Low Calorie Flavors

purpledream89

Hello all! I'm looking for some ideas. I've been making my food pretty bland (no BBQ sauce, less graveys) to cut back on calories and honestly 2 weeks into it - I'm sick of it and miss tasting stuff LOL.

Can anyone please recommend me some low-calorie flavor options?
I went to town with Franks red hot on my chicken last night... that's and mustard are like the only things that I can currently come up with.

kommodevaran

How low are you cutting? Real food has real flavor.

kimny72

I found the problem usually isn't using sauces and condiments, it's overusing sauces and condiments. I put butter on my veggies, ketchup on my eggs, and barbeque sauce on my chicken when I was losing, just a lot less and more mindfully. Are you aiming for too large a deficit?

I also use/used hot sauce, garlic salt, lemon pepper, and vinegars.

VUA21

Hot peppers! Low calorie, lots of flavor!

purpledream89

Well here's the problem - if the condiment is in front of me I will overuse no matter what. I have trouble backing away from it. I will dump 6 tablespoons of ketchup on one burger and it doesn't taste ok unless I do that. LOL. BBQ sauce FORGET IT. I can cook with less for sure but it just doesn't taste right to me. (i love dipping things into sauce don't judge lol.)

I know I can still choose to do this and still lose as long as i watch what else i put into my mouth - but I'm trying to explore other lower calorie options. Who knows - i may find something new to love that I can dump on and love.

and im working with 1200-1400 Cals per day.

nutmegoreo

Spices. I love lemon pepper for chicken.

purpledream89

crazyravr wrote: »

purpledream89 wrote: »

Hello all! I'm looking for some ideas. I've been making my food pretty bland (no BBQ sauce, less graveys) to cut back on calories and honestly 2 weeks into it - I'm sick of it and miss tasting stuff LOL.

Can anyone please recommend me some low-calorie flavor options?
I went to town with Franks red hot on my chicken last night... that's and mustard are like the only things that I can currently come up with.

Walden Farms.

OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
YOU ARE THE BEST

nutmegoreo

Just be mindful of serving sizes. Labeling laws allow them to say 0 cal when there is less than 5 cals. So if a serving size is 1 tsp and there is actually 4 cals per serving (you'll need to look it up), and you use a large amount of them you are still consuming many calories.

colorfulcoquette

I really like this bbq sauce And I'll second Walden Farms - I'll add their chocolate sauce in my coffee and it is amazing!

purplepool03

I am going to try the ketchup and bq sauce.

cwolfman13

herbs and spices...that's what they're there for

pinggolfer96

Ewwwww “Walden harms”
Have fun pouring acidic battery acid on your food . Also they’re not completely zero calorie.
Lemon and vinegar tastes better on food...

skelterhelter

colorfulcoquette wrote: »

I really like this bbq sauce And I'll second Walden Farms - I'll add their chocolate sauce in my coffee and it is amazing!

I second the G Hughes BBQ Sauce. Tastes just as good as regular and super low cal. Also, what about trying packets of either dry ranch (like Hidden Valley) or Italian herbs to flavor chicken?

apullum

Salt.

Seriously. Unless you have a medical reason to restrict your salt intake, make sure you're salting your food. It makes a huge difference.

Other than that, sriracha.

livingleanlivingclean

apullum wrote: »

Salt.

Seriously. Unless you have a medical reason to restrict your salt intake, make sure you're salting your food. It makes a huge difference.

Other than that, sriracha.

Salt and spices are my best friends.

debtay123

Have you tried the bolthouse salad dressings- I love them and they have a lot of flavors-

ncgirl8

I use cajun seasoning, ginger, and cinnamon (not all together!!) and a few of the walden farms products.

funjen1972

I use fat free greek yogurt to make dips and creamy sauces. It's high on protein and only has 120-140 calories per cup depending on the brand.

Cbean08

You can make creamy sauces using non fat greek yogurt, water and a seasoning packet. It's still calories, but far less than a bottled sauce.

Also, just a warning. The Walden Farms stuff isn't going to taste like the real thing, so brace yourself. Don't expect actual BBQ sauce or actual ketchup. If you do, you will be extremely disappointed. It's not necessarily bad.... just different

DancingMoosie

Cholula, trappey's, pace,fresh squeezed lime/lemon, lemon pepper, trechas, acv, mustard, nutritional yeast, any seasoning you like.

Candyspun

I’ve replaced many sauces with low calorie versions where possible/needed.

I love the low calorie salad dressings from Aldi. We also use lower calorie tomato and barbecue sauces. I haven’t changed over my mustards, because they were low calorie to start with (Dijon and whole grain), and I only use a small amount, anyway.

bioklutz

I love Stubb's anytime sauce: green chili, sweet black pepper, sriracha.

Lawry's has some decent marinades that I use as sauce. I have tried and liked: Sweet Asian BBQ, Santa Fe Chili, Mediterranean Herb, Teriyaki.

Salsa, hot sauce, balsamic vinegar are also tasty low calorie additions.

JaydedMiss

siracha hot sauce and sugar free ketchup are staples here. The wetness of a dip just makes things beter and easier to swallow so i get it xD im a basic person i guess by choice

chubbycatcorner

Pepper and rosemary are my go too atm. For some reason I love them alot atm.

happytree923

purpledream89 wrote: »

Well here's the problem - if the condiment is in front of me I will overuse no matter what. I have trouble backing away from it. I will dump 6 tablespoons of ketchup on one burger and it doesn't taste ok unless I do that. LOL. BBQ sauce FORGET IT. I can cook with less for sure but it just doesn't taste right to me. (i love dipping things into sauce don't judge lol.)

I know I can still choose to do this and still lose as long as i watch what else i put into my mouth - but I'm trying to explore other lower calorie options. Who knows - i may find something new to love that I can dump on and love.

and im working with 1200-1400 Cals per day.

Are you seasoning your food while you cook it? Condiments are great but if they're the only source of flavor in your meals I can see how that can create a problem. If you like barbecue sauce maybe try a barbecue style meat rub and/or smoked paprika. I've never felt the need to add condiments to anything I seasoned with curry powder or paste!

yirara

I use lots of spices and herbs, plus soy and fish sauce and a few other fermented things for cooking. But I never really liked sauces and condiments. I just like the actual taste of the food I'm eating. Maybe try to find a liking in actual food: start slowly with just a few things, try out what it tastes like, etc...

PHOTOCHAP

Marinade everything! Use spices for flavor and chopped tomatoes as a base. Make low cal tasty chilli or fire up your taste buds with your own curry. Make it to your own taste with individual spices not shop bought sauces.
Olive oil and lemon/lime start things off, the rest is up to your imagination.

Lounmoun

Herbs and spices
Vinegars
Citrus juice, citrus zest
Garlic, onion, capers, peppers, ginger
Mustard, hot sauce, salsa, worchestershire sauce, soy sauce
Broth

Season food when you cook so you don't dump sauces on at the table.