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As an actress, author, business owner and full-time mom, Laura Prepon is busier than ever. While you may know her fromOrange Is the New BlackandThat ’70s Show(we can’t wait for the reboot coming to Netflix soon!) Prepon is also the face of her innovative kitchenware line,PrepOn Kitchen. She also regularly posts cooking demonstrations on herYouTube channel.
We were especially excited to sit down with Prepon through her recent sponsorship withVitaliteto discover more about her meal-prep techniques and philosophies. Read on for her go-to weeknight meal, her favorite kitchen tools and her definition of what it means to eat well.
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EatingWell:What’s a go-to weeknight meal when you need a quick dinner that the whole family will love?
Prepon:I prep ahead a bunch of basic ingredients. I always have chicken in my fridge, rice or some kind of grain and vegetables so I can throw together something quickly. I’m more of a flexitarian, there’s time where we’re fully plant-based and there’s other times where we’re meat eaters. It depends on the season and what’s at the farmers' market. Now that we’re going into winter, we have a lot of heavier ingredients like squashes and more protein, whereas in the summer we’re more plant-based. Finding really great plant-based cheese is not easy, so when I come across it, I’m very happy about it. I recently found out that my daughter is sensitive to dairy, and not being able to use cheese in toddler’s meals is not easy. So using something like Vitalite is great.
EatingWell:What’s your favorite source of plant-based protein, and how do you like to prepare it?
Prepon:Chickpeas. When we’re doing more plant-based meals, chickpeas are a really nice grounding center for a meal. You can do so many things with them; you can make them into a spread, you can eat them whole, you can mash and mix them for texture, they’re super versatile. And they’re hearty, so when we’re not having regular meats, I always like having something that’s hearty mixed with vegetables and grains to melt cheese on.
EatingWell:What’s your favorite kitchen appliance or tool that you use every day?
Prepon:It’s hard to say because my go-to’s are what I made, like my4-Piece Tool Setand mySantoku Knife, they’re my staples. Having a really incredible knife is key. I tend toward the Santoku blade, I like it better than a basic chef knife because I feel like they’re more versatile. Mycutting boardis also a staple, which includes my patent. I designed my cutting board with an arm that holds a bag in place, so that way you can scrape all the scraps right into it, and you can prep really easily. They’re sold out right now, but hopefully people can get them again soon. In general, if you have a really great cutting board that’s all-purpose, a wider-blade knife and some reusable glass containers, I think you’re good to get started in the kitchen.
EatingWell:What does eating well mean to you?
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