Dill & Fennel

Fennel, the bulbous white vegetable tasting of licorice, also called finocchio, pairs well with dill, a feathery herb with a tangy flavor. Together, these foods offer nutritional value that includes many vitamins and minerals, despite the low macronutrient content. Fennel and dill are low in calories and add little sodium to your diet.

Calories

A serving of 1 cup of sliced fennel with five sprigs of dill introduces only 27 calories into your diet. In a typical 2,000-calorie meal plan, this amount only accounts for 1.3 percent of your allowable calories in a 24-hour period. Consider serving this side dish with a lean protein such as chicken or fish and a healthy whole grain portion -- quinoa, millet or barley make good choices -- for a balanced meal.

Macronutrients

The low quantity of calories in a serving of fennel and dill equate to a low amount of macronutrients -- the calories in any food derive from fat, protein and carbohydrates. One serving of this dish contains 6.4 g of carbohydrates, only a small portion of the 225 to 325 g you require daily. You also take in 1.1 g of protein -- you need 46 to 56 g of this macronutrient each day. Fennel and dill is quite low in fat, containing only 0.1 g per serving.

Sodium

It is important to keep your sodium intake low -- below 1,500 mg daily, according to the American Heart Association -- and consuming a serving of fennel and dill can help you achieve this. One portion of this dish contains 46 mg. This amount can contribute to the amount necessary for the function of your body, 180 to 500 mg, without contributing toward hypertension, a risk of eating too much sodium.

Vitamin C

Fennel and dill serve up vitamin C -- 18 percent of the daily recommended intake per serving -- an important vitamin for your immune system. Many people have heard that the vitamin C in fennel and dill is good for treating colds. Research published in the May 2009 issue of the "Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners" points to evidence that vitamin C does not affect symptoms, although it may help you get well quicker.

Other Vitamins and Minerals

Eat a serving of fennel and dill, and you take in 10 percent of the potassium you require each day as well as 9 percent of the manganese and 6 percent of the folate. You also get smaller amounts of vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6, pantothenic acid, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, copper and selenium.