When you prepare your favorite recipe for dinner, do you find yourself adding salt and butter to make it extra mouth-watering? Here in the good ole South, the more salt and butter the better (ask Paula Deen), right?
Although adding salt and butter to recipes may make them taste good, these ingredients aren’t so good for your body. Foods that have high amounts of salt in them include fast foods and processed foods.
Eating too much salt (aka. sodium) on a regular basis over time can cause an increase in blood pressure and your risk for stroke, heart disease, and osteoporosis.
The same goes for eating a diet high in animal fats, which come from foods like whole milk products, fried foods, butter and red meat. Consuming too much saturated fat can lead to strain on your bones and joints, strokes, heart problems and cancer.
Say ‘easy does it’ to these guys! Create healthier recipes by finding alternative flavorings to salt and fat.
Herbs and Spices
Instead of adding salt and fat to your foods and recipes to make them taste better, try switching to flavoring your food with fresh or dry herbs and spices.
Here are a few ideas:
| Foods | How To Flavor Them |
|---|---|
| Beef | Bay leaf, marjoram, nutmeg, onion, pepper, sage, thyme |
| Pork | Garlic, onion, sage, pepper, oregano |
| Chicken | Marjoram, oregano, paprika, poultry seasoning, rosemary, sage, tarragon, thyme, ginger |
| Carrots | Cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, rosemary, sage |
| Green Beans | Dill, curry powder, lemon juice, marjoram, oregano, tarragon, thyme |
| Potatoes | Dill, garlic, onion, paprika, parsley, sage |
| Corn | Curry powder, onion, paprika, parsley |
| Oranges | Cilantro, dill, ginger |
| Pears | Cinnamon, cloves, peppermint |
Many of the listed herbs and spices are great in foods and also can make your house smell delicious! Ginger is ideal in stir-frys, and cinnamon can be a great addition in tea.
Other Flavorings
Another way to add a healthy flavor to meal items besides using herbs and spices is by adding other ingredients to your recipes.
For example:
- Garlic can improve food flavor and it can be added to many Italian dishes and appetizers.
- Different types of vinegars can add a big punch of flavor, so make sure you add a little at a time to your liking.
- Extra virgin olive oil can take the place of using butter in most recipes and it’s a healthy fat; just use it in moderation.
- Finally, if you like hot, try adding a splash of hot sauce to a dish – it can give lots of heat and flavor. Hot sauce is also popular in the good ole South!
So don’t waste any time, try something new tonight and experience the health benefits of a culinary adventure without the added risks presented by salt and fats.