy habits,” says SKS executive chef Nick Ritchie. Wellness-focused appliances, especially for food storage and prep, make those habits effortless and more likely to stick, as they “empower healthier lifestyles by making it easier to cook nutritious meals efficiently and precisely.”

There is the added benefit with a new construction home for homeowners to look at wellness appliances holistically, to cover all aspects of healthy eating.

Here are essential appliances, features, and cooking methods to establish healthier eating in your new home.

Maximize Freshness with The Right Fridge

This is not your grandma’s fridge. Modern refrigerators come with a host of smart tech and high-tech features: smudge-proof finishes, LED lighting, multi-door configurations, and smart screens, to name a few.

When it comes to focusing on a healthier lifestyle, your refrigerator can play a bigger part than you might think. Healthy eating starts with fresh ingredients, which are better preserved with ample shelf space and high-quality features.

• Wellness-focused fridges are ideally separated into sections for meat, dairy, and produce, with various and precise temperature controls tailored to specific ingredients.
• Air filters remove bacteria, odors, and other contaminants that accelerate food spoilage.
• LED lighting is best, because it emits less heat, helping food stay fresh for longer.

Look for a refrigerator with the fridge space on top with a freezer drawer underneath to maximize space in each. You might even choose a fridge with a dual zone door that can operate as a refrigerator or a freezer, depending on your needs, or a drawer that can be set to different temperatures for drinks, produce, or deli items.

A fridge with a smart panel or glass panel on the door allows you to see inside without opening the doors, which prevents temperature fluctuations that can spoil food. And not opening the door can prevent “drive-by snacking,” too.

Choose Appliances with Built-In Healthy Cooking Options

Fresh, high-quality ingredients are only one part of a healthy eating strategy. How you prepare food is equally important, as some methods add fat and sodium, or deplete valuable nutrients.

While many healthy cooking tools are individual small appliances you would normally purchase after you move in, a multi-functional range combines sous-vide style cooking, steam oven, and an air fryer. Include a multi-functional range with your appliance package as you build, along with an induction cooktop.

Steamer or Sous Vide : Steam and sous vide cooking are effective ways to prepare moist, tasty food, while retaining nutrients. That’s because these cooking methods use slow, controlled heat to cook, without adding any fat. Not only is food healthier, but it also often tastes better, too.

Ritchie recommends SKS’s steam-combi convection oven, which “offers gourmet results while helping to maintain food’s nutritional value and visual appeal. Steam aids in gentle cooking, making it ideal for health-focused recipes.”

Designer Sharon Sherman, founder and owner of Thyme and Place Design, highlights the versatility of steam ovens beyond health benefits, noting they are ideal for vegetables, baking bread, roasting a large turkey, or cooking fish with ease.

“My favorite appliance is a steam oven, because steam is convenient and healthy,” she says. “You can reheat leftovers without changing the texture or nutritional value of the food.”

Air Fryer : Need a crispier finish? “An included air-fry rack allows for healthier, crispy dishes with minimal oil, supporting low-fat cooking habits,” says Ritchie. You can make your kitchen more efficient and less cluttered by choosing a range with built-in air frying capability.

Induction Cooktops : Their energy efficiency makes them popular, but their precise cooking makes them a must-have for healthy cooking. They heat faster than electric or gas and cook more evenly, both of which help to retain nutrients. In addition to cutting down on cooking time, induction cooktops don’t emit fumes in the same way that gas stoves do, so are cleaner for air quality.

Look for power boost options and flexible burner configurations to accommodate different sizes and shapes for pots and pans.

Clean Water Makes for A Healthier Life

Filtered water in your kitchen ensures you are cooking with cleaner water, as well as being convenient for drinking water and preparing other beverages.

In-fridge filtered water is practical, especially if there is an in-fridge ice maker for filtered ice, too.

Or, go right to the source,” says Sherman. “I have added Zip water systems in kitchens, which provide filtered, still, and bubbled water, and instant hot water, too.” Sherman recommends taking the approach to filtered water outside of the kitchen for optimal health at home.

“In mudrooms and gyms, I add built-in water bottle fillers for chilled and filtered water as you are heading out the door or need a little hydration for your workout,” she says.

The Kitchen Features New-Home Buyers Want for Healthier Living by Heather Wright | Livabl