This is Starter Kit, a series where our editors share the food, drink, and kitchen essentials they recommend when you’re setting up from scratch. Here, Andrea Strong writes about everything you'll need to stock your kitchen—from protein shakes and prebiotic sodas to air fryers and greens powders—for your healthiest year yet.
If you're coming into 2026 looking to prioritize wellness and self-care, you're not alone. But good intentions are only part of the equation—you'll also need a plan. The world of wellness is wide and wonderful, but it can also be overwhelming. That's where we come in.
Our Starter Kit cuts through the clutter and delivers (and defines) everything you'll need—from drinks and supplements to appliances and tools—to support your wellness goals. We've rounded up all the wellness essentials our Bon Appétit editors have personally vetted to give you the very best recommendations for starting your year off on the right foot.
Drinks
There's no shortage of beverages claiming to support your health, but not all of them live up to their promises. These are the standouts we've found with revitalizing doses of protein, antioxidants, prebiotics, and more.
A good option for kicking off your morning or reviving an afternoon lull is matcha. The "it" beverage is loaded with antioxidants and L-theanine, an amino acid known to provide jitter-free, sustained energy. Editorial operations manager and self-professed "daily matcha drinker" Kate Kassin has tried dozens of brands and stands behind Rocky's Matcha Oishi Ceremonial Blend. "This ceremonial blend has virtually no bitterness. It's smooth, rich, and savory but is still great for daily drinking, whether as a tea or latte," she says.
Want a functional boost in your morning coffee? Consider Atlas's supplemented instant coffee, Atlas+ Latte Superblend. The coffee is creamy and cocoa-like, with about half the caffeine punch of a regular cup. Senior commerce editor Noah Kaufman admits he's no dietitian and thus won't claim whether or not the purported benefits of mushroom coffees are real, but he "found [himself] awake but not jittery after drinking it for a couple of weeks." At night, reach for Clevr's Sleeptime SuperLatte loaded with adaptogens, passionflower, hops, and magnesium glycinate, which may support longer, lovelier rest. "It's the best sleep aid I think I've ever used," raves Kaufman.
Protein is another powerful way to keep your energy sustained throughout the day. The latest innovation in this category means many are now formulated as grab-and-go protein shakes, making them not only good for you but convenient tagalongs for your in-and-out of the gym activities. Be sure to check out Fairlife Core Power Elite with an impressive 42 grams of protein and Rebbl Protein Shakes, made vegan with coconut milk and up to 36 grams of protein. Both earned top marks in our taste test of bottled protein shakes.
Swapping soda or seltzer for a prebiotic or probiotic soda is a great way to incorporate gut health into your wellness plan. While both prebiotics and probiotics focus on digestion and gut health, they work in different ways. Prebiotics feed good gut bacteria, while probiotics are the living, beneficial microorganisms that add to the healthy microbial population in your gut. We've tasted a dozen "healthy" soda brands and have recommendations for both categories. In the prebiotic space, Olipop's sodas are packed with nine grams of prebiotic fiber per can. These high-fiber, low-sugar sodas have been found to promote a better-for-you blood sugar response in patients with diabetes in a clinical pilot study. Looking for probiotics? Go with Culture Pop, made with DE11, a clinically tested strain of Bacillus subtilis known for its resilience in the digestive system. It's sweetened solely with fruit juice in flavors like Strawberry & Rhubarb and Ginger Lemon & Turmeric.
Healthy snacks
Stock your pantry with a variety of better-for-you snacks that nourish.
Protein bars are easy to stash in a pocket or backpack, ideal to reach for as post-workout fuel or when you're feeling hangry and want something to fill you up. Some of our taste test-approved bars are from RXBAR, made from egg whites, dates, and nuts that pack in 12 to 18 grams of protein per bar in appealing recipes like chocolate sea salt, peanut butter, and blueberry. Plant-based Aloha bars are loaded with 10 grams of fiber and an impressive 14 grams of protein in flavors that sound decidedly decadent: pumpkin spice, banana bread, and oatmeal chocolate chip. The highest-protein option comes from David, which commerce writer Alaina Chou describes as "sort of doughy and far less chewy than an RXBAR or Quest Bar, with chunks of chocolate and crispy bits strewn throughout."
