When it comes to how you like to dress up a hot-dog or hamburger, your options go beyond mayonnaise and mustard.
Different condiments have different health benefits and dangers.
Get informed and start making healthy condiment choices…
The 5 Healthiest Condiments
Consider stocking up the refrigerator with these five condiments…
1. Pesto
See, this list won’t be painful! Pesto is delicious, refreshing, and – most importantly – healthy. Since pesto usually contains a little feta, you can even use pesto as a replacement for cheese and queso! By the way, pesto isn’t just a condiment.
2. Plain Mustard
Mustard is sweet, tangy, and best of all… sugar-free! Of course, the caveat here is plain mustard. Buying honey mustard or any other modified mustard doesn’t guarantee a sugar-free condiment. Either way, you’ll still get plenty of antioxidants! Also, mustard tends to be rich in turmeric, which is proven to be a cancer-fighting spice.
3. Salsa
Since “authentic”, high-grade salsa is basically chopped up vegetables with some spices, there’s no way to go wrong. Try substituting this on your hot dog instead of a high fat, greasy chili.
4. Guacamole
Full disclosure: guacamole is made from avocados, which are high in monounsaturated fat. However, there are worse kinds of fat! Use guacamole on a bun instead of mayonnaise or cheese in order to get a creamy feel without the cholesterol-loaded type of fat.
5. Homemade Hummus
Homemade hummus is a great condiment to use for your grill productions! It’s easy to make, too. All you need is chickpeas, lemon, tahini, and garlic. Beyond that, throw in whatever you want (maybe a dash of cayenne or roasted jalapenos?). Check out these 9 homemade hummus recipes for ideas.
The 5 Worst Condiments
Okay, so we’ve shared five delicious, healthy condiments. What should you be avoiding? Prepare yourself for some difficult cuts…
1. Ketchup
Admit it, you had to see this one coming. Most ketchups you buy at the grocery are packed with high fructose corn syrup. In case you still aren’t convinced that HFCS is bad for you, you need to read this post.
4. Mayonnaise
Mayonnaise is another easy target. Its health pros and cons have been debated for years (get a summary from the Food Network). Look for alternatives such as Grapeseed Veganaise or make your own. However, the best move is to avoid it altogether.
3. Pretty Much Any Salad Dressing
Unfortunately, most salad dressings (both creamy ones and vinaigrettes) tend to be swimming in fat. For some delicious fat-free, oil-free salad dressings, see this database.
4. Queso
This is another condiment that you already know to have negative health consequences. Take our recommendation above and opt for guacamole or pesto instead of queso. Both options are healthier ways to get your creamy fix.
5. Fake Honey a.k.a Liquid Fructose
Though real honey does contain healthy antioxidants that are good for you, a lot of brands sell fake ones. If you want to use it, make sure it’s the real thing. Otherwise it might just be loaded with high fructose corn syrup or artificial sweeteners!
sources:
- https://www.thekitchn.com/summer-flavor-10-ways-to-use-p-119782
- https://www.mnn.com/food/healthy-eating/stories/the-amazing-health-benefits-of-turmeric
- https://goaskalice.columbia.edu/avocados-are-fatty-are-they-healthy
- https://www.damyhealth.com/2011/03/the-9-best-hummus-recipes/
- https://drhyman.com/blog/conditions/5-reasons-high-fructose-corn-syrup-will-kill-you/
- https://blog.foodnetwork.com/healthyeats/2011/07/08/mayo-good-or-bad/
- https://www.meetup.com/Dr-Es-Vegan-No-Oil-Diet-Cleveland-Akron-Ohio/pages/Salad_Dressings_by_Ann_Crile_Esselstyn/
- https://www.livestrong.com/article/403181-is-pure-maple-syrup-healthy/
Care to add to the conversation? We’d love for you to share! What condiments do you avoid? Did we miss any healthy options?