Tip of the Day

6 Ways to Add Flavor to Your Food

Adding flavor to your food without high-fat ingredients like cream or butter is easy. Even grandma's recipes can be altered to be more healthful by using low-fat or fat-free versions of food items. However you approach your recipe makeovers, keep flavor, texture and appeal as priorities.

Here are some flavorful ideas:

1. Intensify the flavors of meat, poultry and fish with high-heat cooking techniques such as pan-searing, grilling or broiling. These cooking techniques brown meat and add flavor.
2. Experiment with herbs and spices: basil, chives, cilantro, rosemary, garlic, ginger, caraway or cumin.
3. Sharpen up the flavor with cheese. Add parmesan, sharp cheddar, romano, feta, asiago or blue cheese to vegetables, rice or pasta.
4. Intensify flavor with dried ingredients: sun-dried tomatoes, dried mushrooms, dried cranberries, dried apricots, dried plums (prunes), dried figs and red pepper flakes. Plump sun-dried tomatoes and dried mushrooms in broth or cooking wine and dried cranberries or dried plums in apple juice.
5. Pep it up with peppers! Use red, green and yellow peppers of all varieties — sweet, hot or dried. Add a dash of hot pepper sauce or jalapenos to spice things up.
6. Add a tangy taste with citrus juice or grated citrus peel: lemon, lime or orange.  Acidic ingredients help lift and balance flavor.

For tips and healthy recipe ideas, visit our Eat Right Nutrition Tips section and consult a registered dietitian in your area.

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