How to Make Healthy Food Taste Good

When it comes to food, "healthy" tends to be synonymous with "boring," "bland" and "tasteless."

But if you're diabetic and trying to improve your eating habits, switching to healthier foods doesn't have to mean you compromise on flavor or satisfaction.

Here are a few easy ways to jazz up healthy food and make it taste better:

1. Experiment with seasonings.

Fresh or dried herbs can do wonders to enrich and enhance the flavors of all kinds of different dishes: meat, poultry, eggs, pasta and more. The healthiest option is to buy fresh herbs - especially pungent ones like basil, cilantro or dill - but you can also use dried or ground herbs that come in a jar.

Spice or salt blends are also a good option, just make sure you opt for low-sodium varieties and preferably blends that are sourced from organic ingredients.

2. Use bold flavors.

Expand your palate and experiment with more bold flavors. Healthy foods can easily be dressed up by making them more tangy or spicy.

Use fresh lemon juice or lemon zest on fish or salads. Add ground cinnamon to your oatmeal. Try hot sauce on your eggs or chicken dishes. Add some sharp cheddar cheese to sandwiches or lettuce wraps.

The other benefit of strong flavors (if you're trying to watch your weight) is they may actually slow down your food consumption and make you eat less.

3. Master marinades.

Since protein is such an important part of a healthy diabetic diet, learning how to master marinades for foods like chicken or fish is an easy way to make healthy foods taste better.

Simple marinades can be made with common kitchen ingredients like olive oil, fat-free salad dressings, citrus juice, soy sauce or yogurt.

4. Know your swaps.

Learn how to swap not-so-healthy foods with healthier versions that taste similar. For example, turkey bacon is a tasty alternative to regular bacon, homemade guacamole can replace dips or dressings and toasted nuts can be a satisfying swap for crunchy snacks like chips.

For desserts, many varieties of sugar alternatives are available for baking, which allows you to enjoy sweets without the extra carbohydrates.

While healthy eating can take some practice - as well as a little extra planning - it's never been easier with the plethora of recipes available online. For inspiration, try some of our favorite diabetic recipes here.

Source: Good Housekeeping, Medicine Net