Eating the same thing day after day can get a bit old, and sometimes “healthy” food can taste a bit bland by itself.
Sometimes you need a little extra boost to your meals and snacks if you want to spice things up or add variety. Stick to whole, fresh ingredients as well as minimally processed foods and sauces. Here are some of my favorite examples!
Mustards
There are so many varieties (just stick to ones without added sugar e.g. honey mustard) – spicy mustard, regular mustard, Dijon, etc.
Seasoning mixes
E.g. Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel Seasoning, Mrs. Dash blends, Trader Joe’s Lemon Pepper Seasoning, Primal Palate seasoning blends, etc.
Salsas
Salsa is pretty much just vegetables! There are so many varieties of salsas too – pico de gallo, chunky salsa, spicy salsa, you name it.
Grated Parmesan cheese
A little bit can go a LONG way, and a canister of grated Parm cheese can last a LONG time.
Salad Dressings
My rule of thumb is to choose dressings with less than 50 calories per 2 Tablespoons. Dressing itself isn’t very filling – so don’t waste your calories here!
Sauerkraut
This one is good for your gut too! Sauerkraut is just pickled veggies – very low cal and can even substitute for a salad dressing.
Pickles
Very similar to sauerkraut! Try to choose pickles without added sugar (so unsweetened, or non-sweetened).
Low-Sugar Ketchup/ Catsup
Whole Foods and bigger grocery store grains sell this – and it is a great option if you love Ketchup. Save on sugar and calories.