Eating healthy can be an intimidating feat to take on. In addition to the cost of many healthy and fresh foods, it can be a hard adjustment to new flavors and textures. Martin's grocery store has some suggestions to help make the switch to healthy eating. Tip No. 1: Spice it up!
Seasonings impart flavors and aromas through compounds called essential oils. These compounds often contain antioxidants and have medicinal and anti- microbial properties. Guidelines for use: • Start with less and add more after cooking if needed. • Increase herbs and spices by 1½ times when doubling the recipe • Add dried herbs and spices during cooking. Add fresh herbs during last 20 minutes of cooking. • Keep spices in tightly covered containers away from heat and light. Check them regularly. As soon as they lose their aroma and color, they should be replaced. Tips for seasoning low sodium dishes • Double the marinating time for poultry and meat to develop more complete flavor. • Increase the amount of spices and herbs in recipes by about 25%. • With long cooking dishes, reserve about 25% of the seasonings to add during the last ten minutes of cooking; herbs should be finely crushed.
