The Wonders of Citrus Besides its nutrient power, citrus is a great flavoring agent. Citrus is acidic, making it a natural tenderizer for meats and poultry. All meats are muscles and their tough protein fibers need breaking down. Acidic citrus juices do this. Citrus, like fat, also provides moisture to foods, so use it to replace all or part of the fat in marinades.
Citrus is also good in salad dressings.
Cut down on some of the oil by adding orange, lime, or lemon juice to homemade salad dressing. Don't forget the zest of citrus fruits. The outer skin of the fruit has aromatic oils that boost the flavor of food. Add to dressings, marinades, and salads. Try to use the juice of fresh fruit rather than the bottled stuff.