Add Flavor to your Favorite Foods

How do you add flavor to your favorite foods without piling on the calories? Below are my favorite ingredients for adding the biggest punch of flavor without an ounce of guilt.

5 Seasonings under 5 Calories:

Garlic: Garlic is delicious and good for you too! Garlic has been shown to lower blood triglycerides and total cholesterol. A few cloves of chopped garlic can add depth to your marinades, sauteed vegetables, dressings, and more. Try roasted garlic to add flavor to mashed potatoes instead of butter. Coming in at only about 4 calories per clove, I recommend you indulge freely, then brush liberally!

Hot Sauce: Add zip to any dish with a dash of your favorite hot sauce. Try some hot sauce sprinkled over your egg white omelet for a spicy spin on your usual breakfast. A teaspoon of your typical hot sauce has zero calories, yes, zero! Just beware of those buffalo wing sauces which often have butter added.

Fresh Herbs: Fresh herbs are one of the most versatile ways to change up a recipe and make it more exciting. I like tarragon in my chicken salad and cilantro with corn on the cobb. Best of all? Herbs have only about 1 calorie per tablespoon.

Citrus Zest: I absolutely love to use citrus zest in soups, sauces, and even sweets. The zest of lemons, limes, and oranges contain super concentrated flavorful oils that add a beautiful aromatic freshness to your foods. Lemon zest is my secret ingredient in delicious risotto, and refreshing fruit salad. Only 3 calories per tablespoon!

Spices: From cumin to cayenne, cinnamon, to turmeric, whatever dried spices you reach for to season your curries, tacos, chilis and barbeque, you can do it with a guilt-free conscience. A little goes a long way and on average, a 1/4 teaspoon has 0 calories! Try a spice rub for grilled chicken with garlic powder, chili powder, cumin, and cinnamon.