Dealing with your sweet-tooth (volume two) ....

This week we're going to discuss some ways to incorporate sweetness into your diet and your cooking. The idea here is that we might be able to ward off the desire for sweets by "convincing" your palate that you've already had some.

According to the American Dietetic Association, it is possible to convince your taste buds that you've added sweetness to your food by pairing up certain spices with certain foods. The philosophy is that certain spices will enhance the natural sweet flavors of certain foods, thus making you feel as though you have experienced sugar or honey, when in fact you have not.

If you don't mind the thought of playing head-games with yourself, read on...

1. Use ginger in combination with fruit and fruit glazes to accentuate the natural sweetness of the fruit.

2. Try adding cinnamon to your morning breakfast cereal or oatmeal. Breakfast cereal can be a good and filling morning meal as long as it isn't heavily sugared when it is made or prepared. Cinnamon, sprinkled on top of the cereal, will complement the starches in the grains in a way that accentuates the sweetness.

3. Add some nutmeg or cinnamon to cookies and rice. The nutmeg produces a flavorful "bite" that enhances the sugar, while the cinnamon does the same for cooked rice. The rice/cinnamon combination can even be enjoyed as a dessert.

4. If you haven't given up caffeine (see our archive for why you should) you add some spice to your coffee or tea that might preclude the need for cream or sugar. Try mixing and matching the following as you brew up the next pot: cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, allspice and ginger.

5. Use vanilla to add a sweet flavor to things. Vanilla can be added to coffee, puddings and baked goods of all types.

6. Try seasoning cooked carrots with cinnamon. Steam the carrots, drain them, then sprinkle with cinnamon, toss and serve. If you have kids, reserve some without cinnamon and give them a few of each. Ask them whether they prefer the "regular" carrots or the "sweet" carrots. Giving them a choice will help to prevent them from rejecting them outright as something "strange" or new.

7. Serve sweet potatoes instead of potatoes or rice. Adding some cinnamon to the sweet potatoes will help accentuate the natural sweetness and might remind you of a Thanksgiving treat! No marshmallows though!

You will have to experiment with the amounts and types of spices that you use. Start with a little and add more as you go.

Variety is the spice of life. Let spice add variety to your healthy cooking so that your life can be longer and healthier!


We'll talk to you next week!

References:
http://www.eatright.org American Dietetic Association

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