21 Spices for Healthy Holiday Foods
Resisting the allure of salty, fatty, and sugary delights becomes particularly challenging during the holiday season. There's an undeniable desire to savor the special dishes and treats that hold sentimental value, especially in the midst of the pandemic. With physical distancing and canceled gatherings, giving in to indulgence may seem like a way to extract joy from the season.
Nevertheless, it's essential to exercise resilience. While the occasional taste of marbled roast beef, buttery mashed potatoes, or chocolate pie is acceptable, overindulging in these delights can result in weight gain and heightened levels of blood pressure, blood sugar, and "bad" LDL cholesterol.
Instead, opt for a healthier approach. Forego the excessive use of butter, cream, sugar, and salt, and enhance the flavors of your meals with herbs and spices.The bounty of nature's flavor-makers go beyond enticing tastes, scents, and colors. Many herbs and spices contain antioxidants, flavonoids, and other beneficial compounds that may help control blood sugar, mood, and inflammation.
Amp Up Holiday Foods With Herbs and Spices
Explore the rich world of flavors by incorporating a variety of herbs and spices from the list below into your culinary creations. Channel your inner food chemist and venture into unique combinations for a taste experience like never before. The more you embrace a diverse range of herbs and spices, the greater the enhancement to both flavor and health benefits. Consider this a gift you can relish throughout the entire year.
Allspice: Enhance breads, desserts, and cereals; complements savory dishes like soups, sauces, grains, and vegetables.
Basil: Incorporate into salads, appetizers, and side dishes; relish in pesto over pasta and in sandwiches.
Cardamom: Ideal for breads, baked goods, and Indian dishes such as curry.
Cilantro: Season Mexican, Southwestern, Thai, and Indian cuisines.
Cinnamon: Stir into fruit compotes, baked desserts, breads, and Middle Eastern savory dishes.
Clove: Perfect for baked goods, breads, and pairs well with vegetable and bean dishes.
Cumin: Accentuates Mexican, Indian, and Middle Eastern dishes, as well as stews and chili.
Dill weed: Include in potato dishes, salads, eggs, appetizers, and dips.
Garlic: Add to soups, pastas, marinades, dressings, grains, and vegetables.
Ginger: Excellent in Asian and Indian sauces, stews, stir-fries, beverages, and baked goods.
Marjoram: Enhance stews, soups, potatoes, beans, grains, salads, and sauces.
Mint: Elevate the flavors of savory dishes, beverages, salads, marinades, and fruits.
Nutmeg: Stir into fruits, baked goods, and vegetable dishes.
Oregano: Delicious in Italian and Mediterranean dishes; complements tomato, pasta, grain dishes, and salads.
Parsley: Enjoy in soups, pasta dishes, salads, and sauces.
Pepper (black, white, red): Season soups, stews, vegetable dishes, grains, pastas, beans, sauces, and salads.
Rosemary: Experiment with vegetables, salads, vinaigrettes, and pasta dishes.
Sage: Enhance grains, breads, dressings, soups, and pastas.
Tarragon: Add to sauces, marinades, salads, and bean dishes.
Thyme: Excellent in soups, tomato dishes, salads, and vegetables.
Turmeric: Essential in Indian foods; pairs well with soups, beans, and vegetables.
Healthy Living in Maryland
If you need help getting your health on track this holiday season, please contact us today. Bowie Internal Medicine is committed to the overall health and preventative care of our patients.