If you want to liven up your meals on the South Beach Diet, a little seasoning may be all that’s needed to do the trick. Simply reinvent your favorite everyday recipes and give them a flavorful kick by experimenting with different — even exotic — herbs and spices. Varying the flavors in your favorite dishes is a great strategy for fighting food boredom, and will help you to successfully follow your healthy eating plan. Here are a few ways to breathe new life into your meals with zesty herbs and spices from three popular cuisines.

• Go Italian: Herbs like oregano, parsley, basil, rosemary, and thyme are all key ingredients in Italian food, as are spices like nutmeg. The herbs can be bought fresh or dried and used in soups and sauces or on whole-wheat pizzas, or be tossed with salads and salad dressings. Try freshly grated nutmeg with ricotta crème or fruit desserts.

   

• Go Mexican: For a south-of-the-border flavor fiesta, make use of red-pepper flakes, cilantro, and garlic. These seasonings will easily spruce up meat, chicken, seafood, and pork dishes, and they work equally well in soups and salads.

   

• Go Asian or Indian: Spices like coriander, cardamom, cumin, and ginger will give your foods an exotic flair. Some of them (like cardamom) can be quite pungent, so go easy at first. Try mixing a little of all three to make a delicious seasoning rub for grilled fish and chicken.

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