How unhealthy is marinade?

[Riverhound777]

I started to focus on my health and fitness recently and have been eating better and working out/doing cardio for 3 weeks solid now. I defiantly have made progress and and happy, but I am wondering if I can do more.

I love chicken and know it is healthy, so i've been eating a lot of chicken breast. I have been experimenting with different marinades and ways to cook it, but i'm wondering how much effect they are having on the nutritional value of the meat. For instance yesterday I made some marinade consisting on soy sauce, BBQ sauce, and some Franks Red hot sauce. I used a bit much soy sauce and it tasted pretty salty, but it was still very good on top of some rice. My question is how much of the marinade is really soaked into the meat? I know if I pour a bunch or cheese, sour creme, and other stuff on top and eat it, it kind of defeats the purpose, so I worry the same could happen with marinade.

Also any other cheap and easy(fewer ingredients, the better) marinade tips would be appreciated.

 

[Shortass]

Well like you said, adding things that have excessive fat or caloric content will minimize the value of eating some foods, but marinates are typically (in my experience) rather low in both. Sure, usually they are rather salty but salt isn´t really something that will negatively affect you as long as you do cardio and sweat it out.

For low sodium options I tend to make simple marinades like garlic and lemon/lime juice. Really, any citrus adds a great flavor. Ginger is also tasty, crushed red pepper or just a little salt and pepper. They aren´t all really marinades necessarily, but if you add a little watter to the cooking chicken it tends to spread the flavor out and is rather healthy for you.

 

[KeithTalent]

A lot of the time I will just marinate in olive oil, lots of chopped garlic, and some S&P. You can augment that by adding ginger, onion, lemon juice, or any fresh or even dried herbs you have lying around. I try to stay away from any pre-made sauces (even Frank's and stuff like that) because they often have a tonne of crap in them I don't want to consume. The possibilities for healthy marinades are quite numerous and you can adapt them to any type of meat, seafood, or even vegetables you are eating.

KT

 

[zebano]

My local grocery store has a new beer (6-pack) for $2.50 every other week so I buy some. Usually it's crap, but they usually make excellent marinades (I have no idea how that impacts nutrition).

 

[Red Dawn]

I use McKormicks Grill Mates. They're about a buck each and they come in a lot of different flavors. You add water vinegar and Olive Oil (or any Vegetable Oil) most of the Oil doesn't soak in so they don't add a lot of calories to the breasts but they sure add a lot of flavor

 

[skywhr]

my base is either:
apple cider vinegar & garlic
or cheap American beer

then I add

red pepper flakes
sea salt
cumin
black pepper
ginger
coriander
or
other favorite spice
depending on what flavor I am going for

pre bottled marinades are full of sugar & sodium if you use the entire bottle