It’s a common misconception that healthy foods aren’t as tasty as the stuff you can grab a convenience store or fast food drive-through. It’s actually quite easy to follow a weight loss plan while also satisfying your palate, but it does require a bit more creativity with your choice of ingredients. As a bonus, many herbs also carry various health benefits. Incorporating fresh herbs in your meals can accomplish more than just the simple addition of flavor.

If you’re wondering how to use fresh herbs in your cooking, here are a few ideas.

Salad dressings. Grab a few recipes online, and stock up on basic ingredients like herbs, olive oil, lemon or lime juice, and vinegars. Get to work with your blender or food processor, and you will discover that homemade dressings taste a lot better than store-bought varieties (and they don’t contain added preservatives, either).

Salads. You can even toss fresh herbs right into the salad itself. Just mix them in with your choice of lettuce, and enjoy an extra burst of flavor.

Dips and spreads. You can use fresh herbs in hummus, or experiment with yogurt and goat chevre for a cool, creamy dip.

Pizza toppings. If you’re baking homemade pizza, toss some fresh herbs on it right before serving. Basil is a favorite, but feel free to experiment.

Avocado toast. Next time you’re smearing avocado on your whole wheat toast, add some fresh herbs like cilantro.

Smoothies. Next time you’re whipping up a smoothie, add some fresh herbs for extra flavor.

Lemonade. What’s better than a cool glass of lemonade on a summer day? A cool glass of lemonade with lavender added!

Sauces. When you have extra basil, it’s a great excuse to make a batch of pesto sauce. And of course, you can also toss extra basil into your marinara. Don’t be afraid to experiment with cream sauces, too; fresh herbs will take the sauce from tasty to out of this world!

These are just a few ideas for incorporating fresh herbs into your meals; you can find plenty more by searching online for recipes. Keep in mind that herbs do carry some health benefits, so a little research can help you decide which ones are most valuable to you. But as always, come see us if you have concerns about your weight loss plan. We can offer expert nutritional advice, and screen you for invisible conditions that can make weight loss more difficult for you.