Medifast is a nutritionally balanced meal option used for weight loss. Although it is available in many forms such as shakes, teas and puddings, there are ways to add different extracts, spices and herbs to Medifast to gain even more variety. According to the American Diabetes Association, obesity rates in America continue to rise, with a current estimation of 65 percent of U.S. adults classified as overweight, and 31 percent classified as obese.
Stock Up
Start by adding pure and extract flavorings to your pantry. They are readily available in supermarkets, specialty food stores and online. Stock up on spices as well, in particular ground spices or purchase whole spices and grind into power as needed. Ground spices as well as dried herbs sprinkled in oatmeal, puddings, shakes, scrambled eggs and soups can add unique flavors. Stock your refrigerator with fresh herbs as well, which add even more intensity than the dried form.
Experiment
Vanilla, amaretto, rum, coconut, cinnamon, peanut butter, butterscotch, butter pecan, licorice, chocolate, mint, and almond extracts lend wonderful flavors to puddings, oatmeal and shakes. Don't leave out the fruit extract flavors such as orange, banana, strawberry, blueberry, peach, apple, and cherry. Spices can include cinnamon, nutmeg, cumin, pepper, allspice, as well as ground onion and garlic. Choose herbs such as oregano, dill, sage, savory, chervil, tarragon, caraway, horseradish and basil. Use approximately ¼ to ½ of a tsp., depending upon taste and be sure to mix well. Don't be afraid to add more than one flavor to create something entirely new. Certain combinations work especially well, such as chocolate and mint, vanilla and almond, apple and cinnamon, dill and chervil, oregano and garlic and coconut with banana. Start off with a conservative amount and add more if needed depending on your individual taste. Whether you are preparing a mix in the blender or by hand, add your extracts or spices last and blend well. Always add flavorings to food after it is cooked.
Equipment Needed
Medifast pudding, shakes, and teas are best prepared in a blender to ensure they are mixed thoroughly with no powdery residue. Even if you choose prepared shakes they should be poured into a glass and stirred well before drinking. Soups, oatmeal and scrambled eggs can be stirred thoroughly by hand with a spoon as well. If you are grinding spices you will need a grinder such as a pepper mill. For herbs it is best to chop them just before adding them to your dish, which will require a small cutting board and good chopping knife. You will also need storage containers if you plan to transport your Medifast meals. Small plastic containers with lids work best for puddings, soups, oatmeal, scrambled eggs and chili. Reusable liquid storage bottles with tight fitting caps work best to transport shakes and teas. Make sure items that need to be reheated are in microwavable containers.
Suggestions to Get Started
Medifast Scrambled Eggs with fresh chopped chervil and dill
Medifast Scrambled Eggs with ground cayenne pepper and a bit of fresh cilantro
Medifast Peach Oatmeal with ground cinnamon and apple flavoring
Medifast Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal with ground nutmeg and banana flavoring
Medifast Dutch Chocolate shake with almond flavoring
Medifast Dutch Chocolate shake with banana flavoring
Medifast French Vanilla shake with peanut butter flavoring
Medifast French Vanilla shake with orange and banana flavoring
Medifast Swiss Mocha shake with almond and chocolate flavoring
Medifast Swiss Mocha shake with cherry flavoring
Medifast Strawberry Crème shake with vanilla and almond flavoring
Medifast Strawberry Crème shake with banana flavoring
Medifast Hot Cocoa with ground cinnamon
Medifast Raspberry Iced Tea with orange flavoring
Medifast Beef Vegetable Soup with ground garlic, onion and a pinch of allspice
Medifast Maryland Crab Soup with fresh chopped parsley, cilantro and a squeeze of fresh lemon
Medifast Chicken and Wild Rice Soup with fresh tarragon and caraway
Medifast Cream of Broccoli Soup with fresh basil and ground garlic
