Eating Healthy

[Boo]

I eat out at least 2 times a day and have been doing that for years now. It's sad because I just came to realize all the crap I've consumed from eating out so much (msg in particular), not to mention the huge dent in my wallet

I don't cook (very disastrous in the kitchen) and everyone in my family is too busy to do so. Any suggestion on how I can prepare simple yet healthy meals at home? I plan to cut down restaurant food consumption to about 3 times a week.

[HuangYushi]

If you like porridge / congee / 粥, you can try this:

===

MICROWAVE CONGEE

Equipment:
- Microwave oven
- Microwave-safe casserole with lid (must fit into the microwave when closed)
- Spoon (any)

Main Ingredient:
Rice (one fistful gives 1 bowl when cooked)

Raw flavouring (choose one):
- Sliced fish and ginger strips
- Diced chicken seasoned with light soya sauce and black pepper
- Minced pork seasoned with light soya sauce and black pepper

Method:
1. Put rice and one raw flavouring into the casserole.
2. Add water until about 2/3 to 3/4 full. Cover with lid.
3. Placed covered casserole in the microwave oven and cook with HI power for at least 40-45 minutes.
4. Stir once about halfway through.
5. When cooked, season with salt or light soya sauce and black pepper to taste.
6. Eat.

===

Pros:
1. You don't have to light a fire.
2. You don't have to pay attention during the cooking process.
3. The resulting meal is self-contained and reasonably healthy.
4. You only have a spoon and a lidded casserole to wash, if you eat it right out of the casserole itself.

Hope that helps.

HYS

[junny]

How about sandwiches? They're easy to prepare and pretty healthy. If you like vegetables, you can also try salads - there should be some recipes on the net to get you started.

[HuangYushi]

Here's another one. It requires no cooking at all.

Healthy Sandwiches

Ingredients:
- Wholemeal bread (or any other bread with whole grains)
- Deli meat of your choice (thinly sliced)
- Salad greens (you can buy these ready-to-eat in the supermarket)
- Tomato (sliced)
- Cheese (sliced)
- Butter, preferably unsalted.

Method:
1. Butter two slices of bread.
2. Assemble sandwich with deli meat, salad greens, tomatoes and cheese.
3. Repeat if you want another sandwich.
4. Eat with a favourite hot drink.

---

EDIT: Haha, junny beat me to it on the sandwiches!

[cosmogal]

You can try oven cooking. Just put all ingredients e.g. fish, chicken, etc into the baking tray. Cover it with aluminium foil. Heat at 200 degree for about 10-15 minutes. Ready to serve. You got no choice but to cook your own rice. I don't encourage Microwave cooking.

[Boo]

Thanks HuangYushi, your recipes are very detailed and thoughtful

Junny, I hate salads! Yes, it's sad but I prefer my veggies cooked.

Cosmogal, I thought of oven-cooking but it's usually a bit more than I can finish in a few days.

[yittz]

You can try oven cooking. Just put all ingredients e.g. fish, chicken, etc into the baking tray. Cover it with aluminium foil. Heat at 200 degree for about 10-15 minutes. Ready to serve. You got no choice but to cook your own rice. I don't encourage Microwave cooking.

What's wrong with Microwave cooking rice?

[expression]

Junny, I hate salads! Yes, it's sad but I prefer my veggies cooked.

Cosmogal, I thought of oven-cooking but it's usually a bit more than I can finish in a few days.

I also prefer my veggies cooked. And eating them with chopsticks, not a fork.

Hehe, cute avatar Boo. Now I won't be confused with your gender.

What's wrong with Microwave cooking rice?

Once in a while is fine, but frequent microwaving is pretty 熱氣 in Chinese terms (esp. Cantonese): you can get sore throat, swollen gum, constipation, dry skin/pimples etc. Other 熱氣 things include BBQ, deep fried foods, lychee, mango... all those delicious stuff.

《素问·疟论》：“夏伤于暑，热气盛，藏于皮肤之内。
Scientifically, I think it might be related to poor detoxicification, organ "burning" by dehydration (likely because it is desperately trying to dilute some concentrated toxic material) and hence GI tract inflammation...

Of course, it's all empirical and I'm not an MD. Just speculating on personal experiences.

[Boo]

I also prefer my veggies cooked. And eating them with chopsticks, not a fork.

Hehe, cute avatar Boo. Now I won't be confused with your gender.


Once in a while is fine, but frequent microwaving is pretty 熱氣 in Chinese terms (esp. Cantonese): you can get sore throat, swollen gum, constipation, dry skin/pimples etc. Other 熱氣 things include BBQ, deep fried foods, lychee, mango... all those delicious stuff.

