Ah, ramen, the stereotypical staple of every college kid's diet. For the average college student like you and me, ramen definitely brings the goods: it's cheap, quick to fix, and oh so delicious. But nutritious? Nah.
While ramen noodles might seem like the perfect mealtime choice in theory, every student knows they probably aren't the wisest diet choice when it comes to nutrition. But what if things didn't have to be that way? What if ramen noodles could be delicious and *gasp* more nutritious?
You read that right, my friends. It's time to make some noodles that even your momma would be proud of. So grab the nearest package of ramen, your chopsticks, and prep your microwave, 'cause eating healthier ramen noodles is easy with these four tips.
Say No To Sodium
There's no doubt that one of the best parts about eating ramen noodles is slurping down that tasty, salty broth, but sadly, sodium is also one of the major nutritional downfalls of ramen noodles.
Checking the nutrition label on one of my own packs of Maruchan ramen noodles (chicken flavor), I find that there are 830 milligrams of sodium in half of the package...and really, who only eats half a block of ramen noodles? That means a total of 1,660 milligrams for the whole package. According to the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, Americans should stick to consuming less than 2,300 mg of sodium a day, which is hard to do if one package of ramen is taking up about 72% of your total sodium allowance for the day.
Next time you're at the store, check the shelves for ramen that's low in sodium. Maruchan offers ramen noodles with 25% less sodium in the beef and chicken flavors. This simple switch will definitely get you on the path to eating healthier ramen noodles.
Go For Green (And Orange, And Red)
Adding veggies is a quick and simple way to add some valuable nutritional content to your next bowl of ramen - and no, the tiny dehydrated slivers of green onions and carrots already added into some packaged ramen noodles don't count. We're talking real, vitamin-packed, mineral-rich veggies here, folks. Consider adding some fresh or frozen broccoli to your ramen for a boost of vitamin C and healthy fiber, or maybe some chopped carrots for an added dose of both vitamin A and vitamin C. You can either add your veggies raw, steamed, or cook them in the broth itself as you heat up your ramen noodles (yum). Either way, fixing up a bowl of ramen complete with lots of colorful veggies is bound to make your momma at least a little proud.
Pack On The Protein
Vitamins and minerals aren't all that ramen noodles are lacking. Adding protein to your ramen is not only a fantastic way to up the flavor, but also to increase nutritional content. Adding protein to your ramen noodles can be as simple as slicing up a hardboiled egg or adding the leftover mushroom chicken takeout you got the other day. Consider matching your choice of protein to the flavor of ramen noodles you'll be fixing, such as beef stir fry with beef-flavored ramen. Looking for an added protein that's not meat? Try peas or tofu - they both contain the punch of protein you're looking for.
Creativity Is Key
Last but not least, one of the best ways to start eating healthier ramen noodles is to ditch the plain-Jane bowl of ramen and start getting creative. While ramen noodles alone might not be the most nutritious, making them a part of other healthier dishes is a great way to consume more nutrients while still satisfying your ramen craving.
How about sandwiching fresh vegetables and a fried egg, lean chicken breast, hamburger, or veggie burger between two delicious ramen "buns"? Or perhaps this crunchy Asian ramen noodle salad complete with edamame, almonds, and mandarin oranges is calling your name? Getting creative with a new ramen-themed recipe is not only the perfect way to add nutrients to your next batch of ramen, but to also make it a little less boring.
Eating healthier ramen noodles truly is oh so easy with these tips. The next time you reach for that pack of ready-to-make ramen, stop and think of how you might make those noodles both delicious and nutritious. All you gotta do is think outside the bowl.