The 10 Day Joy of Food Series - Day 3: Small ways to change your everyday meals

In the last post we talked about what to do if you’ve lost your food mojo and just don’t seem to be enjoying food as much as you used to. A few changes here and there can inspire your cooking and lead you on a fascinating journey of culinary exploration.

This time we are going to talk about how to change things up so mealtimes will be interesting once again.

Variety Is the Spice of Life

One of the easiest ways to mix it up at each meal is to add spices. If you seem to be having the same old meat and potatoes with vegetables, for example, consider which seasonings can add to their flavor for all-new taste sensations.

If the meat is dull, why not try your own homemade barbecue sauce - far healthier than the salty kind that comes in bottles. Try a rub or a marinade for the meat as well. There are prepared ones, of course, but it is cheaper to do it yourself. Just look up recipes online and experiment.

If the potatoes are boring, there’s lots you can do to jazz them up. Try a dash of sour cream and some chopped chives or scallions. Make your own potato skins with cheese, tomatoes and lots of freshly ground black pepper. Boil them, then fry them in a little oil with some sesame, black mustard, and cumin seeds, for a deliciously crispy Indian-style treat.

For green beans, toss them with garlic and olive oil, add butter and almonds and some lemon juice, or make your own green bean casserole with onion rings on top. There are healthy versions of this recipe that will give you all the flavor of your favorite ingredients in this dish, but without all the calories.

Switch the Starch

Another way to add interest to your meal is to switch the starch. Instead of potatoes, try rice, noodles, or quinoa. There are many different kinds of rice, from white to brown, wild to parboiled. Parboiled will give you the typical taste you find in Mexican dishes.

As for noodles, there’s pasta, egg noodles, Chinese noodles, buckwheat, soba and udon. Each will have its own distinct taste and add a whole new flair and culinary twist to your usual dishes. One small change to your usual recipes and menus can lead to big results.

In the next post we will be talking about some of the main places you can gain inspiration, starting with social media.

Until next time!