It’s no surprise: some condiments are healthier than others. For instance, full fat mayonnaise adds more fat and calories to your diet than mustard or balsamic vinegar. If you are concerned with weight loss, next time you are adding a little flavor to your salad or sandwich, reach for a condiment that offers the best health benefits. Some of the best:
- Mustard, which is made from ground mustard seeds, is one of the best antioxidant foods around. Don’t just add it to your sandwiches. Mustard is also great as an ingredient in salad dressing, or for zipping up fish or chicken dishes.
- Salsa is low in fat and provides vital servings of fruits and vegetables for healthy nutrition. Use it as a dip for baked tortilla chips, as a topping for baked potatoes and as a sauce for grilled chicken.
- Wasabi, best known as a spicy condiment for sushi, is a great low-fat way to amp up the flavor of any number of foods. Try it as an addition to mashed potatoes, or mix it with soy sauce and oil for a zingy salad dressing.
- Horseradish is a root vegetable that is in the cruciferous family. Like other plants in that family, it is high in cancer-fighting antioxidants. Plus, it is low in fat. Pick up a root the next time you visit one of Rochester Hills’ farmers’ markets, and add it to marinades, mashed potatoes or other foods.
- Cranberry sauce is a condiment that most people only ever eat on Thanksgiving. However, it makes a great low-fat addition to sandwiches and savory meat dishes all year long.
- Yogurt makes a great replacement for sour cream. Try it on top of baked potatoes or chili.
- Chutney is fat-free and adds a novel and exotic flavor to your dishes. Try it on a chicken breast sandwich or as a dressing for roast pork.
