Eleven Tips For Meals And Snacks

Insider’s Viewpoint: Enjoy The Taste Of Eating Right

By Fruits & Veggies - More Matters

March 18, 2014

Have you seen that new cooking competition show “The Taste”? Professional chefs to amateur cooks have to cram a prepared themed entrée and side dish on a tasting spoon to serve renowned culinary experts (such as Anthony Bourdain) who judge the mere morsel and rate the chef’s fate. Imagine, one blind spoonful, could change everything for these cooks as it is literally all about taste.

Most of us are no different than these professional food critics. As consumers we tend to buy the foods we eat because we like the taste.

Nutrition is important, but likely, flavor is the true motivator and key to eating right, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. March is National Nutrition Month®, the perfect time to experiment with new flavors and flavor combinations in healthy meals in celebration of this year’s theme: Enjoy the Taste of Eating Right.

Culinary Tips to Help Make Nutritious … Delicious

Breakfast

  • Drop vanilla extract and shake ground cinnamon on that morning bowl of cooked rolled oatmeal, and toss in sliced almonds.
  • Spread crunchy natural peanut butter on your toasted multigrain waffle with just a squeeze of natural honey.

Lunch

  • Sprinkle some ground cumin and cinnamon on a can of albacore tuna while you stir in the olive oil mayo and add diced water chestnuts for an exotic tuna salad.
  • Before you roll up your usual sliced turkey and baby spinach wrap, sprinkle on chopped parsley or basil and balsamic vinegar.
  • Your usual grilled chicken salad needs a flavor burst! Just add a teaspoon of rice vinegar or grainy Dijon mustard.

Dinner

  • Consider using a high-heat cooking method that adds taste without added fat. Broil, grill or sear your lean meat or fish in a skillet.
  • Squeeze on the citrus or grate on the zest. The acidity of orange, lemon, lime or pineapple juice will give a flavor lift your dish.
  • Try a new baked potato topping. Blend 2 spoonfuls of plain Greek yogurt and a spoonful of horseradish and freshly ground black pepper.
  • Reach for the vegetable stock instead of just plain water to prepare your brown rice or quinoa.

A Sweet Ending

  • Add a spoonful of mini semi-sweet morsels on top of cherry-flavored Greek yogurt with slices of fresh strawberries.
  • Peel a Mineola orange and dip the juicy sections into melted dark chocolate.

Recipe

Broccoli Quick Salad
Servings: 12
Prep Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • â…” cup olive oil mayonnaise
  • ½ cup plain yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons sunflower seeds
  • ½ cup reduced-fat shredded cheese
  • 1 large green apple, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon dill weed
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 (12-ounce) bag pre-shredded broccoli slaw (3 cups)

Directions

  1. Mix together all ingredients except the bag of shredded broccoli & cauliflower.
  2. Pour mixture over the broccoli & cauliflower. Mix well. Refrigerate for several hours.

Recipe courtesy of Simply Healthy from your Hannaford Dietitian

Marilyn Mills, MS, RD, LD, CDE
Dietitian
Hannaford Supermarkets