8 of the Healthiest Condiments to Add to Your Meals ...

The avocado based spread is as great for your meals as it is for your health. Along with the benefits that it has for your skin, hair, and nails, the yummy green vegetable is also packed with healthy fats. Guacamole will help regulate your appetite and keep you full. Guacamole has key ingredients to improve your health: it’s packed with fiber, vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals, which makes it one of the healthiest condiments.

Hot, hot, hot! It’s a great-tasting flavor enhancer that is completely fat free and completely sugar free. The spices in hot sauce are not only good for your taste buds, but are also good to help boost your metabolism, which will help burn the calories. Although you might be tempted to use a decent amount after hearing that it helps burn calories, keep in mind that it does have a considerable amount of salt too... so just beware.

Mustard over ketchup any day. Classic yellow mustard as well as spicy mustard is made with vinegar and a little salt. This means no sugar, no fat, and low in calories. You’ll be happy to know that not only is it low in calories, the actual mustard seeds are filled with antioxidants. Still wondering about honey mustard? Honey mustard is not as bad as other dressings and condiments, but keep the intake limited due to the sugar in honey mustard.

The taste as well as the health advantages make balsamic vinegar a very enticing condiment. Balsamic vinegar is a great replacement of the fatty, sodium filled dressings and condiments. In order to reduce your calorie intake and increase your nutrient intake, use balsamic vinegar on a Panini or salad whenever is possible. Make sure to read the label of the balsamic vinegar that you are looking to purchase. Some companies sneak in some unnecessary and unhealthy ingredients. Natural balsamic vinegar can prevent fatigue, suppress your appetite, and reduce cholesterol levels.

Lemon is another great alternative for a salad dressing or a condiment to put on fish or other foods. Lemon juice has a high amount of vitamin C. Not only are you benefiting from the taste, the Vitamin C found in lemon juice will better your skin, hair, and mood. Lemon juice is a condiment with such magnificent benefits. Add a touch of salt, a sprinkle of pepper, and a drop of olive oil to the lemon juice and BAM, you have a satisfying, yummy condiment for your next meal.

This delicious Middle Eastern dip is loaded with fiber and gives you the same richness as mayo without the calories. Add this chick pea-based dip to your salads or sandwiches to add flavor and excitement to your meals. A little hummus goes a long way. Hummus is primarily made with chick peas, tahini, garlic, lemon, and a touch of olive oil. All of these ingredients are key ingredients to be healthy!

Pesto has a lot to offer with its olive oil and pine nut base. It’s loaded with antioxidants and monounsaturated fat, aka the «good» fat. Spread it on your chicken sandwiches and use it as an alternative to other, ineffective, unhealthy condiments. Instead of using canned tomato sauce for your homemade pizzas and pastas, try pesto. Pesto will make for a healthier meal filled with vitamins and minerals and will leave an unforgettable flavor.

Do you really have to ask yourself what makes fresh tomato salsa so healthy? Well if you do, salsa is made with the perfect amount of vegetables and is so, so tasty. Instead of using ketchup on a burger or fatty dressings on your salad, add some fresh tomato salsa. Salsa has some vitamin C, vitamin A, and capsaicin, the chemical that plays a role in treating certain health conditions. Adding some peppers, some lime juice, onions, a little olive oil, and garlic to your fresh tomato salsa will make enhance the flavor as well as the health benefits.

I told you! There is such a long list of condiments that have so much to offer. Next time you run out of the office or pack lunch, instead of grabbing the icky, gross condiments, go for the healthier options. The healthier options have so much more to offer health wise and flavor wise so what is there to even think about? Make the bland and boring, tangy and interesting. What are some of your favorite healthy condiments?