White rice is a bland-tasting grain. You can improve its taste and health benefits by adding flavorful ingredients. A number of spices, broths, vegetables and herbs work well to give white rice the flavor it lacks. Since white rice is a refined grain that has had the bran and germ stripped from it, use enriched white rice since this type of rice has had the vitamins and minerals put back into it. Steam the rice and added ingredients to make them healthy, as this method of cooking helps lock in nutrients.

Steam white rice in low-sodium chicken broth or fat-free vegetable broth to boost its taste and health properties. For healthier steamed white rice, use organic broth. Add 1/8 tsp. of saffron to white rice cooked in vegetable broth. Alternately, steam rice in water and flavor it with grated ginger, soy sauce and teriyaki sauce. Lemon juice and lemon zest are other ingredients you can add.

Add fresh mushrooms sauteed in olive oil to white rice. Mushrooms are high in antioxidants. Garlic and onions are flavorful antioxidant foods, too, so consider sauteing these foods and adding them to white rice. Mix scallions, cut carrots and peas into white rice. They contain vitamins A and C and calcium. Sauteed green peppers and tomatoes taste good mixed into white rice that has chili powder and garlic powder added to it.

Improve white rice by adding fresh dill and melted light margarine to it. Dill contains calcium, potassium and vitamins A and C. You also can mix some tzatziki sauce into cooked white rice to make it taste good and be healthy.