Question of the Day -

What new flavor or spice have you discovered since you started changing how you eat?

For me, it's mustard.  I never thought about it before - just never really got a taste for it, but now that I've expanded my recipes - I find that I use dijon mustard in a lot of sauces - gives a nice flavor without any calories (of course - there is that evil salt thing...)

What about you?

ASPARAGUS!  I love it and had never even tried it before until about a month ago.  I eat it almost everyday now!

Salt...I NEVER salted anything until I started watching my diet.  Now, I guess I need to watch the sodium, huh?  Wow.  I'm salting my salad, my veggies, et al.  I used to butter everything so I suppose it's a little better.

Also, garlic.  I broil everything with garlic...or so it seems.

This may sound weird but hearts of palm do it for me!  It's low cal, I eat them plain (like string cheese) or you can cut them into salad.  I haven't checked the sodium but I suppose it can't be too low.  I never really worried about sodium before so I guess I should get into the habit.  I also use mustard instead of mayo when I can - or at least a combo of the two.

Garlic freak here.  lemon pepper and honey too

I have never had heart of palm. how do you prepare it and what does it taste like?  Since I started this we buy one new thing every trip to the store, the kids love it too!  Its always a new veggie or fruit.

they're very good, slappy.  I'd probably steam them and then add salt! lol  Just kidding....maybe.

cilantro- with veggies, chicken, etc- gives a Mexican flair, but very crisp and clean.

I've started pressing my own garlic rather than using garlic powder or garlic salt.  It's so much better and it smells wonderful!  The health benefits increase this way, too. 

Another garlic freak - and I love cracked pepper vs the regular stuff

I have always bee a spice freak  but as far as new things go..........I know that we talked about this yesterday... but my new one is spinach... sure I had it in salads before but I never ate it on sandwiches until now!! And I love wing sauce on sandwiches in placwe of LF mayo and it saves me like 25 calories...Also I never liked rice cakes before... Like them now and eat the cinnamon flavor for breakfast...

Kittykatz - have you tried the new multigrain rice cakes maple brown sugar?  Those are really good....on days when I need to up my calories...I smear a little peanut butter on it....

Mine is rice vinegar.  I've always liked balsamic vinegar and I'm one of those people that can sprinkle a tablespoon or 2 of it on my salad and yum!  Well, I decided to try and different type of vinegar and discovered rice vinegar.  Lots of flavor and zing not only for salads but for veggies too.

i've started putting just a pat or two on my baked potato and garlic salt. before it was several pats and regular salt, but i love garlic and one night just decided to try it. very good.

I've always used a lot of spices/herbs, but I have found a new love for balsamic vinegar and a whole new appreciation for organic foods and free range chicken and eggs. 

Organics just taste better and I feel SO much better eating foods without all the additives and preservatives.  mmmmmm.

Vinegar here, too.

Also - this is a food, is that ok? - I now love red cabbage.

I was never a cabbage eater before, but you steam a little red cabbage with balsamic, garlic and onion - YUM! It is so good, and a cup has, like, 37 calories.

vinegar definitely and sesame oil- esp. the hot pepper variety

couscous is new for me. Salmon is too

I find that I'm experimenting with a lot of different spices like cinnamon, cloves, ginger, cayenne pepper, ancho chili pepper, dill, etc. I use it to add flavour to my foods instead of salt, butter, sour cream, cheese, etc (especially on potatoes, pasta, eggs, etc)

Sambal olek  ( a hot chilli paste).  It's awesome.  I've found I eat less if the meal is spicy.

it's not a spice, but lemongrass. it has such an amazing flavour and is so nice for marinating meat/fish or in stirfries. yummmm.