LOW-CAL WAYS to add instant flavour!

Weight-loss diets don’t have to be filled with bland food. Give your taste buds a treat while still dropping pounds

- ROSE GOODMAN

LOW-CAL WAYS

When you’re trying to lose weight, it can often feel like the flavour and enjoyment of foods is compromised, especially when you’re saying no to your favourite chocolate or weekend takeaway. That’s why so many of us struggle to stick to a healthy eating regime and end up resorting to high-calorie foods. But, by adding a few simple ingredients, you can reinvent your dishes and start enjoying your meals again, even if you’re calorie counting.

DRESSINGS

Just one tablespoon of your standard Caesar salad dressing has a staggering 78 calories. And a tablespoon of Italian salad dressing has a whopping 111 calories! This means that your ‘healthy’ lunch could end up having the same calorie content as a BLT Subway sandwich. But by making your own dressing, you can guarantee you’re not consuming unwanted calories.

‘I love to make a low-calorie dressing that’s full of flavour using fresh lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, mustard, crushed garlic and chilli flakes or chilli sauce,’ says nutritionist Mays Al-Ali.

Citrus fruits, (think lemons and limes), and vinegars play an important role in healthy cooking. These acids work like salt, in that they help bring out the natural brightness of foods and work to blend flavours together. Try making a quick salad dressing with lemon juice and zest or red wine vinegar with a drop of oil – or toss veggies and grains with citrus or vinegar to brighten them up.