Simple Tricks to Make Dieting Taste Good

Dieting does not mean that you should have to eat the blandest foods just because they are good for you. In fact, by following some simple techniques and incorporating some easy tricks into your daily meal prep plans, you can actually make dieting taste good. Check out the tips below to get started.

Just a Little Bit of Salt

When you are eating healthy foods, you can undo the good in them by adding too much salt. But this certainly does not mean that you have to cut out salt completely. Instead, it simply means that you need to use small amounts of salt—preferably sea salt—to make dieting taste good without putting your health at risk.

You can also use salt for sweating or brining vegetables in order to reduce the amount of moisture that they contain, or you can avoid salt and instead use fermented vegetables like capers to add flavor to your foods. Other options include coconut aminos, olives, and pickled vegetables, which can all add a bit of a salty flavor without being overpowering.

Sweetness Without the Sugar

Just because you want to add sweetness to your meals does not mean that you have to add sugar, which would obviously be a bad idea. Instead, sprinkle a bit of fresh fruit or dried fruit onto your meal, or add pure maple syrup or honey. And when it comes to preparing vegetables, you can add a sweet flavor by roasting them.

Try New Cooking Methods

Think you don’t like vegetables? Maybe you’re not making them in a way you enjoy! If boiled asparagus isn’t your cup of tea, discover how great it tastes when you grill it or when you roast it in the oven with a touch of olive oil and garlic.  The result is like an entirely different vegetable! Therefore, just because you didn’t like a veggie prepared one way, it doesn’t mean you need to give up on it.  Preparing it differently can change its flavor, appearance and texture!

Choose the Right Foods for the Right Meals

It’s easy to think you don’t like a certain food if you’ve used it wrong.  For example, fully matured spinach can taste very bitter when you eat it raw, such as in a salad.  If you don’t like the taste of spinach, add it to soups or stir fries.  Fully matured spinach is far better when it is cooked down as it is milder and other flavors can help to blend with it.  Similarly, baby spinach – that is, young spinach picked before it can grow to its full leaf size – is much milder.  This is the variety best enjoyed raw. It tastes delicate in a salad, but can be bland when cooked, because it is too mild to stand up to the other ingredients.

Go Natural with Dressings

Natural dressings, such as balsamic vinegar or rice wine vinegar, can be the perfect way to season your salads to add a lot of flavor without undoing your diet progress. Add some olive oil, salt, and pepper, along with some whole wheat croutons that have been flavored naturally with herbs in order to make a filling salad that is bursting with nutrients.

Try Dairy Free

When attempting to lose weight, it is a good idea to avoid fatty dairy products. But if you are worried about missing out on the flavors of dairy, rest assured that there are plant-based alternatives that will help make dieting taste good. Try vegan ice cream from brands like Ben & Jerry’s, or add some cheddar shreds from Daiya to your favorite taco recipes.

Use Herbs and Spices

One of the healthiest ways to boost your meal’s flavor profile without spiking calories is to add herbs and spices.  Learn more about herbs by testing recipes that use them.  That said, don’t just blindly add these ingredients according to the recipe.  Pay attention to how the herbs and spices are used.  Find out when they’re added to a recipe.  Learn the types of ingredients that pair well with them.  Find out which combinations of herbs and spices combine best.

Take the time to pay attention to how they taste and smell.  Learn the difference between using fresh versions and their dried varieties.  The herbs and spices you use can make dieting taste good in an immeasurable number of ways.  They can make a recipe more savory, spicier, or give it a little something fantastic you can’t even put your finger on.  The same recipe with different herb and spice combinations can be transformed into something completely unique, even when every other ingredient is the same.

Even better, most herbs and spices come with a range of additional health benefits.  Some have thermogenic properties.  Some are great for your heart.  There are antioxidants and anti-inflammatories.  Many have cancer fighting properties. No matter which ones you choose, there have likely been health benefits associated with them over the years.

Now that you know how to make dieting taste good, you can prepare meals that will not only help you shed those extra pounds but will also be enjoyable to eat. Your entire family will end up loving the healthy foods that you prepare because they will be packed with flavor and energizing nutrients.