| Soul food recipes have grown into a vast industry, | | | | beans to name a few. |
| including food manufacturing companies, restaurants, | | | | These flavoring agents later proved to increase the |
| cookbooks, even TV shows. And to think all this from | | | | risk of medical ailments such as obesity, high blood |
| foods that date back as far as the Pre -Civil war era. | | | | pressure and other illnesses. Because of this risk more |
| Soul food came out of the dark period of slavery. The | | | | creative cooking and preparation methods have |
| food given to slaves their masters wouldn't or couldn't | | | | emerged. One of the biggest changes comes by using |
| eat. The meals, often made from the most tasteless, | | | | more natural seasonings, spices and herbs to flavor |
| bland or the toughest meats and vegetables slowly | | | | traditional soul food recipes. The results continue to |
| evolved. | | | | improve the health of consumers. |
| Over time, the slaves learned to cook, season and | | | | These changes continue to revive the popularity of this |
| prepare the bland meals so they were not only edible, | | | | cuisine in the eyes of the health conscious community. |
| but pleasing. In time the dishes became know as "good | | | | The people who love the food, but have to watch their |
| times food". Why? Because after a long week of | | | | diets closer because of health reasons, find the |
| backbreaking work the slaves looked forward to a | | | | changes refreshing. The "healthier seasonings" trend |
| day when they could relax. That day, usually Sunday, | | | | continues to play a major role in changing the concept |
| allowed them to relax with friends, family and most | | | | to what's known now as healthy soul food. This idea |
| important a tasty meal ... seasoned just right. | | | | meets the growing need of consumers who look for |
| Today seasonings continue as an integral part of | | | | the best of both world's, good taste and healthier |
| southern cuisine. As the saying goes, "if it don't have | | | | eating. |
| the right taste ... it's a waste." That statement could | | | | Here's the top 10 seasonings people include in their soul |
| never ring more true than when you're talking about | | | | food recipes for healthier cooking and eating. With the |
| soul food. The one drawback to seasoning comes | | | | addition of these natural seasonings you'll discover you |
| from health issues of the past. The traditional way to | | | | don't have to give up taste to eat healthier. |
| season most dishes came from using pork products. | | | | 1. Onion Powder. 2. Garlic Powder. 3. Gumbo File. 4. |
| For example, in the past cooks used fatback, ham | | | | Cayenne Pepper. 5. Tyme. 6. Bay Leaves. 7. Annato 8. |
| hocks, bacon and sausage to season vegetables such | | | | Caraway. 9. Basil. 10. Celery Flakes. |
| as collard greens, cabbage, black-eyed peas and | | | | |