3 Ways to Stop Making the Same Dinner Every Night
A growing number of people are getting more experimental in the kitchen — and now is an excellent time to do it, according to Ali Webster, Ph.D., R.D.N., the International Food Information Council’s director of research and nutrition communications. In her words, “It’s easy to become caught in the same routine of eating the same things day in and day out, particularly when we’re spending so much time at home.” “Changing up your menu routine may have concrete and intangible advantages for your physical and mental health, including consuming a greater range of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients and being more culturally sensitive as a result of experimenting with different cuisines.”
Your tastebuds need a break after a year of eating at home. Learn how to try new flavors and ingredients.
It’s the perfect time to get creative in the kitchen, says the International Food Information Council’s director of research and nutrition communications, Ali Webster. “It’s easy to get into a rut and eat the same foods every day,” she says. “Exploring new cuisines can help you become more culturally sensitive and eat a wider variety of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.”
With all those perks, it’s no surprise that since the pandemic began, 23% of Americans have tried new cuisines, ingredients, or flavors. Try these innovative ideas to spice up your meals and Stop Making the Same Dinner Every Night
Chefs’ Secrets from Around the World
Learn to make sushi with a Japanese chef, empanadas with an Argentine expert, or fresh pasta with two Italian sisters with Amazon Video. Explore virtual cooking classes. Options start at $10 and go up from there. Try CocuSocial for small-group interactive cooking classes with your friends via Zoom. You could host a paella party or learn to make falafel.
Something New at Your Doorstep
Sign up for a CSA program or order a weekly produce box from Misfits Market to get unusual vegetables and fruits like broccoli leaves, Anaheim peppers, Ataulfo mangoes, and watermelon radishes. It’s also a great way to get all the nutrients, phytochemicals, and antioxidants you need for your body, “says Linda Shiue, chef and author of Spicebox Kitchen (Buy It, $26, amazon.com).
Bold Flavor to Stop Making the Same Dinner Every Night
Boost the flavor of your dishes with global flavor enhancers. Spices are an easy (and healthy) start. In addition to conjuring exotic places, Dr. Shiue claims they’re medicinal. “A potent anti-inflammatory, turmeric gives curry powders their vibrant color and adds deep earthy notes to food. Cumin adds flavor and complexity to dishes, aids digestion, and contains iron. “
Use flavorful condiments like ginger-garlic paste (add a spoonful to soups or marinades) and fresh herbs like cilantro, basil, and oregano to make chutneys, dressings, or to sprinkle over fish dishes, says Maneet Chauhan, a James Beard Award–winning chef in Nashville and the author of the new cookbook, Chaat. (Buy it for $23, amazon.com).