15 ways to add flavour without calories

Eating healthy and within your energy budget doesn’t have to be bland. Below are my top 15 ways to add flavour without calories.

The truth is that individuals who find it difficult to control their food intake should stick to bland foods. However, it is more enjoyable to eat tasty food and there are ways of doing so without sacrificing your energy budget.

15 ways to add flavour without calories

Below are my top choices when it comes to adding flavour without adding too many calories.

1. Pepper: freshly ground pepper makes a huge difference when it comes to flavour. Try different peppers: black, white, red, Sichuan.
2. Monosodium glutamate (MSG): yes, MSG has a bad name but in reality, MSG is not evil and most people are not really sensitive to it. MSG’s job is to open up your tastebuds, allowing them to taste more flavour.
3. Citrus: lemon/lime/orange/grapefruit juice or zest, preserved lemon
4. Vinegar: balsamic, white, malt, white wine, red wine, sherry, apple cide, rice
5. Hot sauce: choose one without added oil or sugar
6. Fresh herbs: parsley, coriander, basil, rosemary, oregano, thyme, tarragon, chives, etc.
7. Dried herbs: parsley, coriander, basil, rosemary, oregano, thyme, tarragon, chives, etc.
8. Spices: paprika, smoked paprika, cumin, coriander, turmeric, curry powder, cinnamon, etc.
9. Mustard: wholegrain, Dijon, American, hot English, powder
10. Fresh chillies: many chillies have flavour in addition to heat. If you can’t tolerate much heat, bigger chillies tend to be less spicy, but there are exceptions.
11. Dried chillies: whole or in flakes. Experiment with whatever is available to you (e.g. Aleppo, Urfa) but check it doesn’t contain added oil.
12. Sugar-free condiments: sugar-free ketchup/BBQ sauce
13. Soy sauce: use salt-reduced or gluten-free if needed
14. Dried mushrooms: dried + reconstituted porcini/shiitake/wild mushrooms, porcini powder
15. Brine: as mentioned in the reusing flavour post, the brine from pickles and fermented vegetables (sauerkraut, kimchi, etc.) are wonderful ways to adding flavour to meals withouth extra expense nor calories

[Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash]

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