For a non-bar protein option, stock up on some form of jerky. It's come a long way from the days of shrink-wrapped logs of mystery meat. Chomps, for instance, is made from grass-fed and finished beef, delivering 10 grams of satisfying protein and zero sugar. The company makes several flavors in beef, venison, and turkey recipes—taco-seasoned, jalapeño, habanero, and smoky barbecue—giving you a big bang of flavor.
Some other healthy snacks our editors love include Ella's Flats seed crackers, which are naturally full of protein, fiber, vitamins, and healthy fats; Amazi, a dried fruit brand that's revolutionized the fruit snack space with dehydrated pineapple, jackfruit, and plantains; and Wilde high-protein chips. Made not from potatoes but from chicken breast, egg whites, and bone broth, Wilde chicken chips are thin, crispy, and packed with 10 grams of protein per serving. They're "infinitely more satisfying than a bag of Lays," according to Chou. They come in a variety of flavors like barbecue, chicken and waffles, and salt and vinegar.
Meal & grocery delivery
Cooking elaborate healthy meals is one of those aspirational goals that lives in a world where time is infinite. Sadly, time is quite finite, which is where meal and grocery delivery services come in. The best ones make cooking healthy meals seamless, stress-free, and fun without time-consuming menu planning and multiple trips to the grocery store. As a bonus, they can also introduce you to new techniques, ingredients, or hacks that'll inform your approaches to home cooking more broadly.
Looking for healthy meal kits? Sakara is the best option for health heads with allergies and sensitivities. It specializes in plant-based, gluten-free prepared meals that prioritize nutrient-rich foods. The brand's Signature Nutrition Program allows you to choose between three or five days of breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, or just lunches and dinners. It might be a little pricey, but former commerce editor Carina Finn says it's "worth it." Purple Carrot is another terrific option offering chef-crafted, globally inspired plant-based meals—peanut tofu ramen, tacos dorados, and Korean fried "chicken"—delivered weekly. As an omnivore, Chou was skeptical about whether a vegan meal kit could be satisfying or tasty, but after testing the service for two weeks, she can confidently say "I'd gladly do it all again."
When it comes to healthy grocery shopping, Thrive Market is an oasis for online shoppers searching for a one-stop marketplace that offers truly anything and everything you need to launch your inner wellness warrior—healthy snacks, probiotic sodas, farm-fresh produce, pastured meats, and more. Hungryroot is a grocery delivery service meal kit hybrid. If you choose to add "recipes" to your weekly order, your box will include a recipe card with suggestions for how to easily combine some of the provided ingredients into quick-and-easy meals like Kevin's Bulgogi Beef with Broccoli and almond chickpea cookie dough. Finn said Hungryroot made it much easier for her to cook healthy meals at home.
Pantry staples
A well-stocked pantry is key to wellness planning. You'll want a low-lift array of quick and easy products—boxed, canned, tinned, what have you—to turn into a healthy meal or nourishing snack, saving you from a greasy night of takeout or the effort of a full-blown meal.
Start with breakfast. We tested a dozen varieties of protein cereal and loved Magic Spoon, which packs 14 grams of protein into every bite. "If you're an OG Fruit Loops lover, you'll be pleased to know that, flavor-wise, the Magic Spoon Fruity Cereal was the closest thing I tried that compared to the original," says Chou. Seven Sundays is another favorite—its ingredient list is short and simple with no artificial sweeteners in sight.
For meal starters, we recommend basics like high-protein pasta, beans, bone broth, and tinned fish. High-protein mac and cheese like Goodles is both nutritious and delicious. Made from wheat flour, chickpea protein, and wheat protein plus vitamins extracted from veggies, it's a BA team favorite and a great blank canvas for a fast weeknight meal. Add frozen broccoli or peas into the boiling water during the last few minutes of cooking for an easy upgrade.
Heyday's preseasoned canned beans are a no-brainer for a can-to-plate dinner with brown rice. They're built from intensely flavorful ingredients like lemongrass, kimchi, and gochujang—think coconut curry chickpeas and enchilada-style black beans. (If you just have a regular can of beans on hand, jazz it up yourself with these 6 quick meals our editors make with a can of beans.) Epic Foods' Chicken Bone Broth adds next-level richness to ramen or noodles thanks to a gelatin-rich base that's almost creamy. The flavor is good enough to drink on its own. Fishwife's tinned smoked fish is a game-changer for salads, sandwiches, or snacking straight from the tin. The smoked salmon with Fly By Jing chili crisp is a showstopper. Pro tip: If you have nori, cucumber, or scallion on hand, use it to make little hand rolls.
