Want to elevate your healthy meals with a touch of divine? If you’re looking for creative ways to spruce up your healthy diet, herbs, and spices are the way to go! Not only can they make food taste delicious, but many popular ingredients such as turmeric, cinnamon, and garlic come packed with unique health benefits.
Add turmeric for anti-inflammation, garlic to aid digestion, or use cinnamon for blood sugar control. The best part is you don’t have to worry about any extra calories– just the yummy taste that comes from combining herbs and spices in creative ways!
Get Creating with Curry
Unleash your inner chef with curry powder, a flavorful blend of up to 20 spices and herbs! This classic Indian spice mix is the perfect way to add flavor without unhealthy fats or added sugars. Mixing coriander, turmeric, fenugreek, and cumin (plus sweeter flavors like cinnamon and clove) provides an earthy yet sweet taste and serious health benefits in every sprinkle.
Enjoy curry on everything from scrambled eggs and rice dishes to stir-fry and stews for that unmistakable yellow hue filled with fragrant aromas and complex flavors. With every bite comes loads of antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties, and reduced risks for chronic diseases. Several different blends are available on the market, or you can create your own signature blend.
Transport Yourself to New Orleans with a Classic Cajun
Looking for a delicious way to add some fiery kick and flavor to your meal? Blackened seasoning is the answer! This classic Cajun-Creole blend was made famous in the early 1980s by Chef Paul Prudhomme, who used it on his signature redfish, creating a craze for “blackened” everything. This amazing blend of paprika, onion powder, black pepper, cumin, garlic powder, and more will tantalize your taste buds. Whether it’s on grilled meats or roasted vegetables – even on potatoes or in soup – you’ll be amazed at how one spice mix with its peppery aroma, earthy warmth, and herbaceous hints will elevate any dish.
Level up with a Home-Made BBQ Seasoning just in time for BBQ Season
Immerse yourself in a tantalizing aroma of sweet and smoky flavors with a dry barbecue rub. This unique blend perfectly balances tangy, savory notes from garlic and onion powder, hotness from chili pepper, and sweetness courtesy of brown sugar. Smoked paprika adds that signature deep red color and rich flavor! Whether grilling ribs or marinating chicken wings, coat generously with this unique dry rub and let the BBQ do the rest.
In a Mason Jar, combine these ingredients for a classic BBQ Dry Rub:
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or to taste)
Don’t Shy Away from Healthy Fats and Oils
Want to make your meals tastier and healthier? Look no further than healthy fats and oils! From drool-worthy avocados to good old butter for the occasional indulgence, knowing how to use different types of nutrient-dense and tasty fats can turn any simple dinner into a culinary masterpiece. Try sprinkling nuts and seeds over a salad, roasting vegetables in olive oil, or drizzling melted ghee over cooked fish. Fat adds flavour and complexity to food and brings silky balance to your taste buds.
Consider trying Interesting Additions like Cannabis-Infused Foods
The growing social acceptance of cannabis has slowly entered the food culture, especially in Canada, where cooking with cannabis is gaining traction in the culinary world.
Cannabis oils and infused foods like honey and powders are good options for integrating a touch of special into your favorite recipes.
If you want to experiment with adding the “herb” to that special dish, it’s important to make sure that you understand the dosage of THC per serving. We suggest using an edible dosage calculator and “testing” the dish on yourself first before serving it up to informed friends and family.
Like most spices and herbs, Cannabis fights inflammation in the body. But Cannabis is unique in its ability to help provide relief from chronic pain. Adding it to food can take nourishment to new heights as long as you take the time to get to know this complex plant, and how to use it.
The marijuana herb can be a healthier alternative to alcohol for helping to relieve stress and anxiety, while Curcumin found in turmeric is a powerful antioxidant. Find what works best for your taste buds (and every other body part that makes the machine work), and keep on creating. Depending on where you’re living in the US, you can get a legal medical marijuana card.
Here in Canada, we are blessed to have access to Government stores that provide a variety of quality products. Or, even better, grow your own herbs and infuse your food with fresh flavors and maybe some fun too.
Allow yourself to explore the myriad herbs and spices Mother Earth provides – chili powder can give a tantalizing kick while ginger root brings out subtle nuances you may never have tasted before. Embrace the culinary journey of discovering different spices while keeping balance and safety in mind.
Do you have a favourite spice blend you’d like to share?