Just because it’s ‘healthy’ doesn’t mean it has to be boring

Healthy foods shouldn’t be bland and boring!

When someone complains that healthy foods don’t taste good, it’s often because they simply don’t know how to prepare them. Healthy foods can taste great when cooked and seasoned, to enhance their naturally delicious flavors. You can make vegetables, fish, poultry, whole grains and fruits taste great!

If you’re not used to eating healthy fruits, veggies, lean proteins and whole grains you may feel that you simply don’t like them. If your diet consists of a lot of processed foods that are overloaded with salt, fat and sugar, it could be that your taste buds are simply accustomed to these tastes.

Some tips to make your food taste good!

• Buy in season as much as possible, or purchase frozen vegetables.
• Season with garlic, onion, citrus, vinegar, herbs or soy sauce.
• Sprinkle with toasted or raw nuts, seeds, or a little shaved Parmesan cheese.
• Sauté in broth, wine or a little flavourful oil, like olive or sesame oil.
• Roast to caramelise and concentrate the flavor. Toss veggies with a little olive oil, salt and pepper and roast in a single layer in a roasting dish at 180 c for about 20-30 minutes until tender and beginning to caramelise. Using spices like paprika and cumin also adds nice flavors.
• Mix several veggies together using a rainbow of colours. Mixtures are more enticing to the eye and the palate.
• Blanch then stir-fry. Blanching is especially good for strong-tasting veggies like broccoli and cauliflower, and it helps to both season the veggies and take away some of bitterness. To blanch cut veggies, then place in boiling, salted water for 60 seconds. Drain, then stir-fry in a little oil with garlic and a drizzle of soy sauce.
• Grate your veggies if you don’t like the taste or texture of it. You won’t even know that they’re there.
• Sweeten your veggies to contrast with the strong taste. Slice a fresh apple, pear or orange into your green salad, or a few golden raisins to a broccoli stir-fry.