It says in the book that you can generally use any herbs and spices apart from salt, garlic salt or anything that includes salt lol! Says to make food tastier by adding them but doesn't give amounts! While I've been on step 2 for my 12th week I've used loads if chilli n garlic and I've still lost! I tend to have all the sweet flavoured shakes rather than soups so have been craving savoury flavours lol!