Spice up my diet?

[AmbyRose]

Im eating mainly brocolli, cauliflower and carrots, but lots of them, and i dont want to heap on cups and cups of cheese or anything like that, im trying to keep calories low, but plain brocolli and cauliflower is getting very boring, how can i make it tastefull without adding a hundred calories?

[Matt@AnswerFitness.com]

Well, you sort of already answered your question, Amby. The best way to "spice up" your diet is to ... spice it up.

You can literally do this by adding more herbs and spices to your vegetables, or you can make some healthy, low-fat, high-flavor sauces.

In terms of herbs and spices, I would recommend keeping the following on hand:

- Lemon Pepper: Great on green vegetables like broccoli, green beans and asparagus

- Tarragon: A french herb that has a slight licorice or anise taste to it. It's very good on carrots -- especially cooked carrots with a touch of olive oil. You can buy it dried (which is good) but the fresh version is even better. It's also easy to grow if you have a flower bed available. And it will come up year-after-year once you've planted it.

- Basil: Basil is a natural when it comes to tomatoes. Fresh is the best, but dried will do in a pinch.

- Curry Powders: Curry powders are fantastic on cauliflower, and they are loaded with healthy anti-oxidents. So not only do they improve the taste of your food, but they are good for you (most of the herbs I mention have similar properties.)

- Rosemary and Thyme: Both of these herbs pack a huge anti-oxident punch and go naturally with potatoes. Try them on potato wedges baked in the oven with a quick spary of olive oil and a little salt and pepper. Very healthy and a great substitute for french fries.

- Cinnamon: Perfect with oatmeal, or make a healthy sweet snack by spreading a tablespoon of natural peanut butter on toasted whole grain bread with raisins and cinnamon on top.

- Cumin: This is a Mexican spice that goes really well with all kinds of beans. You can mix it in with refried beans or whole black or pinto beans.

Quick Sauces and Dips:

- For green vegetables like broccoli, asparagus, brussels sprouts and green beans, try Dijon mustard. After you cook them, put a tablespoon of dijon mustard in the pan with them and toss gently. The sharpness of the Dijon really sets off the flavor of green vegetables.

- Make a healthy Ranch-style dip for raw veggies with either low-fat yogurt or Quark. I've included a link below to the recipe. If you can't find Quark, use plain yogurt or low-fat Greek yogurt.

- Make a light cheese sauce with 1/4 of skim milk with a little bit of 2% sharp cheddar melted into the milk in a pan over medium heat. Add some salt and pepper as well. The calories are minimal when you prepare it this way. Use an ounce of cheese, which is under 100 calories.

- Soy Sauce: Soy sauce is a great addition to stir-fried or steamed vegetables. It basically makes any vegetable taste great.

For a great place to buy spices online, visit Penzeys. Link is includes below. Their spices are much fresher and more flavorful (and less expensive) than what you buy at the grocery store.

Hope this helps.

Best of luck!

Matt

[orisons]

Curry sauce or soy sauce might work out well (moreso if you are cooking them).

[JoyntHeir]

Try putting 2 tablespoons of non-fat Ranch dressing in a container and dipping the veggies in them. You can also steam them with a seasoning salt - there are tons of flavors in the store, you should be able to find one you like.