Pickles are one of those things you love or hate. And maybe you’ve been on both ends of the spectrum depending on your season of life! As a kid, I loved pickles. I remember sometimes grabbing a whole pickle from the fridge and sitting on the steps outside our apartment and eating the whole pickle for an after school snack. Then as I got older, I started hating pickles. I’d take them off my hamburgers, the idea of pickle potato chips or fried pickles sounded disgusting to me, and I had no interest in trying them again.

Well, that’s all changed again. A few years ago, I happened to have a hamburger that had pickles, and realized it was actually quite good. I wasn’t ready to eat a whole pickle by itself, but I liked putting pickles on my hamburgers, and maybe the occasional sandwich. Overtime, my love of pickles has gotten stronger and now I want all the fried pickles and all the pickle things! I love loading my burgers and sandwiches with pickles. My husband hates pickles so he takes them off his burger, leaving more for me! I’m totally a pickle fan again.

Did you know that if you are craving pickles, you’re probably dehydrated? Sodium is actually an important electrolyte- it helps us to stay hydrated. When your body isn’t getting enough water, you’ll find yourself craving salty things- like pickles. No wonder so many pregnant women crave pickles! With all the morning sickness and baby building, they can easily get dehydrated.

Pickles are also a good source of fiber, potassium, antioxidants, and Vitamins A, C and K. They’re also high in fiber, and low calorie and low fat. So you don’t need to stress about adding a few to your sandwich for lunch! Depending on the pickle (fermented instead of fresh packed), you can even get some healthy probiotics in your diet by adding pickles! But they are high in sodium, so you don’t want to make pickles your go-to snack every day. And obviously, depending on your specific diet needs, because they are high in sodium you may need to avoid them more often than not.

But if your blood pressure and heart health is good to go, pickles are a delight to add to so many things. Obviously burgers and sandwiches, but it doesn’t stop there!

Hot dogs are super tasty with relish- which is basically chopped pickles!

The best potato and egg salads- have pickles. Just sayin’.

Have you ever tried a pizza with pickles? Let me tell you- it WORKS. Especially if you change up the other ingredients to make it more like a hamburger pizza. But even just adding some chicken and a drizzle of ranch with pickles to your pizza will completely change it- in such a good way!

How about pickles on your morning toast and eggs?

Add them to your big green salad for lunch.

Chop them up and add them to tuna or chicken salad!

Why not add some chopped pickles to your hamburger casserole?

Instead of olives, try some pickles in your pasta salad!

What about adding pickles to your tortilla wrap?

Layer them with your grilled cheese sandwich.

What do you like to eat with pickles? Or do you even like them at all? Share with us below!