Confession: I don’t meal plan every single week. Some weeks I know I thrive well with planned meals. Other weeks I want to have more flexibility in the kitchen to experiment and practice my cooking skills. Regardless of which option I choose, I want my food to taste good. Most importantly, who wants to eat boring chicken and salads every day of the week? Plus, if you’re a busy mom like me or tired in pregnancy or postpartum, then you know that meal time has to be quick and easy.
I used to buy dressings and sauces in the store. When I started making my own, I realized it was EASY and way healthier. As an added bonus, they tasted better too. Now don’t get me wrong, there are weeks when it’s all about convenience. For the most part, making a quick enchilada sauce or salad dressing takes minutes and I typically have the ingredients on hand.
As an added bonus, I get to control what types of ingredients we consume – less sugar, more healthier fats, and less additives. Plus, if you have any family members or friends with food allergies, So how do I keep food tasting great AND healthy?
My top three tips for adding healthy flavor to meals:
- Make a quick salad dressing, sauce, or marinade. I prefer to make one dressing to use for the entire week on salads or vegetables. In addition, I choose high quality extra virgin olive oil and vinegars for enhanced flavor. While I don’t spend much money on store bought dressing, I do shop at a local oil and vinegar shop which makes my dressings taste even better (not required). Need insipiration? Check out my healthy salad dressing, marinade & sauce guide.
- Try a balsamic glaze. Drizzle roasted vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, green beans, sweet potatoes, and carrots with a high quality balsamic vinegar when they come out of the oven. These are heavenly!
- Use spice blends. If you don’t want to keep a ton of spices on hand or if you want to save a few minutes of prep time, try buying or making your own spice blends. For instance, I like to keep my go-to taco, fajita, and Italian seasoning on hand to make flavoring meals a breeze. Double check salt and sugar content on store-bought blends.
Need more help reaching your goals? Check out our wellness guides here.
