334: The Spice Secret: Why Your Healthy Meals Taste Boring (And How to Fix It)

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Does eating healthy ever feel like a sacrifice? Are you stuck with meals that leave you uninspired, wishing for something more exciting? If you’re craving vibrant, flavorful dishes that actually support your health, you’re in the right place.

In this inspiring episode of the Power on Plants podcast, healthcare professionals Jarrod and Anita Roussel are sharing the key to making plant-based eating not only delicious but life-changing. The secret? Herbs and spices—The powerful God-given tools for creating meals you’ll love while helping you overcome the health struggles that keep holding you back from the life you desperately want to enjoy.

If you’re dealing with low energy, brain fog, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or stubborn weight that just won’t budge, this episode will show you how to use the natural benefits of herbs and spices to take control of your health and feel better than you have in years.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• How to turn “blah” into “wow” with simple, unexpected spice combinations that make healthy meals exciting, satisfying, and crave-worthy.
• The secret to flavor layering that will leave you feeling deeply satisfied and free from the frustration of bland, boring food.
• The hidden health benefits in your spice rack. Discover how turmeric can fight inflammation and boost brain health, ginger can soothe digestion and strengthen immunity, cinnamon can balance blood sugar, and so much more.
• Practical tips for real life. Learn the simple way to create your own custom spice blends, store them for maximum freshness, and use fresh herbs to elevate your cooking to “I actually LOVE the food I eat” levels!
• How to overcome common health struggles like fatigue, brain fog, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure—all while enjoying every bite of your meals.

You’ll also find resources to help you on your journey, including Anita’s life-changing cookbooks and the loving, supportive community to guide you as you master whole food, plant-based cooking.

You don’t have to settle for meals that feel like a punishment or leave you feeling deprived. With the power of herbs and spices, you can create dishes that are bursting with flavor while naturally supporting your body’s ability to heal naturally so you can fully live the purpose driven life you were

💃🏻 Ready to learn how to actually enjoy eating whole plant foods so you can finally feel great and fully experience life? Inside Accelerator, we'll take you by the hand & walk you step-by-step through our proven 5-Step WFPB Framework so you can heal naturally & actively live your God-given dreams. Join the Waitlist Here... the Doors are Opening Soon!

🎁 Not yet a member of our FREE plant-based community, PIE? Once you're on the inside, every single podcast episode becomes searchable for you. 😲 Join the family to gain the plant-based encouragement, real health-changing ideas, and sustainable plant-based inspiration you've been praying for! 💕

🥣 Grab our Cookbook Bundles (and snag the incredible Bonuses today) to learn the simple way to make whole food plant-based eating quick, enjoyable, and sustainable.

🤔 Wondering what's in our new Thrive Cookbook? Click here for the inside scoop!

Please subscribe & give the show a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or other podcast providers. And don’t forget to share it with a friend for inspiration!

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey sister, welcome to the Power on Plants podcast.
Are you tired of staring intothe fridge wondering what to eat
so you can just feel better?
Do you want to avoid spendinghours in the kitchen making
complicated meals in the name ofhealth?
Would you love to leave fatiguebehind and finally have the
energy to do all the things youwant to do?
Hi, we're Jared and AnitaRoussel, christ followers,

(00:23):
healthcare professionals,parents of four and big fans of
great tasting food.
We, too, tried exercising more,eating natural and clean foods,
but we still found ourselvesstruggling with what we thought
were changes that come with ageor bad genes, and we weren't
finding answers to traditionalroutes.
So we dug into the research andcreated our secret nutritional

(00:44):
weapon sustainable plant-basedliving.
The truth is, you can eat morewhole plant foods, and it's not
hard.
You just need the way.
That's realistic and delicious,so you never feel deprived.
If you're ready to enjoy yourmeals, no longer be held back by
your health struggles andactively live your life, then
you're in the right place.
So grab your favoriteplant-based cup of life.
Then you're in the right place.

