Flavor Savers

So I saw the movie Extract last night (quite funny by the way), and it got me thinking about flavoring. One of people's biggest fears when they diet is they will miss out on many salivating experiences. But nature has provided us with many natural (i.e. low or calorie-free) toppers to tantalize your taste buds.

Sandwich Sensations:

Besides the usual suspects like fat-free mayo, oil and vinegar, or ketchup (all of which are good options in moderation), there are many different toppings you can add to clubs, burgers, and wraps to drench the dryness.

-Avocado. Mash it up to a paste alone or add lemon juice and salsa to make guac and you have yourself a great substance to saturate your bread. (1/4 avo= 80 cals)
-Hummus. Add it to a simple turkey sandy. Low cal and full of flavor (1 tbls= 30 cals)
-Refried Low-fat Black Beans. Drain the can and spread a tablespoon on a chicken wrap for texture. Eden's makes a spicy organic version! (1/8 cup= 25 cals)
-Fat Free Cream Cheese. Throw it on one of the Carb Krunchers bagels, what now Einstein's?! (1 oz= 30 cals)

*Note: when you're out to eat and there aren't many options, yellow mustard is always your best bet.

Scintillating Salads:

Besides the Walden Farms zero-cal dressings I keep raving about (but seriously check them out), there are many other tasty options to garnish your greens.

-Mexican: Pick your protein and use salsa (2 tbls= 10 cal) and fat-free sour cream (2 tbls= 20 cal) to spice it up.

-Asian: Mix some low sodium soy sauce (2 tbls= 20 cal) with a splash of water and a sprinkle of Stevia (or other sweetener), to dress up a tuna sashimi salad. Skip the crunchy noodles and throw in some crushed up almonds (5 almonds= 35 cal) or unsweetened Mandarin oranges (1 oz= 15 cal) for more flavor.

-Fruity: Add sliced strawberries (5 straw= 25 cal), crushed up almonds (5 almonds= 35 cal), and Balsamic Vinegar (2 tbls= 30 cal) to any chicken salad for a fresh twist.

Dressing The Main Dish

Most marinades and glazes add a ton of extra calories from sugar. Here are a few quick spices and juices to pump up your protein.

-Salmon: Squirt of lemon juice (0 cal), splash of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (1 tsp= 40 cal), and a sprinkle of Oregano.
-Chicken: Balsamic Vinegar (1 tbls= 15 cal), Garlic powder, Pepper, Oregano.
-Ground turkey: Sprinkle on some Seasoning Salt.
-Lamb: Dijon mustard (1 tbls= 15 cal), Rosemary.
-Steak: Cook it right and you won't need anything!

*After cooking, I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Spray is great to add more flavor to the meat or on top of steamed vegetables. (5 sprays= 0 cals)