Yep, I went there. Any gal between the ages of say, 27 and 33, is probably giggling/cringing right now over memories of dancing to this song or this song in her bedroom and maybe or maybe not choreographing dances to said songs with her friends and debating for hours the true meaning of “zig-a-zig-ah” and whether the “put it on, put it on” in this song was about safe sex.
Which Spice Girl did you identify with back in the day? At first, I thought I was a Baby Spice (aka Emma Bunton) girl, but it quickly became obvious, likely via old-school internet quizzes my friends and I passed around on AOL, that I was actually Posh Spice (Victoria Beckham).
Anyway, um, now that we’ve got that covered…
I recently contributed to an article for Fit Nation about how to spice up your food to promote improve your metabolism. Though there’s no magic-bullet spice or food to guarantee weight loss, there are some that may help. Beyond the super-cool research looking at various compounds in chili peppers, turmeric, and cinnamon, varying the flavors you use is a great way to up the enjoyment factor by helping you feel you’re having a range of eating experiences. In normal-people speak: it keeps things interesting so you don’t get bored or start thinking healthy food is bland.
A few easy ways to work in more spice:
Add cinnamon to oatmeal, cold cereal, yogurt, smoothies, cottage cheese, baked goods, soups and stews (I love it in chili). This cinnamon amaranth breakfast porridge also sounds delicious!
Add chili peppers to stir-fry, soups, chili, grain dishes, salsa, marinades. Cayenne pepper also pairs well with fruit or makes a great garnish for eggs and meat. This quinoa salad caught my eye too.
Add turmeric to soups, stews, marinades, rice dishes, egg scrambles, or use it to make a tea to kick the butt of any cold. My go-to recipe:
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
Boil turmeric in water until just boiling. Remove from heat and add ginger and black pepper. Drink in small sips throughout the day.
Turmeric is also wonderful for making golden milk, another nourishing drink—probably better suited to the colder months, though!
What are some of your favorite spices? Who’s your Spice Girl?