Ethnic Foods Provide Variety

Mealtime menus can often become repetitive. Give your taste buds something different by trying ethnic foods.

Ethnic cuisines allow variety in all of the food groups, so expand your menu by changing one food group at a time. Try switching from pasta or rice to eastern European kasha, Moroccan couscous or South American quinoa. For fruits and vegetables, go for Mexican jicama, Chinese lychee or Caribbean mango.

Substitute traditional protein dishes with Japanese tofu, Middle Eastern hummus or Latin American black beans. Swap dairy products made from cow's milk for goat cheese or milk, Mexican queso blanco or plain yogurt to top hummus or falafel.

Experiment with ethnic food options to give your dinnertime recipes a face lift.