(01:05):
So grab your favoriteplant-based cup of happy pop in
those earbuds and let's getstarted.
Hey there, sunshine and welcometo Power on Plants, where we're
dedicated to helping youactually enjoy eating whole
plant foods so you can finallyfeel great and fully live.
I'm your host, anita Roussel.

Speaker 2 (01:25):
And I'm Jared Roussel .
We're excited you're joining ustoday, because we're diving
into a topic that often getsoverlooked but is absolutely
crucial for making plant-basedmeals incredibly healthy and
making them taste great and feelexciting, and that's herbs and
spices.

Speaker 1 (01:40):
I'm all about it.
We're not just talking about apinch of salt or a dash of
pepper here.
We're encouraging you toembrace a big variety of flavors
and reap the amazing benefitsthat herbs and spices have to
offer.
What we found in working withso many clients is that many
people are a little shy withherbs and spices using just a

(02:01):
tiny sprinkle.
So we're here to tell you todaybe bold.

Speaker 2 (02:06):
Exactly.
For too long, herbs and spiceshave been considered simply
garnishes or not thought of atall.
Actually, I remember growing upin the South and the only time
I ever saw parsley it was thatlittle sprig of curly parsley
sitting on the side of yourplate at a restaurant, just
straight up decorative, andnobody ever ate it.
That's so sad.

(02:27):
So what we want you to considerhere is what nutritional
powerhouses and flavor bombsherbs and spices are.
They can completely transformyour cooking.
Plus, they're an essential partof a healthy, whole food,
plant-based diet.

Speaker 1 (02:39):
So let's start with the flavor aspect.
Think about it.
Start with the flavor aspect.
Think about it.
A simple lentil soup can gofrom bland to extraordinary with
the addition of spices likecumin and coriander, turmeric
and a bay leaf.
Or a basic tofu scramble canbecome a southwestern fiesta
when you add chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika and oregano.

Speaker 2 (03:02):
Yes, that's so true, and it's not just about adding
one spice.
It's about something I see yousharing with others all the time
, anita layering flavors andfinding the combinations that
excite your taste buds.
For example, think about thedifference between a plain baked
sweet potato and one that'sbeen roasted with cinnamon,
nutmeg and even some cloves.
The difference in flavor isnight and day, I know.

(03:25):
I love it when you roast themthis way and when you use your
spices.
Remember that variety is key.
Don't just stick to the sametwo or three spices you always
use.

Speaker 1 (03:33):
Exactly.
You want to experiment withspices.
That's the fun part.
Think about the cuisines thatare known for their bold flavors
, like Indian food that uses alot of different spices together
.
Think about in a curry, theydon't just use one spice, they
might use five, six or even more, all blended together to create
something amazing.
Or consider Mediterraneancooking, with fresh herbs like

(03:57):
rosemary and thyme, oregano andbasil.
Those are the staples there.
These herbs not only addincredible flavor, but also
bring a sense of sunshine andfreshness to your dishes.

Speaker 2 (04:10):
And the best part is, as you explore these different
flavor profiles, you're alsoboosting the nutritional value
of your meals in a big way.
Let's examine some of thosehealth benefits.
This is so important becauseherbs and spices are packed with
antioxidants, which arecompounds that help protect our
cells from damage caused by freeradicals, which are unstable
molecules that can contribute toaging and various diseases.

(04:31):
Turmeric, for example, is asuperstar.
It contains curcumin, apowerful anti-inflammatory
compound that has been linked tonumerous health benefits,
including improved brainfunction and a lower risk of
heart disease.

Speaker 1 (04:44):
I love turmeric and remember it's always best to
combine it with black pepper, asthis will boost the absorption
of the spice by around 3000%.
This again shows how beneficialfor health that combining the
different spices can be, andginger is another great example.
It's known for its anti-nauseaproperties, but it's also a very

(05:08):
strong anti-inflammatory, andit helps with digestion too.
Think about it Even somethingas simple as cinnamon can help
regulate blood sugar levels.
We need to be sure that we'reeating a much wider variety of
herbs and spices and adding moreof each one when we use them as
well.

