At Elite Miami Personal Training, we know that when you think about all of the things people use to add flavor to their meals, you might wonder how anyone who eats a “low calorie” diet ever eats anything that tastes good. We grow up seeing our parents or grandparents douse their food with butter, gravy, oil, mayonnaise, sour cream, and other foods high in fat. In result, we see foods that aren’t smothered in heart attack as bland and boring. It isn’t so! You could add a lot of pizzazz to your cooking without clogging your arteries or adding to your waistline.

Elite Miami Personal Training has a few ways to add flavor to your meals without adding extra calories.

* Amazing Flavor #1- Balsamic Vinegar
This fragrant liquid is like gold when you add it to your meat marinades, sprinkled on steam veggies and salads, even added to pasta. It is calorie free and can easily turn a boring meal to one that makes the salivary glands jump for joy! Add flavor to chicken breasts combining balsamic vinegar with crushed garlic and salt and pepper and bake in the oven for a juicy, flavorful protein!

* Amazing Flavor #2- Mustard
Mustard comes in so many different flavors and almost all are calorie free. The traditional yellow mustard is a good substitute for mayonnaise to make your sandwiches a better choice for weight loss. Dijon mustard is a creamier version that is great on cauliflower. There is also spicy brown mustard that is good with meats, especially roast beef.

To make the creamy Dijon cauliflower, simply steam the cauliflower until about five minutes before ready. Spread the mustard over the cauliflower and cook for five more minutes. That’s it! Simple, right? It sure beats the plain cauliflower or cauliflower swimming in butter.

 

* Amazing Flavor #3- Herbs
Nature provides us with a wonderful array of tastes through the many different herbs. Basil, oregano, parsley, dill, thyme, tarragon, do I need to go on? These green beauties are rich in antioxidants and great no calorie addition to give food a more pleasing to the mouth taste. They are twice as good when fresh. Herbs are universally used for meats, veggies, salads, and starches.

Simply choose your favorite herbs and keep them on hand. Herbs can easily be grown in pots around your house to make them accessible and cheaper to use. A good recipe that uses a lot of herbs is herb encrusted roasts. Roll the roast in chopped herbs and garlic, making sure to cover all sides. Cover while it cooks to keep the moisture in the herbs and infuse the flavor into the meat.

* Amazing Flavor #4- Lemon or Lime

The citrus fruits, lemon and lime, have minimal calories and can be very useful in adding a little something to your meal. It is especially great for salads, seafood, and chicken. It can be squeezed over veggies as well. It is a great addition to any marinade.

Two great uses for lemon is over steamed broccoli and Chicken Limone which takes lemon juice mixed with chicken broth and spices tossed with pasta, chicken, and veggies. Or you can mix limes with salsa for a salad dressing, and squeezed into spicy soups and broths for a delicious zest.
Now, that you have these tips from Dubail Fitness, it’s time to get creative in the kitchen. What other ways can you think of to add flavor to your meals without adding calories?

Eat Clean and Live Lean,

David Dubail
Elite Miami Personal Training
305-859-2345