สวัสดี From Thailand!

Riding elephants, exploring the jungles, visiting temples and enjoying Thai food are among the many things to do in Thailand. Thai cuisine is known being complex; meals usually contain at least three fundamental tastes in each dish (sour, sweet, salty, bitter, and spicy). Most Thai food is based on fruits such as coconut, papaya, lime and mango; vegetables such as carrots, eggplant, cucumbers, garlic and chili peppers; protein such as shrimp, peanut, tofu, chicken and cashews. Soup, rice noodles and jasmine tea are also very popular in Thailand.

Flower and produce stand in Bangkok Thailand

Due to the fact that the plane ride would take at least 20 hours, my parents have had no desire to go to Thailand thus I have never been and probably won’t be able to go until I am an adult with an income of my own. Until then I’ll just have to rely on Thai food in town, good thing we have Basil Court which happens to be the ultimate Thai restaurant despite being in a basement.  Tom yam kai, yam mamuang, and kaeng khao wan goong are the absolute best dishes!

Tom yam kai is a lemongrass soup made with coconut milk, ginger, mushrooms and of course lemongrass.  Lemongrass is full of  iron, potassium, calcium, vitamins A and C and magnesium , all used to help your body's nervous system, respiratory system and digestive system. Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties and is proven to lower your risk of developing respiratory problems, ovarian cancer and colon cancer.

Tom yam kai

Yam mamuang is not your traditional salad; it has mangoes, cashews, peppers, onion topped with lime juice and coriander. Mangoes are an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin A and fiber that all contributes to immaculate immunity. Cashews are jam packed with good fats, protein and magnesium sure to keep you fuller longer.

Yam mamuang

Kaeng khao wan goong is a green curry made with eggplant, bamboo, chicken and red peppers served with basmati rice. Eggplants, I know, sounds gross right? They are actually one of the best veggies ever. Eggplants have a similar texture to potatoes and take on whatever flavor is around them so in this case green curry flavor. PLUS they have a third of the calories per serving than potatoes. *eggplant emoji* 

Kaeng khao wan goong on basmati rice

ጤና ይስጥልኝ From Ethiopia!

Formerly know as Abyssinia and home of 5th largest coffee exports (1), the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is full of mountains, valleys and delectable dishes sure to make any one's mouth water. Ethiopian food comes in many forms, from beef to vegan dishes, there's something for everyone.

A typical meal consists of some sort of wat (stew) served on top of injera (flat bread).

Wat is stew made from a wide variety of vegetables, spices and proteins.  Anything from lentils to lamb can be used as the main component (the protein) of wat.  Carrots, potatoes, onions, garlic, peas and tomatoes can be found in most types of wat although many people just use what’s on hand and don’t follow any specific recipe. As for the protein, many living in poverty can’t afford to have meat every day, Ethiopians eat large amounts of beans, lentils and chickpeas - all great options for meat substitutes plus the bonus fiber makes it that much healthier.  

Similarly to India, Ethiopia uses a generous amount of strong spices such as turmeric, cardamom, nutmeg, cinnamon, and clove. (These are just a few examples of the many different spices found in Ethiopia’s cuisine). Many people find it absolutely disgusting not to use utensils but in Ethiopia it is quite common. The forks and spoons are replaced with injera, flat bread used mainly to pick up wat. Injera is made of the teff grain and is recognized as a superfood due to its amazing health benefits.  Teff is full of protein, fiber, calcium, iron, magnesium and vitamin B.

Wide variety of Ethiopian dishes served on injera

Despite never having been to Ethiopia, I'm glad that I have an Ethiopian restaurant here in town that gives me the opportunity to explore the cuisine and culture of Ethiopia which turns out is pretty awesome! For that I am grateful to World Marathon Ethiopian Restaurant.  First off let me tell you that exotic cuisine may not always look appetizing (because of its stew look) but it sure does taste delicious! World Marathon has dishes that are to die for! The ultimate meal comprises meser Wat and doro tibs.

