Dr Oz: Low-Calorie Flavor Boosters
Dr Oz brought up the issue of dealing with boring foods when it comes to eating healthy. He wanted to share some low-calorie flavor boosters that you can add to any meal you want to make. Julia Collon Davison from America’s Test Kitchen explained that we’ve been trained to think that flavor means fat. She said when you start to eat healthy, you think you have to take all the flavors off your plate, but that’s simply not true!
Dr Oz shared how you can add flavor to your favorite healthy dishes, without all the calories. (Yevgeniya Shal / Shutterstock.com)
Dr Oz: Fennel, Tarragon, & Orange Chicken
First, Dr Oz and Julia tackled flavor boosters for protein. When it comes to chicken, it’s really healthy, but it’s often hard to find ways to add flavor and keep it interesting. Julia suggested trying fennel, oranges, and tarragon. She said fennel is often overlooked and you can eat it raw or cooked. She explained that you cut off the stalks and then remove the core before slicing. She also suggested washing the fennel after you slice it. Dr Oz said it tastes like licorice.
You can also add oranges to your chicken to make it more moist. She said fresh herbs are crucial for a low-fat flavor booster, whether it’s parsley, basil, or cilantro. She suggested making a vinaigrette with tarragon and olive oil, mixing it with the oranges, and then making a packet out of aluminum foil to seal in moisture. Layer the fennel on the bottom, add the chicken on top, then add the oranges on top of the chicken. Then seal the aluminium oil and cook in the oven for 25 minutes. It also works great for fish, and with chicken it is only 50 calories per serving.
Dr Oz: Low-Calorie Broccoli Flavoring
When it comes to cooking vegetables, a lot of people struggle to add flavor in a healthy way. One woman shared that her go-to vegetable is broccoli, but she either had to add butter or salt to make it taste better. Julia shared that she should start with fresh broccoli for better flavor and texture. She suggested trying ginger, garlic, and sesame oil to add flavor.
She made a paste out of the three of them, browned the broccoli, then steamed it, added the paste to the pan and let it cook a bit, and then tossed the broccoli. Very easy! It’s only 34 calories a serving!
Dr Oz: Add Flavor To Your Potatoes
Finally, Dr Oz and Julia shared ways to add low-calorie flavor to your baked potato. Julia suggested chili powder, cilantro, and scallions on a red potato rather than a baked potato. To cook, simply brown red potato wedges while covered with foil, uncover and add the chili powder, and then toss with scallions and cilantro. You can even cut the potatoes ahead of time and keep them in water in a bowl in the fridge for a couple days.
By making them that way, they’re just eight calories per serving!
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