Healthy Kitchen Awards 2023
Meet The Experts
WH editors joined forces with chefs, nutritionists, food industry insiders and actual food-lovers to curate the ultimate list of kitchen must-haves.

Nicci Robertson
The founder of
Re-Invent Health, Nicci is a clinical nutritionist, author, functional nutrition practitioner and master practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming and Psycho-Neuro Immunology.

Lerato Mphahlele
Lerato is a popular Tiktok content creator known for her engaging videos and a professional quantity surveyor. Her recipe videos feature easy-to-follow steps that make cooking accessible to everyone.

Georgia Roux
A self-confessed foodie who loves wholesome food, Georgia is the face behind A Bite Of Vegan. She’s a food photographer, vegan recipe developer and blogger and has been vegan for seven and a half years.

Kiara Lipschitz
Kiara is a registered dietician whose goal is to help people restore a healthy relationship with food and their bodies, while reaching their desired outcomes. She posts informative videos on her TikTok page, @dietitian.kiara.

Liziwe Matloha
Liziwe is the author of cookbook Dinner At Matloha’s. She’s also a food editor, TV personality, brand ambassador, chef, recipe developer, wife, mother and host of cookery classes. Find her on Netflix’s The-Cook-A-Long.

Claire Julsing Strydom
Claire is a registered dietician and co-founder of Nutrition Solutions. She also developed the PCOS BOSS programme for women to support women with PCOS and change their health in a sustainable way.
need-to-haves
These items are the true champions of your kitchen, the unsung heroes behind every dish.

A Square Baking Tin
“My most used baking tin; it’s perfect for chocolate brownies, blondies, bars and cakes,” says Georgia.
WH Suggests: Le Creuset Square Cake Tin

A Sharp Knife Set
“These cut like a dream and I use them for everything – from savoury dishes and dicing veggies to chopping chocolate or nuts,” says Georgia.
WH Suggests: Wusthof Classic Starter Knife Set

A Set Of Chopping Boards
“A chopping board helps prevent cross-contamination, protects my countertops from damage and provides a clean and safe surface to prepare food on,” says Kiara.
WH Suggests: Joseph Joseph Folio Regular Chopping Board Set

A Whisk
“A good whisk covers a multitude of kitchen sins. I love the fact that it has so many uses – from mixing, mashing and even making pap, there are very few kitchen mishaps a whisk can’t fix,” says Lerato.
WH Suggests: OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Balloon Whisk

A Cooking Pan
“I swear by a cooking pan because I use it to cook a wide variety of dishes – from searing meats to sautéing vegetables and making sauces,” says Kiara.
WH Suggests: Tramontina Professional Iron 30cm Frying Pan

A Stainless Steel Colander
“This is useful for everything – from washing fresh produce to draining pasta,” says Nicci.
WH Suggests: OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Colander

A Kitchen Scale
“Baking requires such precision and I use this all the time to make sure I’m adding just the right ratios of ingredients,” says Georgia.
WH Suggests: Zwilling Enfinigy Digital Scale
Good-to-haves
These kitchen items might not be absolute must-haves, but they’re so darn good that you won’t want to leave them off your kitchen wishlist. Plus, they add a touch of convenience and flair to your cooking routine.

A Coffee Machine
“My coffee machine is one of my favourite appliances that I use every single day and I would go insane without it,” says Georgia.
WH Suggests: Nespresso Vertuo Next

Glass Mixing Bowls
“I love making new recipes and baking with my children. I have a stack of glass mixing bowls that get used so often in our home,” says Claire.
WH Suggests: Pyrex 3l Glass Mixing Bowl

A Microplane Grater
“Such an overlooked kitchen tool but I highly recommend it because not only is it so versatile, but easy to use, too. Gone are the days of trying to grate cheese or lemon zest with those bulky, heavy graters with poor results,” says Liziwe.
WH Suggests: Microplane Gourmet Fine Grater

Good Quality Pots
“This may sound so cliché but a set of good quality pots is an absolute must-have. Not only can they last one a lifetime, but they make cooking less stressful and cook perfectly every time,” says Liziwe.
WH Suggests: GreenPan Cambridge 4.9L Casserole

Glass Storage Containers
“I can’t stand plastic storage. It discolours and smells bad. Glass won’t leach chemicals into your food and always look great,” says Nicci.
WH Suggests: Bake N Lock Food Storage With Easy Snap Lids Set 10 Piece

A Blender
“It can turn a handful of ingredients into a delicious smoothie, a creamy soup or even homemade hummus, making it an essential addition to my kitchen,” says Kiara.
WH Suggests: NutriBullet Blender Combo 1000W

A Lemon Squeezer
“I add lemon to so many dishes and drinks. I have two lemon trees in my garden so I make use of lots of lemons – and the squeezer really comes in handy,” says Claire.
WH Suggests: KitchenCraft Lemon Squeezer

A Kettle
“A kettle is definitely up there on the list of top appliances – I mean – coffee!,” says Claire.
WH Suggests: Cuisinart Cordless Temperature Control Kettle
Nice-to-haves
They’re not only essential for beginners, but as you gain cooking experience, you’ll appreciate the convenience and versatility they bring to your kitchen.

