Healthy Eating: 3 Reasons Why You Should Start Eating Vietnamese Food

In a recent article on CNN, Annie Corapi has positioned Vietnamese food at the top three healthiest ethnic cuisines which believed to be “light, nutritious, and incredibly yummy” . To make things clear, I have got a small talk with chef Bay to find out 5 reasons (according to our health-conscious chef) we should all have more Vietnamese dishes on our tables.

1.    To keep your look younger!!!

Meat is not the main attraction in Vietnamese Cuisine, we love vegetable, we love salad. First- time visitor to Vietnam can be surprised by a huge number of authentic salad selections in this country. One of the most famous vegie dishes all over Vietnam is the (green) mango salad which is marinated with fish sauce (not salt) and mint. Such dish is full of vitamin E, a very useful element to fight free radicals in your body (one of the major causes of pre mature ageing).

My favorite mango salad will help me stay young forever!!!

2.       To aid your digestion!!!

Vietnamses cooking style employs a wide range of “traditional flavourings” (including cilantro, mint, Thai basil, star anise, and red chili) to remedies all sort of aliments; and cilantro and mint are already proved to support the function of liver as well as relief from indigestion.

In the past, Vietnamese farmers’ experience indicate that a bowl of soup (full of herb) is the best medicine to find of bloating 

3.       To lose weight… (Chef Bay’s favorite part)

"This cuisine, prepared the traditional way, relies less on frying and heavy coconut-based sauces for flavor and more on herbs, which makes it lower in calories," – said Chef Bay.

A giant bowl of Vietnamese Sour Clam Soup (Morning Glory soup for example) contain less than 300 calories each and probably 0g of fat per serving, which mean you could eat one every day together with a small bowl of rice for lunch/ dinner as part of your diet program.

A giant bowl of Vietnamese Sour Clam Soup (Morning Glory soup for example) contain less than 300 calories each

Danger: Almost Vietnamese dishes are healthy to be eaten, please be careful with Vietnamese traditional dishes for Chinese New Year (Banh Chung, Gio Thu, Thit Dong). Such dishes are prepared for the below 10 degree Celsius weather will contain a large amount of fat and calories to maintain the flow of energy during for Vietnamese People.

 

The ugly truth about MSG in food – better to avoid it!!! [TIPS]

The controversial cooking ingredient  

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a popular flavor enhancer to be added to many Asian dishes, processed meats, and canned food.
According to Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is generally “safe”. However, over the years, the FDA has received many reports of reactions to food containing MSG – known as MSG symptoms:

• Headache 
• Flushing 
• Sweating 
• Facial pressure or tightness 
• Numbness, tingling or burning in the face, neck and other areas 
• Rapid, fluttering heartbeats (heart palpitations) 
• Chest pain 
• Nausea 
• Weakness 

(Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D)

Ugly truth about the use of MSG in many Asian restaurants 

I used to work in 3 Chinese restaurants back in Switzerland for 4 years from 2008; and I have leant a simple trick to sell more and more drink in the restaurant => add a lot of MSG to the dishes, that will make the customer feel very very thirsty (I try to eat those dishes myself and you probably can predict the outcome). I come back to Vietnam, do some sort of travel and try many dishes all over the country (I am sort of food tourist). Again, I recognize in Vietnam, we use the same trick to force our client to buy more drink.

Add a lot of MSG to the dishes will make customers feel thirsty

TIPS from my own experience 

1. Do not use MSG for your cooking, use seasoning powder instead – still giving flavor.
2. If you “have” to eat out, ask the chef not to put MSG in your food.
3. If you feel the taste – slightly salty & sweet – by the middle of your tongue => you are having MSG in your food.
4. Many “Pho” restaurant use MSG (excessively) to make the soup taste better without spend lot of money on buying pork/ beef bones. Check the water of your “Pho” soup, if it clear but still taste good => they do put MSG. The “Pho” with opaque soup are safer to each.

Be careful with clear-soup "Pho"

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The Heritage of Vietnamese - The museum at Cau Go (part 2)

4. Coal iron 
During the period of governmental subsidy, there was an assumption that only rich people can own a coal iron. Such priceless utensil was utilized day and night; especially at the time Chinese New Year is closed by, it was shared among several families to help ironing the most beautiful clothes for Tet.

Only rich people can own a coal iron

5. Radio 
Before and up to the period of governmental subsidy, updating the news or listening to music through a radio is indispensable spiritual activity for so many people. To own a radio, one has to spend a few ounces of gold and so it usually appears only in wealthy families, the household business or government officials.

6. Butterfly Sewing Machine
Butterfly Sewing Machine originated from China. During the 70s of the 19th century, it appeared only in wealthy families and was the " dowry " dream of all girls who prepared to get marriage. At that time , only this machine had reverse gear. Therefore, it was famous for possessing superior technologies Vietnam than any other sewing machines ..

Butterfly Sewing Machine originated from China

7. Calor fan

Originated in France, the Calor fan was introduced to Vietnam under French occupation (the 30s of 19th century). Only the rich people and the one who is working for French Government can buy it. After the August Revolution, the Vietnamese people still kept them for utilizing.

Calor fan was introduced to Vietnam under French occupation