How Can You "Lighten Up" Your Indulgent Dishes?

 

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When we hope to indulge in food or make the most of a festive event, it’s not uncommon for many of us to eat plenty of heavy carbs and fattening foods, those that make us feel like we could sleep for two weeks after eating them. Of course, there is some utility in this after all, as we can’t eat perfectly all the time, and sometimes, indulgent food is not necessarily unhealthy food.

That said, it’s also important to recognize that the foods we might consume at these times can have a net effect on how we socialize, or how we plan the rest of our day. We shouldn’t have to feel like hibernating after enjoying a snack after a good workout. Is there a way in which we can lighten up our approach to food and to make indulgences less impactful, while retaining all the sense of satiety and enjoyment that we wished for?

We believe that’s the case, and in this post we’ll discuss how that can be achieved:

Simple Flavorings

Simple flavorings and additions can sometimes totally lift a dish for the better. For instance, a little lemon juice upon a creamy crab salad at yellowblissroad.com can help the whole thing just lift, as the citrus slightly cuts through the creaminess of the dish, preventing it from becoming too heavy or ‘stodgy,’ as it were. Other beautiful additions can include herbs, pale nuts shredded on top of a dish, and of course sesame seeds. Don’t be afraid to consider the above garnish as a means to help lift a dish too, which can sometimes make all the difference.

Use Light Alternative Ingredients

Light alternative ingredients can also make a tremendous difference in substituting certain elements of a dish in order to lighten it. For instance, light soy sauce, light vegan mayo, bread with no added sugar, wholemeal pasta with less sugar content, fresh chopped herbs instead of dried herbs, and more can be used in order to give an alternate sense of taste, but also a healthier approach towards crafting your meal from top to bottom. An approach like this may help you truly put your own spin on certain dishes, and feel better about providing them to your family.

Switch Out The Heavy Carb Accompaniment

Switching out the heavy carbs that come with the meals you love can be a good way to open up and feel as though your indulgence has been rewarded a little bit. For instance, switching out the breads for lettuce wraps can help you avoid all of the sugars and intensive simple carbs that you may have eaten otherwise. Now, unless you’re going for a low-carb or carb-free diet there’s nothing wrong with eating carbs here and there, but carbs are rarely a great addition to a light meal if you just want to keep it simple. Outside of a few crackers or side vegetables (such as root vegetables), doing your best to limit them for your main meals can be a good way of achieving this aim.

With this advice, you’re certain to lighten up your indulgent dishes in the best possible way.