Using Flavored Vinegars?

[Jewel]

Here I am getting ready to start a 30 day eating program insisted on by my doctor. I can have nothing processed, nothing canned, and nothing dairy. Nothing. I was told that my seasoning on my baked potatoes and steamed veggies and salads could be herbs and flavored vinegars. I've never used flavored vinegars! I have about 6 of the pretty bottles with peppers and garlic in them, but they're 3 or 4 years old and they're for display, not opening! I bought a 'roasted garlic vinegar' yesterday, but haven't used it yet.

I always think of vinegars in marinades only, and since I'm not a salad eater or a seafood eater, I've rarely used the stuff. Aren't they overpowering? Seems to me that any time I've opened a bottle of vinegar the smell is very strong. What kinds do you all use, and on what foods? I've got to find ways to jazz up lean meats, potatoes (white and sweet, mostly sweet), brown rice, and steamed veggies using only herbs and vinegar, no dairy, soy sauce, or anything else 'processed'. Help! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif

[RunnerKim]

Wow Jewel, you'll have a tough month ahead, but I bet it gets easier as you go.

I'm not much help on the flavored vinegars but have often used (good) balsamic vinegar as dip for French bread. A little goes a very long way. I was skeptical at first but came across it at the grocery store - you know those free samples - and was pleasantly surprised.

Kim

[makedah]

That IS strict! Might I ask why?

[KValley]

Jewel,

I'm hoping this will help. I have two vinaigrettes in my fridge, one is a Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette made by Rising Sun Farm in Phoenix, OR (I found it in my local Safeway). It is oil free, fat free, cholesteral free, low sodium- rice vinegar is the primary ingredient. I do not like salad dressing, although I love salad and I really love this stuff. It is also thick enough to use as a marinade.

THe other is also a Northwest brand- I found it in a specialty foods shop here in Ellensburg, but it hails from Hood River, OR-Deerfield Foods, and you should be able to find it in a natural foods shop in Renton.
It is a Cranberry Ginger Vinaigrette- savory sweet and would be great on sweet potatoes. Its primary ingredients are water, white grape juice concentrate and cranberry juice concentrate.

BOth have 100 percent natural on their labels.

Experiment! There are some wonderful, fat free, natural vinaigrettes out there. I also second Kim's suggestion of Balsamic vinegar- it has so many uses (I add a little bit to fresh strawberries to keep their flavor).

Best wishes to you in the coming month!

Julie


[This message has been edited by KValley (edited 04-13-2001).]

[Jewel]

Originally posted by makedah:
That IS strict! Might I ask why?

I'm almost embarrassed to say why! Making a long story short, I lost over 100 lbs a few years ago and was left with a lot of saggy skin and some residual fat rolls. I had a Tummy Tuck in January to remove this, and there was nearly 5 lbs in skin alone! Another 5 lbs of fat was removed. Well, Doctor didn't remove as much as he thought he did, and he didn't pull the skin as tight as he should have in the abdomen, so I'm starting to sag again. He's doing a Revision Surgery on May 14, but wants me to lose as much weight as I can before this surgery as opposed to after. I weigh 183 right now, and a comfortable weight for me is 155-160. If I lose too much weight after surgery, things could loosen up again, and we don't want $6000 wasted! I have to lose weight quickly, and 'liquid diets' don't work on me. The surgeon mentioned this diet doctor in LA that will personalize an eating plan for you (for a fee) and work with you. I filled out a 5 page questionnaire, and had a phone interview with him yesterday. Today, via the magic of FedEx, my diet arrived. I'm eating 5 or 6 times per day, but I'm so limited...breakfast is 2-3 scrambled egg whites (real eggs, no eggbeaters 'cause they're processed) and a cup of asparagus or green beans. Mid morning snack is an apple OR 2 oz. of potato. My meals are little ones comprised of 2 oz of lean protein and a cup of a green vegetable. I'm also supposed to eat a 5-6 oz. baked sweet potato every day before a workout. Workouts are to be 1 hour on a treadmill at a very moderate pace (2.8 otr 2.9) at no incline five times per week!! I can use herbs, herb blends, vinegars and lemon or lime juice to season my food, but no salt. That means soy sauce is out!! I can't add brown rice into the program until I've been on the protein/veggie thing for two weeks.

So, I'm eating at 5am, 8am, 10am, noon, 3:30pm (that pre-workout sweet potato) then between 5 and 6pm, then an evening snack. I'm gonna OD on asparagus and green beans! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif I'm used to a touch of butter and garlic seasoning, but now I'll have to lose the butter. I CAN use salt free/fat free chicken broth, and I think I'll end up using a lot of it in potatoes and maybe the rice when I can eat it.

All in all, I know that with the treadmill and this 'pure' way of eating, I WILL lose weight and I'm excited about that, but I won't be able to eat the meals that I cook for my DH. He's a very supportive man, and will probably tell me that he'll fend for himself for the next 30 days, but I just can't do that. I'll just be cooking for one! If anyone has any other ideas for no-salt flavor on green veggies, as well as what in the heck to do with a sweet potato, since I've never eaten one?? Thanks!!

[Missi]

Jewel,
I really feel for you because that is a strict diet, but you have already done an amazing job losing those 100 pounds!!! I'm sure you can do it!

I highly second the use of basalmic vinegar. It has great flavor and a little really does go a long way.

Check out the thread about what to put on a sweet potato. It was very enlightening to me and I eat sweet potatoes alot. (oops, just read that thread and noticed you posted there. Maybe try the lime and Equal. If that is good, let us know, I might try it!)

Please keep us updated on your progress and good luck!

[This message has been edited by Missi (edited 04-13-2001).]

[makedah]

100 lbs, that's amazing. Good luck with your surgery.