Some foods, while great for you, can taste a little plain all by their lonesome. But before you reach for the sugar jar or salt shaker, peruse these great toppers for everything from your oatmeal to your veggies.
Few things are healthier than a big juicy salad-but not when you douse it in blue cheese dressing and dump on the croutons. But don't think you need to choke down your salad dry. Look here for ways to gussy up your greens.
Salad Tip: Combined with a lean protein such as chicken or shrimp, a salad is a great lunch, except that it's missing healthy fat. Pick any fat from the list below. The key is moderation. Pay attention to serving size!
- Jarred Veggies: pepperoncinis, sundried tomatoes (not packed in oil), roasted peppers
- Nuts and seeds: almonds, walnuts, pistachios, sunflower seeds, or pumpkin seeds
- Healthy oils: Olive, sesame, coconut, walnut, macadamia, or hemp seed oil
- Sauces and Spreads: Marinara sauce, salsa, pesto, hummus, baba ganoush
- Balsamic or Apple Cider Vinegar
- Miso (mix with a liquid first!)
- Fruit: grapes, chopped apple, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, mango, or watermelon
- Avocado
- Jicama
- Olives
- Lemon juice
- Nutritional yeast (a flaky powder packed with vitamins that tastes like cheese!)
- Light bottled dressings (Galeo's and Annie's make particularly good ones)
Oatmeal is a true breakfast of champions, but not when it comes with freeze-dried apple bits and tablespoons of sugar. Build a better bowl that will power you through any test or workout!
- Fruit: bananas, apples, pears, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, cherries, prunes, mango
- Canned pumpkin
- Nuts and seeds: almonds, walnuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pecans, macadamias, hemp seeds, ground flaxseed
- Peanut butter or nut butters
- Cacao nibs
- Unsweetened cocoa powder
- Unsweetened shredded coconut
- Bee pollen
- Spices: cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, cardamom, coriander
- Stevia (a non-caloric, all-natural sweetener)
Water is the stuff of life. It keeps your skin clear, your mind functioning, and your metabolism high. If you have problems chugging your H2O, however, look ahead.
- Lemon or lime slices
- Orange wedges
- Cucumber slices
- Crystal Light
- Unsweetened Ice Tea mix
- Tea: create a hot cup of your favorite tea and chill it. It'll taste just as good cold!
Very few Americans get their daily recommendation of veggies. Considering vegetables keep your system in prime condition, you should be scarfing them by the plateful. Alas, some kids just hate their veggies. Here are a few great toppers to make even the foulest Brussels sprout a gourmet treat.
- Sauces and spreads: marinara sauce, salsa, pesto, bbq sauce (low sugar variety like Stubb's), hummus, baba ganoush, low fat tzatziki, soy sauce (reduced sodium)
- Healthy oils: coconut, olive, walnut, sesame, macadamia, flaxseed
- Greek yogurt (for a taste like sour cream)
- Balsamic or Apple Cider vinegar
- Light butter (such as Brummel & Brown or Smart Balance Light)
- Low fat cheese or feta
- Cottage cheese
- Flaxseeds
- Nutritional yeast
- Spices and herbs: any and all!
Mimi H.
O2 Max Fitness
http://www.o2maxfitness.com