Supplements
Stroll down the supplement aisle in your local Whole Foods, and it's easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer number of gummies, powders, and potions promising to change your life in a scoop or two. There's a lot of noise to cut through in this space.
Let's start with greens powders. They all make some different specific claims, but the idea is that "[greens powders] are a concentrated source of nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and in some cases pre- and/or probiotics. It's getting you this high dose of superfoods in a small package," says registered dietitian and culinary nutritionist Kristy Del Coro, MS, RDN, LDN. And because we can get all of these benefits from eating plants, Del Coro stresses that these greens supplements should be treated as exactly that—a supplement, meant to be taken in addition to but not in place of a balanced diet of whole fruits and vegetables. "The idea is that for people who have trouble eating all those dark leafy greens, they're getting this as a form of insurance—kind of like people take a multivitamin," says Del Coro.
Looking for a gummy to deliver nutrition? Senior commerce director Abbey Stone is partial to Grüns and has been taking them every day for over eight months. These work like a greens powder but are easier to grab on the go thanks to their single-serving pouches. Vitamin-rich and made from fruits and vegetables like kale, spinach, spirulina, and strawberries, each eight-gummy pack contains 100% of your daily recommended value of vitamins A, C, D, and E, folate, biotin, and doses of iron, zinc, and other nutrients.
While gummies are great for on-the-go convenience, greens powders aim to pack in all the good stuff into one tall glass of water. If you're not into the strong taste of grass, Factor Form Daily Greens may be the powder for you. In our review of greens powders, our testers found that Factor's Daily Greens were "pleasantly refreshing." "This is a powder we could see ourselves drinking daily—not a small feat in the world of greens supplements," writes Chou.
Protein is an essential nutrient that plays a number of important roles in the body, including supporting muscle growth and maintenance and aiding in recovery after exercise, so it's no surprise that protein powders should be an essential part of your wellness journey. There are a number of whey protein varieties, but our favorites after testing more than 40 powders are Factor Form and Thorne Whey Protein Powder. Looking for a vegan powder? Try Form Pureblend Protein, made with a mix of pea, brown rice, and pumpkin protein.
Finally, hydration and balance are important, particularly for those of us who like to have a good sweaty workout. Electrolyte powders help with the fluid balance in our bodies, replacing lost sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and chloride, making sure your body stays in sync after a strenuous workout. If you’re a longtime Gatorade devotee looking for an alternative that may be better suited to the average active person, the doctor-developed electrolyte packets from DripDrop should be in your arsenal. With seven grams of added sugar and a more modest amount of sodium than some of the other options on this list, they’re an ideal pick for anyone who’s exerting themselves to a decent extent, but not at the intensity level and duration of a pro athlete. They’re also tasty–sweet but not overly so, incredibly refreshing to down post-workout, and available in 13 different flavors.
Appliances, tools & accessories
Now that you've got a pantry properly stocked with a roster of powders, broths, tonics, and supplements, a few home appliances and cooking tools are key to bringing it all home. First, consider an air fryer if you have the counter space. It can deliver crispy results without the deep dive into oil. A favorite in our Test Kitchen is the 6-Quart Cosori TurboBlaze Smart Air Fryer, which produces evenly browned and crispy fries, alongside juicy chicken breasts and perfectly cooked Brussels sprouts.
If you like to make your own juice, don’t be deterred. We know juicers have a reputation for being messy, bulky, and more trouble than they’re worth, but the best juicers available today tell a different story. Modern machines have made big strides in design and efficiency, and juicing at home has never been simpler. A staff fave is the super quiet, super powerful Nama J2 Cold Press Juicer. And while a nut milk maker might seem like overkill, machines like the Nama M1 Plant-Based Milk Maker are surprisingly simple; they not only save money on buying carton after carton of alt-milk, but also allow you to choose exactly what does (and does not) go into your morning milk.
A good blender, or smaller personal blender, is key if you’re planning to make protein shakes and breakfast smoothies. While older models struggled to get the job done, today's crop of blenders—like the high-powered Vitamix 5200 blender—make velvety soups, the best-tasting smoothies, and pulverize solid ingredients without overheating.
If you’ve got the space, a few other options to add to your home appliance repertoire are an ice cream maker for whipping up a batch of protein ice cream, a matcha set, and a nice milk frother, for lattes and such.
