If you are on the GAPS diet you know the kitchen is where you are living your best life. You’re cooking, you’re cleaning, likely you’re praying to get through it all. I know I was.
This summer (2025) will mark our 8th GAPS-Aversary : 8 years since Raleigh started the GAPS diet to heal from severe eczema, food sensitivities/allergies, asthma and edema. Raleigh is no longer on the GAPS diet, he has successfully come off, but over the past near decade of learning my way around the kitchen I have tried and acquired many kitchen tools. I want to share some of my absolute favorites that helped make GAPS easier.
You can read about previous GAPS-Aversary celebrations here and here.
- First up: My water filter. We’ve had the AquaTru for a few years now and I absolutely love it.
GAPS puts a lot of emphasis on the importance of filtered water. I really can’t stress this enough, either, because if you go to the EWG website and put in your zip code you can find exactly what levels of heavy metals, and other nasty toxins come through the tap in your kitchen. Once you take a look you won’t want to be drinking from the tap anymore.
If you can afford a whole house water filter this is a great company to purchase from. If you cannot or do not want to go that route I would highly recommend the AquaTru for your drinking water. If you have access to a natural spring water in your area that is another wonderful option.
***Water filters like Brita don’t actually remove much of anything except help the flavor. I would work to get away from these types of filters when possible.
I also love this filter for the shower .
Want a truly non-toxic crock pot? This is it. I love this thing more than any other slow cooker I’ve ever used. I have a traditional crock pot and an Instant pot and this is my favorite. Now I will say, the Instant pot has far more functions and I do use mine for various tasks, so it does have value, but I love how quickly the VitaClay cooks as well as how dependable it is.
Here is a good review about VitaClay.
3. Immersion Blender
This was a tool I did not purchase until right after we began GAPS. I quickly realized how helpful this inexpensive tool was in making pureed soups. I purchased a cheap one from Target and it has done a great job. This one is similar.
4. A Good Set of Knives
If you are deciding on which big purchase to go with first when starting GAPS I would recommend the knives. You will be spending so much time chopping that it will be worth it to have a high quality set. I’d also recommend a sharpening tool if it doesn’t come with one. I have liked this one.
5. Vitamix Blender or Food Processor
We purchased a Vitamix blender for GAPS specifically and it was fantastic. I still have it but the blades need replacing. I’d highly recommend one.
A solid food processor is another good option – though I will say I do not use it as frequently as a blender.
6. Juicer
I started out with this centrifugal juicer and wore it out. I spent some time researching juicers before I purchased another and decided to try a masticating juicer for mys second purchase. Overall, I prefered the masticating option. Masticating juicers slowly grind the fruit and vegetables and preserve more of the beneficial enzymes, whereas centrifugal juicers have a bit of heating element to them that could do some damage to the juice.
Juicing tends to be a big part of GAPS and it was a big part of my son, Raleigh’s journey. We juiced a lot and I found great value in it for helping him detox. You don’t necessarily need a juicer, however. If you have a high quality blender you can easily blend everything and use cheesecloth or a mesh bag to separate the juice out.
Do you need any or all of these to start GAPS? Absolutely not. I did not have much more than pots and pans and basic knives before I started. That is all you need and you can build as you go. These items have become some of my favorite things that I really feel I got my money’s worth out of – considering how much I did use them and continue to use them.
I’d love to know what has helped you most on your own GAPS cooking journey. Please let it in the comments.
