Underrated foods that are healthy and packed with nutrients are those secret gems that needs to be given a fair chance. Even though the appearance of some foods might not tickle your fancy or the taste might seem bland, there are many ways to jazz up these foods which have been pushed to the side.
Here are five foods that are regarded as underrated in society, including ways to add some more flavour to it:
Oatmeal
This pantry staple has been pushed aside to make room for trendier breakfast foods like the classic avocado on toast. And while many describe this bowl of goodness as bland or tasteless, there are actually so many ways to jazz it up. You could add fruit or honey as a sweetener while adding some colour to it. Some people have also added granola to oatmeal to give it more of a crunch.
In addition to being a great breakfast dish, oatmeal is also the perfect afternoon or evening snack because it’s both filling and healthy, and nothing feels better than a bowl of oatmeal, especially on cold or rainy days.
Broccoli
This green machine just had to be added to the list! Even though broccoli is appreciated by those who love a healthy crunch, it’s still an underrated vegetable amongst society. This could be because of the ‘fresh’ taste that’s commonly associated with it. A nifty trick could be to add some spices such as BBQ spice or smokey paprika as seasoning while it’s being steamed.
Chopping it into finer pieces could be useful too, so decide what works best for your palate. After all, broccoli is filled with tons of micronutrients and provides so much volume while being low in calories, so it’s certainly a vegetable that needs to be included in everyone’s diet. Start small by adding one serving of broccoli to your meals and you’ll feel the difference in your body in no time.
Beans
This is another underrated carb source that has amazing health benefits and is rich in essential nutrients. By adding beans and lentils into your diet can help to reach your protein goals in an easy, delicious way. Red kidney beans can be hidden away in a delicious burrito or added into poke bowls for that extra protein punch.
The different variety of beans available ensures that you don’t get bored of eating the same thing over and over again. From chickpeas known as garbanzo beans to lima beans and so much more, find the taste that suits you best and start munching away!
Greek yoghurt
Greek yoghurt provides protein, calcium, iodine, and potassium, and is s packed with probiotics, or healthy bacteria that can help boost your immune system and decrease stomach issues. Even though flavoured yoghurts are a more popular choice, these added sweeteners might not be the best idea if you’re looking for a healthy snack.
When it’s not sweetened, yoghurt offers various health benefits that other dairy products does not. If you don’t like it plain, you could use a fruit of your choice, add some honey or make frozen yogurt, which can serve as a healthy and delicious dessert option.
Cauliflower
Even though the pale colour of cauliflower can be off-putting for some, don’t let it deceive you. This vegetable is packed with nutrients. Like other cruciferous veggies such as brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale, bok choy and broccoli, cauliflower is rich in glucosinolates.
Cauliflower can be steamed whole, sliced into thick “steaks” and then coated with any combination of toasted sesame seed oil, lemon juice, soy sauce, cumin, coriander, anise or chilli pepper. This dish is now becoming more popular as mash, or rice alternatives as well, meaning that people are slowly beginning to hop on the cauliflower train!
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