Just because food is healthy doesn’t mean it has to look or taste bland. In fact, eating fresh, nutritious foods with the right, flavorful ingredients, colors and textures can add that amazing zing to your diet. You don’t have to be restricted to kale chips or counting calories all day long. There are tons of simple ways to arouse your taste buds, eat nourishing foods and maintain a balance.
Marinating Your Proteins
We all look for moist and flavorful results when it comes to cooking proteins, including fish, poultry, or tofu, for example. Here is where a little marinating can enhance a healthy dish and amp up the deliciousness factor.
Fish and chicken come alive when you blend in a vegetable, fish, or chicken stock. Then kick it up a notch with garlic, lemon, or oregano. Marinating is easy with a few quick tips.
The experts say that fish and seafood only need a short marination time of about 15 to 30 minutes. Chicken pieces can be marinated for up to two hours before they toughen. Also, always keep the marinating item in the refrigerator, and do not marinate at room temperature.
Considering The Crunch
For a lot of folks, food with incredible texture catches the eye and the appetite, and this is another excellent way of bringing everyday healthy recipes to the next level. All you need is a little sprinkle of this or that.
One chef recommends adding pumpkin seeds to your morning oatmeal or midday snack of Greek yogurt. The seeds are yummy, crunchy, and come with essential fatty acids that provide great nutritional value. You could also try chia or hemp seeds for that flavorful zing to spice up your fresh and healthy meals. Dried cranberries are delightful in salads and have that chewy quality that many people long for in their meals.
Lovin’ Lemon Juice
If there’s one citrus fruit that can transform just about every dish on the planet, it is lemon. That’s right. A sprinkle of lemon juice can be an incredible balancing ingredient that enhances the healthy recipes you are making.
Whether it’s a little lemon added to your homemade salad dressing, or sprinkled in your soups, and topping your seafood and favorite veggies, iced tea, or green tea, this is good stuff for the body. Lemons are full of vitamin C, help to cleanse the body, are rich in potassium, and more. The tartness is ideal in so many dishes and creates just the right flavor of sourness and richness.
Having Fun With Fruit
Fresh fruit can play a key role in your healthy meal plans, and there are so many ways to enjoy these wonderful foods that always bring beautiful color to any dish.
For example, most fruit is quite versatile and can be the high point to especially snacks and desserts. You can cut wedges or slices of fruit and dip them into healthy dips or your favorite yogurts.
Fruit is an instant smoothie companion for your protein shakes and delivers that appealing texture and flavor. You can always buy frozen fruit, but nutritionists recommend buying fresh fruit in season to get the best benefits. Pineapple, blueberries, watermelon, apples, grapefruit, kiwi, and avocado are some of the yummiest and most nutritious of the bunch.
Getting Creative With Veggies
When it comes to eating vegetables, you have a large variety of choices, but still, some people find them boring. To add more interest to veggies, try these chef’s tips:
Frozen vegetables are okay, but for a more refined taste and nutritional value, buy fresh and in season. Dress up veggies with soy sauce, vinegar, herbs, or garlic. Or saute them in olive oil, sesame oil, broth, or wine. You can roast vegetables in the oven for an exquisite, mellow taste, and all you need is a little olive oil, salt, and pepper.
You can also add sweetness to your veggies by adding slices of orange, pear, or apple. Use your tasty imagination. Healthy meals are good for every “body” at every age, and eating nutritiously doesn’t have to mean boxing yourself into a boring diet plan. Try our favorite tips here, and elevate your taste buds!