Speaker 2 (05:26):
That is so true.
Now I have to bring up garlichere.
I know it's technically avegetable, but we often use it
like a spice.
Garlic is a great source ofallicin, a compound that has
antibacterial and antiviralproperties.
It's a natural immune boosterthat should be in all of our
meals daily.
I recommend it all the time tomy patients.

Speaker 1 (05:45):
And you know that I couldn't agree more because I am
a huge garlic fan.
Isn't it amazing how many herbshave specific health benefits?
For example, parsley is a goodsource of vitamin K, which is
important for blood clotting,and mint can help soothe an
upset stomach.
And think about rosemary.
It's been linked to improvedmemory and concentration.

Speaker 2 (06:09):
So again, the important thing here is that
using larger amounts of spicesand a larger variety will
increase the benefits.
A tiny sprinkle of turmericwon't have the same effect as a
full teaspoon in a dish.

Speaker 1 (06:21):
Exactly and don't be afraid to combine herbs and
spices.
In fact, understanding how tocombine flavors is so crucial to
enjoying a plant-based dietthat we dedicate an entire
section of our acceleratorcourse to mastering flavor
profiles.
We really break down thescience of taste and how to
create balanced, delicious mealsfilled with the flavors that

(06:44):
you'll love.

Speaker 2 (06:45):
When it comes to having meals you love that are
optimally healing.
This really is life-changingNow.
If you're feeling a little lostand just aren't sure where to
start with combining herbs andspices to create the most tasty
whole food plant-based meals, wehave you covered.
Check out Anita's cookbooks atpoweronplantscom slash cookbook.

(07:08):
They are both packed withrecipes that showcase delicious
and easy to follow spicecombinations.

Speaker 1 (07:13):
We regularly hear from those who are using our
recipes how they are finallyeating a whole food plant-based
and loving it.
And another great way to startincorporating more herbs and
spices is to make your own spiceblends.
It's so much cheaper thanbuying pre-made blends and you
can customize them to your owntaste preferences.

(07:34):
Plus, you know exactly what'sgoing into them no hidden
additives or preservatives oranti-caking agents.

Speaker 2 (07:42):
You can find tons of recipes online for spice blends
like chili powder, curry powder,italian seasonings and even
pumpkin pie spices.
Just be sure to store them inairtight containers in a cool,
dark place to preserve theirfreshness.

Speaker 1 (07:55):
Another tip is to buy whole spices whenever possible
and grind them yourself using amortar and a pestle or a spice
grinder.
The flavor of freshly groundspices is going to be much more
intense than pre-ground spicesand can make a big difference
when it comes to the taste ofyour dishes.
And don't forget about freshherbs.

(08:16):
They add a bright, vibrantflavor that dried herbs cannot
match.
Why not grow your own in awindowsill herb garden or buy
them fresh from the grocerystore.

Speaker 2 (08:26):
Oh yeah, Don't underestimate just the impact of
fresh ground herbs, like blackpepper.
Freshly ground no comparisoncompared to what we used to find
in those little metal cans thatwere black specks but really
had no flavor.
Friend, our challenge to youthis week is to experiment with
herbs and spices.

(08:47):
Try a new recipe from one ofthe pop cookbooks that features
a spice you rarely use or thatyou've never used before.
Also, start adding a moregenerous pinch of your favorite
herbs to your next meal startadding a more generous pinch of
your favorite herbs to your nextmeals.

Speaker 1 (09:04):
Sunshine, be bold, be adventurous and discover the
incredible world of flavor andhealth benefits that herbs and
spices have to offer you.
Your taste buds and your bodyare going to thank you in
amazing ways.
And if you're looking for thesupportive Christian environment
where you can heal naturallyenjoying whole food, plant-based
meals, join us inside our freegroup at poweronplantscom
forward slash pie.
We look forward to getting toknow you more there, and we'll

(09:26):
be back with you again next weekwith another episode dedicated
to helping you thrive on a wholefood plant-based diet the
enjoyable, exciting way.
In the meantime, know that youare loved, you are prayed for
and we will see you again soon,thank you.