Here’s the big not-so-secret: It’s all in the seasoning. As simple as it sounds, when 150 people were given three different types of a meatloaf and veggie dish—a regular full-fat version, a reduced-fat version, and a reduced-fat version flavored with herbs and spices—they rated the spiced, less fatty meal as the most delicious of the three. The idea is to “fill in the taste gap” made by removing fat, which is a natural carrier of flavors, says John Peters, PhD, a professor of medicine at the Anschutz Health and Wellness Center at the University of Colorado, Denver. Plus, when you replace the taste lost by taking away the highest-calorie parts of a food with another strong flavor, such as that of onions, oregano, or other herbs and spices, you get what Dr. Peters calls the “novelty effect.” As he explains it, when your body reacts positively the first time you taste something, it gives you a momentary ‘wow!’ factor. “That violates your expectation — maybe a positive way, and therefore you rate it highly,” Dr. Peters says. By switching out flavor for fat, “it’s opening up a whole new tool box for people that they can use at home.” So the next time you’re dreading the idea of your low-fat dinner, reach for the garlic, pepper, and paprika and get creative. A little spice can go a long way. More from Prevention: Spices Can Do…What?! 10 Things To Eat For Perfect Skin Edible Healing: Food Cures For Cancer