《素问·疟论》：“夏伤于暑，热气盛，藏于皮肤之内。
Scientifically, I think it might be related to poor detoxicification, organ "burning" by dehydration (likely because it is desperately trying to dilute some concentrated toxic material) and hence GI tract inflammation...

Of course, it's all empirical and I'm not an MD. Just speculating on personal experiences.

I microwave my food all the time!


P.S. I got an avatar just for you, expression

[expression]

Lol thanks for your consideration.

But I think microwaving is not nearly half as bad as deep fried or BBQ. Again from personal empirical experience.
Deep dried >> BBQ > hot pot > microwave, oven

[girllikeme]

Like previous suggestions, sandwiches are always good. Also, if you want to experiement a bit, you can make souvlakis.

Lamb souvlakis are always pretty nice. If you have a griller, grill the pita bread and the lamb, and add some lettuce, tomato, or cook onions with some garlic sauce. Yum

Always keep a tub of ice-cream in your fridge. Best to get gelati - much healthier than full cream ice-cream. Also, have milk and all, so when you're thirsty, you can make some fruit smoothies.

Here's one of my favourite smoothies:

Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Smoothie Recipe
Ingredients:
6 large strawberries
1 cup vanilla or strawberry ice cream
1 slice pound cake
1 banana
1 cup of whole milk

Directions:
Blend the banana and pound cake with the milk until very smooth and well mixed. Add the strawberries and ice cream and blend until strawberries are mixed in.

Oh also, buy lots of fruit at home. Best snacks - and snack/museli bars.

Hope this helps!

[expression]

Congee is great but I'd prefer using a rice cooker for it.

[Boo]

I didn't know BBQ food is bad. Thought it was alright since it's not greasy/oily. I generally try to stay away from fried foods but sometimes I just can't help it

[Boo]

Like previous suggestions, sandwiches are always good. Also, if you want to experiement a bit, you can make souvlakis.

Lamb souvlakis are always pretty nice. If you have a griller, grill the pita bread and the lamb, and add some lettuce, tomato, or cook onions with some garlic sauce. Yum

Always keep a tub of ice-cream in your fridge. Best to get gelati - much healthier than full cream ice-cream. Also, have milk and all, so when you're thirsty, you can make some fruit smoothies.

Here's one of my favourite smoothies:

Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Smoothie Recipe
Ingredients:
6 large strawberries
1 cup vanilla or strawberry ice cream
1 slice pound cake
1 banana
1 cup of whole milk

Directions:
Blend the banana and pound cake with the milk until very smooth and well mixed. Add the strawberries and ice cream and blend until strawberries are mixed in.

Oh also, buy lots of fruit at home. Best snacks - and snack/museli bars.

Hope this helps!

I'm thinking about stocking up on fruits since it's fresh and healthy. Not a big fan of smoothies since I rather eat the fruits but thanks for the recipe though!

[Guo Xiang]

How about eating grilled food frequently? Is that healthy or unhealthy.

[Guo Xiang ( :]

I don't know it this helps but basically you could cook a bunch of jasmine rice at the beginning of the week. Add some cooked frozed veggies like carrots, corn and soybeans. Put in in portions and then put it in the fridge. Then at meal time heat it up in the microwave and eat. That is if you don't mind eating the same thing a lot.

If you like sour things for dessert just get some lemonade (I perfer Newmans Own) and just put in a scoop of lemon sorbet.

[LuNaR]

i have ur same problem

in search of more ingredients!!!

[Bubblegum]

If you like noodles you can try a hot pot. All you have to do is boil noodles (such as wudong) together with fishballs, chopped lettuce/cabbage/pak choi, prawns, crab sticks and meat. Once it is cooked you add some spring onions, a little soy sauce and chicken stock to taste. You can also add drops of sesame seed oil.

Boiling food doesn't have to mean tasteless.

Pasta is another healthy option. They're easy to make too.

[expression]

Steaming is another great way to make healthy food.

Buy those frozen boneless fish fillet from supermarkets. Defrost a strip, place it on top of lettuce or 紹菜 in a metal plate. Add a tiny bit of water, starch flour, oil, soy sauce on top. Steam for 5-10 min until the fish is cooked.

紹菜 works best. It tastes very sweet after steaming and is great with the fish. Both whitemeat and veggie in 1 dish!

[Boo]

Steaming is another great way to make healthy food.

Buy those frozen boneless fish fillet from supermarkets. Defrost a strip, place it on top of lettuce or 紹菜 in a metal plate. Add a tiny bit of water, starch flour, oil, soy sauce on top. Steam for 5-10 min until the fish is cooked.

紹菜 works best. It tastes very sweet after steaming and is great with the fish. Both whitemeat and veggie in 1 dish!

I can't read the Chinese, expression