Feb Fast – Your month for kicking those healthy eating goals!
The silly season is well and truly over and 2019 is in full swing which means resolutions and goals for the year are beginning to come to fruition. One resolution I’m sure we’re all familiar with is the promise we make with ourselves year after year to get our healthy eating on track. After a festive season of enjoying all the finer and delicious things in life, February is a time for cleansing the body and making those healthy eating goals and ideals a reality.
We also know however, healthy eating needs to be fast, fresh, simple and delicious to help you stick to those goals. Here at The Spice People, we are all about adding flavour the nutritious and easy way. We believe healthy eating doesn’t have to be bland and boring so we’ve come up with a few tips to easily trick up your healthy dishes and add maximum flavour. Check out our top healthy recipes and instant, wholesome flavour enhancers below.
Salads
When you think healthy and light meals, salads immediately spring to mind. But, we’re not talking the unsatisfying and bland salads made up a few sad leaves always left untouched on the side of a plate; we’re talking colourful, vibrant and delicious dishes that are sustaining meals in their own right.
First up is our ultimate Mexican Chicken Salad. This is a salad with attitude and packed full of flavour and texture and one we are sure any salad sceptic will love! With the classic flavours of Mexico like Ground Cumin and Ground Coriander Seeds coating the chicken paired with a zesty, sweet paprika dressing and loads of fresh herby slaw, this salad is fresh, colourful and the perfect example of how healthy, wholesome food can be exciting and delicious. Loaded with Mexican black beans, corn, quinoa and sweet potato plus so much more, this salad will satisfy the whole family and won’t have anyone reaching for after dinner snacks in the pantry.
Next up is our Cos and Green Bean Salad with Middle Eastern Yoghurt Dressing; this one is a little simpler with fewer ingredients but of course, no less delicious. This green plate of goodness is made of crisp cos lettuce, green beans and crunchy pepitas, topped with a zesty Middle Eastern yoghurt dressing flavoured with fresh garlic and our Middle Eastern Za’atar spice mix. This exotic spice blend incorporates the fragrance of herbs thyme and oregano, the tang of sumac and the crunch of sesame seeds. Pair this salad with some grilled lamb (stay tuned for a recipe coming up) or chicken or serve as a cooling, fresh side to some hot curry.
Mains
Curries are an excellent way of getting a load of nutrients into your system easily and the flavour you can get with a homemade paste is second-to-none. Our Green Fish Curry is loaded with wholesome ingredients and the rich spiced flavours of Ground Turmeric and Cumin. Served atop crunchy fresh bean shoots, this curry is as healthy as it is delicious and with just a food processor and a pan, can be made in moments.
If your health kick involves hitting the gym or the pavement for some good old-fashioned exercise, it’s important to help those muscles repair with protein-loaded foods like red meat. Our Spiced Grilled Lamb Chops on the barbie coat nutrient-dense Aussie red meat in a fragrant spiced crust that is finger lickin’ good. These scrumptious chops are served with a yoghurt tahini dipping sauce and would make the perfect accompaniment to our aforementioned Cos and Green Bean Salad.
If you’re a vegetarian or simply like to partake in a Meat Free Monday time to time, we have the wholesome veggie recipe for you. Our Miso-Roasted Cauliflower combines the moreish umami flavour of miso paste with Crushed Dried Chillies in a dish that won’t have you missing meat one bit. Miso paste is not only a delicious and effective way of adding a big flavour impact but is actually packed full of vitamins, minerals and folic acid. As a fermented food, miso provides the gut with beneficial bacteria that helps us to stay healthy, vibrant and happy. A healthy gut is a happy body!
Snacks
Snacking can often be where people (including myself) stray off course when that 3pm energy slump hits. Having a snack here and there to keep you going is necessary so, if we can keep those snacks as wholesome and healthy as possible you’ll be satisfied all the way until dinner time; not spoiling your appetite or the healthy habits you’ve put in place.
Our recipe for Egyptian Dukkah-Spiced Mulitgrain Chips take what is usually an unhealthy snack and make it a wholesome one. Whip these chips up in no time using some packet multigrain wraps and our Egyptian Dukkah spice mix. Egyptian Dukkah is packed full of Middle Eastern spices, nuts and seeds; adding a big punch of flavour and a little extra crunch. Served with a yummy Greek-style yoghurt dip this snack is the perfect healthy pick-me-up.
Snacks don’t always have to be in the form of food; smoothies are an excellent way of getting vital nutrients into your body in a way that’s easy for your system to break down and digest. With the addition of spices, you can take your smoothies to the next level. Not only do they enhance the flavour of your smoothies, they are packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber and loads of other nutrients to keep your body functioning at its best. Check out our three recipes for Spiced Smoothies for a mid-morning or after school/work snack.
Some simple healthy seasoning tips
Love salt but are trying to be a little more health conscious? Give our Celery Salt Seasoning a try! Our blend of celery seeds, sea salt, thyme, sage, oregano, onion, garlic and pepper is a healthier alternative by using less salt without sacrificing flavour. Sprinkle over roast veggies, BBQ’d meats or to add seasoning to your favourite pasta dishes.
Make a family-favourite bolognaise even better with our Italian Spaghetti Herbs. An aromatic and classic blend of chilli flakes, parsley, rosemary, oregano leaves and roasted garlic that infuses pasta sauces with an authentic Italian flavour without adding loads of ingredients or buckets of salt.
Create nourishing delicious curries from every corner of the world with our Curries of the World value pack. This pack includes 10 curry spice blends that are instant flavour hits that are sugar-free and without any nasties. Just combine with a few simple ingredients and a healthy curry dinner is served in minutes!
We’ve given you a few meal ideas to get you started with your healthy eating journey but the recipes and inspiration doesn’t end there. Our website is packed with nutritious, wholesome and most importantly, easy recipes that will help you kick off healthy eating on the right foot and stick to it.
Also, be sure to download our free Ebook ‘Master the Art of Seasoning’. This guide teaches you how adding a sprinkle of this and a dash of that can add huge flavour the healthy way!
