I find that most of the time I use when cooking is the prep time for the vegetables. I have a nice peeler (I fully recommend that one, it peels whatever you throw at it), some knives and a cutting board. It's still way more time that what I'd like to invest. I've tried some of those gadgets where you place pieces of veggies and they are diced, but the ones I've tried are flimsy for the use I give them they last a few months, is there a top of the line brand that can withstand the test of time and hard vegetables (like sweet potatoes or eggplant)? I imagine that the other option would be to perfect my cutting technique to be as proficient as a chef. Would you recommend a resource to learn how to cut like a chef? So, to sum up, can you suggest creative ways to speed that part up? 
...a sharp knife and practice...seriously.  First, there are a couple of types of peelers.  I prefer a Y peeler for most situations because, for me, I find it more maneuverable.  Peeling time is really quite minimal, unless you are prepping for a crowd.  Knife skills are probably more important, but you have to build up speed and efficiency given the need to be safe.  These knife skills begin with good, quality tools, which you must maintain to keep sharp. You then need to learn safe and efficient ways to prep various items.  Over time, you will get faster.  There is nothing creative about it.  All those "fancy" devices and tools just slow down someone who is efficient with a knife, because they have to be put together, taken apart, cleaned...etc. 