A Stand Mixer
“A good mixer with all the attachments. My Kitchen Aid was one of the first things I bought myself and I know it will last me a lifetime,” says Georgia.
WH Suggests: KitchenAid Artisan 4.8L Stand Mixer

An Airfryer
“By far my favourite tool is the air fryer (I have two). I love that you can cook just about anything in it, in half the time and with a fraction of the electricity,” says Nicci.
WH Suggests: Instant Vortex 5.7l Air Fryer

A Food Processor
“There’s pretty much nothing that can’t be made in a good food processor,” says Nicci.
WH Suggests: Kenwood Multipro Express Weigh+

A Gas Stove
“Not only can it be used to cook a wide range of dishes, but it’s also a reliable cooking source, especially during load shedding,” says Kiara.
WH Suggests: Whirlpool 75cm Stainless Steel Gas

A Stick Blender
“I prefer a stick blender over traditional bulky blenders. It’s super easy to use and wash. I love that it’s easy to store, and easy to carry with when travelling (especially for those fresh smoothies),” says Liziwe.
WH Suggests: Braun MultiQuick 7 Hand Blender

Microwave
“My kitchen fighter because [it] saves time, has multiple uses and makes my job in the kitchen easier,” says Lerato.
WH Suggests: LG 56l NeoChef Solo Microwave Oven
WH Editors' Choice
Ah, the coveted “Editor’s Choice” – the kitchen item or ingredient that our culinary enthusiasts simply can’t live without. These are the tried-and-true essentials that the Women’s Health team uses almost daily. Here are the team’s top picks:
Coriander
“I cannot live without fresh coriander. It’s a star ingredient, in my books, that brings the dullest meals to life. I particularly use it in my homemade chilli pastes, vegetable curries and salads.”
Kemong Mopedi, Deputy Editor
Editor’s Choice: Microgreens Grow Kit
Bean To Cup Espresso Machine
“I drank instant coffee for years before buying a bean-to-cup coffee machine and I will *never* go back. This one is so simple to use; just fill it with water and your favourite beans, press a few buttons and you have perfect coffee, every time.”
Kelleigh Korevaar, Managing Editor
Editor’s Choice: Philips 1200 Series Automatic Bean To Cup Espresso Machine
Ceramic Baking Dish
“When it comes to my kitchen
must-haves, my trusted baking dish is the real kitchen MVP. It’s not just any old dish; it’s my culinary sidekick, my secret tool and the unsung hero behind all my mouthwatering creations. From whipping up ‘paptert’ to crafting heavenly malva pudding, this dish’s got my back.”
Chamain van Zyl, Online Editor
Editor’s Choice: Le Creuset Heritage Rectangular Dish
Lemon Squeezer
“I can’t live without a lemon squeezer. I use lime and lemon in EVERYTHING I eat – and this helps get every drop.”
Gotlhokwang Angoma, Editor
Editor’s Choice: Cilio Lemon Squeezer
Air Fryer
“When I first got an air fryer, I gave it away! But upon moving to a place with no oven, I’ve come to rely heavily on this tool to quickly cook sweet potato, toast slices of bread and even bake cookies! It’s a godsend.”
Michelle October, Features Editor
Editor’s Choice: Bennett Read 22l Air Fryer Oven
Microplane Grater
“Because of its sharp and precise blades, it’s perfect for zesting lemons, garlic and even Parmesan.”
Pia Hammond, Creative Director
Editor’s Choice: Microplane Gourmet Fine Grater
The Cookbook Collection
From celebrity chefs to culinary classics, these books will inspire your next kitchen masterpiece. Get ready to whip up some serious deliciousness!

5 Ingredients: Quick & Easy Food by Jamie Oliver

Heavenly & Healthy Foods by Brookdale Health Hydro

Dinner at Matloha’s by Liziwe Matloha

Ottolenghi Simple by Yotam Ottolenghi

Veg: Easy & Delicious Meals for Everyone by Jamie Oliver

Ramsay in 10: Delicious Recipes Made in a Flash by Gordon Ramsay
power foods
Our team picks the healthiest and tastiest items to shop for in 2023.

A1 Fruit Water
We’re big fans of this water for good reasons: It’s made by infusing fresh sparkling water with real South African Fruit, creating a healthy, tasty and refreshing drink. Fruit Water is sugar-free, with zero calories, sweeteners or preservatives. Need we say more?

Happy Culture Water Kefir Wild Berry
Get your glug of nutrients on the go. This fruity drink is harmoniously paired with the subtle yeastiness and living goodness of kefir. It’s high in vitamin B12 and contains no sugar.

The Harvest Table Bone Broth Powder
Though broth claimed superfood status a few years ago (thanks, paleo), it’s still a thing today. Some swear its health benefits include everything from settling your stomach to helping build and strengthen your bones, helping fight inflammation and improving sleep and brain function.

Smartbite Multigrain Quinoa Chips Tomato
Looking for a healthy snack? These quinoa are the ones. Plus, they are a good source of protein and fibre.

Frozen Risotto
Although risotto rice has fewer vitamins than whole grains, it delivers rapid energy to the body. Best of all, risotto can boost immunity and improve digestion. Try: Woolworths Frozen Wild Mushroom Risotto. “My family loves risotto but it can take a little longer. The 8-minute one really takes 8 minutes,” says Claire.