When your diet regularly includes rice (preferably brown rice due to its higher nutritional content), you are getting a good dose of protein, vitamin B and fiber while likely finding it easier to lose weight and/or maintain your loss. However, you may also find that you get bored eating it the same way time after time.
Therefore, to keep rice new and exciting so that you keep coming back for more, here are four ways you can make it taste better while allowing it to retain its high nutritional content:
• Boil it in chicken broth versus regular water for a yummy side dish to serve with most any meal. This allows more flavors to seep into the rice without adding fat and calories. If you’re watching your salt intake, make sure you use the low-sodium broth.
• Add cooked rice to casseroles, stews or soups for another taste and texture that keeps you fuller longer. Some options include putting it in beef stew, chicken pot pie, beef barley soup, chicken soup and stuffed green peppers.
• Make a stir fry and put it on a bed of rice that has been seasoned with a little bit of lite low-sodium soy sauce or teriyaki. You won’t even need to flavor it with additional salts (which may make you retain water and bloat) because both of these sauces are tasty enough on their own.
• You can create a spicy jambalaya with cooked rice, spicy turkey sausage, sautéed red and green peppers, and onions. Just add some red pepper flakes, cayenne or any other spice that makes you sweat and you’ll increase your metabolism while eating a meal that makes your taste buds beg for more.
Rice doesn’t have to be plain and boring and it won’t be if you try some of these suggestions. Be sure to include it in your diet regularly and you’ll find it easier to get to and maintain a healthy weight.
