healthy way to flavor your meals

i've heard good things about coconut oil to make your food taste better. i've never tried it before. but i do know that i hate the taste of coconut. does coconut oil have a strong coconut taste?

i've also heard good things about cayenne pepper. i love spice and hot foods. but is it really effective like people say? or is it just hype.

i've been using this chinese hot sauce to make my food taste better but i checked the ingredients and found out it had MSG in it so trying to find a healthier alternative

Coconut oil doesn't have a strong taste, but if you don't like it to begin with, don't force yourself.

Cayenne pepper is effective at adding the heat and flavor of cayenne to your dish.

Salt, pepper, garlic, ginger, hot peppers, soy sauce, Sriracha sauce are my regulars.

[QUOTE=watch4theDROP;1032915353]i've heard good things about coconut oil to make your food taste better. i've never tried it before. but i do know that i hate the taste of coconut. does coconut oil have a strong coconut taste?

i've also heard good things about cayenne pepper. i love spice and hot foods. but is it really effective like people say? or is it just hype.

i've been using this chinese hot sauce to make my food taste better but i checked the ingredients and found out it had MSG in it so trying to find a healthier alternative[/QUOTE]

most unsalted spices are great food flavoring, never tried coconut oil myself but from what I've heard not only is it tasty it's actually one of the healthiest. Salted spices are also OK as long as you check the sodium value isn't TOO high, or unless you have a problem with taking in too much sodium. Spices are the way to go in my opinion. And cinnamon :)

[QUOTE=pretend;1032923383]Coconut oil doesn't have a strong taste, but if you don't like it to begin with, don't force yourself.

Cayenne pepper is effective at adding the heat and flavor of cayenne to your dish.

Salt, pepper, garlic, ginger, hot peppers, soy sauce, Sriracha sauce are my regulars.[/QUOTE]

i love sriracha. didn't know it was good for dieting though? o.O what is in it?

[QUOTE=watch4theDROP;1032927493]i love sriracha. didn't know it was good for dieting though? o.O what is in it?[/QUOTE]

How would it be bad for dieting?

Chili, sugar, salt, garlic, distilled vinegar, potassium sorbate, sodium bisulfite, xanthan gum.

[img]http://s11.postimage.org/7q0wmcwoz/ucita8i2.png[/img]

Slap ya mama is my go to spice. Goes great with everything, even grapes.

Bacon

I like various hot sauces, bbq sauce, butter, sour cream, various spices, diced cherry peppers.

I love this seasoning especially with fish...
[IMG]http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t148/TAYLOR13_014/3648B479-8628-462C-A9E9-F28F9159E14A-3184-00000520BCDCF10A_zps43a2cabe.jpg[/IMG]

[QUOTE=cyclist93;1033015243]I love this seasoning especially with fish...
[IMG]http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t148/TAYLOR13_014/3648B479-8628-462C-A9E9-F28F9159E14A-3184-00000520BCDCF10A_zps43a2cabe.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE]

YES YES. Any Mrs. Dash spice is amazing. I still like using a pinch of salt and sriracha. If I'm stir frying food, I'll start by browning some garlic, onions and shallots. That alone will make my food smell and taste good.

vinegars, spices, oils, cheeses, hot sauce, mustard, buffalo sauce

whats wrong with salt? I use a decent amount. Link?

Cheyenne is just hot, I wouldn't really recommend it. Thyme is amazing on chicken or steak or in soups. Sage in soups as well. Chili powder is a simple salmon seasoning. Curry is good. Many BBQ rubs are good. Rosemary, garlic powder, adobo powder, italian seasoning blends. Cumin is in most mexican foods. Tumeric is tasty. I like caraway in beef crock pot meals. Its pretty endless.

Heres some products I like. Many should be used in moderation.

Veri Veri Teriyaki, Uncle Dougies BBQ sauce, Mae Ploy curry, Tamari, House of Tsang Bangkok Padang Peanut Sauce, Chipotle by Tobasco, El Yucateca habanero, Sri Racha (has been said), wasabi, horseradish, Pickled ginger or fresh ginger, fresh cilantro

anything brand specific is brand specific.. i find all other brands [ive tried] inferior (taste is subjective)

I keep nearly all of this on hand. Eating is never a task. It's always amazing food.

If your concerned about sodium, (I personally dont care Franks Red Hot on everything) which is packed into most sauces, Mrs. Dash is incredible.

i've been looking into getting something like this:

[url]http://www.amazon.com/AeroGarden-Gourmet-Herb-Seed-Black/dp/B0015MG9P2/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1362148839&sr=8-12&keywords=herb+kit[/url]

[img]http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/914uK%2BKK2rL._SL1500_.jpg[/img]

I go with hot sauce most of the time. The rest of the time I go with hot sauce.

[QUOTE=watch4theDROP;1032927493]i love sriracha. didn't know it was good for dieting though? o.O what is in it?[/QUOTE]

Oh man, you have a lot to learn about flavoring foods. There are so many low to no calorie options out there if you didn't realize sriracha is great when cutting.

[QUOTE=ASTRONOMICAL;1033075323]whats wrong with salt? I use a decent amount. Link?[/QUOTE]

If you're lucky and normal, then nothing. But if you're like me and one of the hundreds of thousands that has to deal with high blood pressure and hypertension issues, then it is a factor.

If you're not dealing with it now, give it time. Seems like as people get older, it inevitably happens...

Add cinnamon to coffee for the extra vitaminerals