Meser wat is a red lentil stew flavored with ginger, onion and chilies. The lentils have potassium, calcium, zinc, vitamin K, and fiber and the chilies are full of vitamin A and C which are all key to maintaining a healthy diet.

Meser wat on injera

Doro tibs is chicken pieces in a sauce made from onions, tomatoes, garlic and hot pepper. Tomatoes have really high quantities of vitamin C that with the protein from the chicken make this meal a must try for immune system and muscle health everywhere. 

Go for it!  Give Ethiopian cuisine a try.  You won't regret it.

Doro tibs served with a side of greens on injera

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1. http://www.ecf-coffee.org/about-coffee/coffee-facts

こんにちは From Japan!

Japan: birth place of karate, Pokémon and of course Sushi. Sushi among other Japanese cuisine is one of the biggest contributors to Japan's health.  Japanese people have a less than 5% obesity rate (1)! Japanese folk gravitate towards meals focusing on vegetables, legumes, seafood and pickled/fermented food – and rarely eat sugary/highly processed foods.

The Japanese also don't eat vast quantities of any one type of food in a sitting. The popular bento box gives small portions of a wide variety of foods at each meal. The greater the variation, the healthier it is.  Well, obviously not if it's 5 different types of candy and junk food put on the same plate but you get the idea. They have perfected the well-balanced diet with loads of fruit and veg, all containing a wide variety of necessary vitamins and minerals, protein, calcium and fiber from the seafood and legumes. Pair that with the drink of longevity and you’ve got a recipe for success.

The classic bento box

Green tea, and not sugary soda, is the most popular beverage in Japan.  Green tea has been in Japanese culture and tradition since it was popularized in 1738 by Soen Nagatani (2). He was the developer of the steam drying process of tea leaves that preserved the tea, making it stay fresh longer. Aside from water, green tea is probably the healthiest beverage to drink. The tea is antibacterial (kills many viruses) and is full of antioxidants, which help reduce your risk of developing high cholesterol, heart disease, cancers, Alzheimer's, Parkinson’s and metabolic syndrome.

Mmm...

Japan is on my bucket list – primarily because of its food. Japanese food is the bomb! But until I can get my stomach to Japan, I will have to bring Japan to my stomach.  One of my favorite Japanese restaurants in Windsor is Hikari. They have amazing sushi rolls and sashimi; and soups and noodle dishes for those who do not favor raw fish. The Philadelphia roll and the sake nigiri are the absolute best! As cooked dishes go, the kake udon noodles is the the way to go.

The Philadelphia roll is sushi made with salmon, cucumber, avocado and cream cheese. The seaweed is jam packed with magnesium and potassium guaranteed to help lower anxiety and  improve your sleep. The cream cheese is surprisingly high in vitamin A, an essential component of eye health. It's a win win.

Philadelphia roll

The sake nigiri is essentially just a piece of raw fish on top on a ball of rice usually paired with wasabi and soy sauce for an extra kick. The omega 3’s from the salmon are sure to give your brain a much needed boost!

Sake nigiri

Kake udon is a noodle soup with mild flavor. Its simplicity sure is a crowd pleaser. The main ingredient in the broth is kelp, a wonderful source of vitamins and minerals and with even more calcium than milk. Nothing is better than a warm bowl of Kake udon on a cold winter's day-like today!

Kake udon

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1. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2228rank.html
2. http://www.hibiki-an.com/contents.php/cnID/17

नमस्ते From India!

Land of Bollywood, rickshaws and delicious flavorful foods, Indian culture is among the most distinct and interesting in the world. Know for their usage of bold and aromatic spices, India is a power house of health enhancing and nutrient dense foods and flavors. Spices such as turmeric, ginger, red chilies, cumin, cardamom, black pepper, cinnamon, and coriander are more likely than not found in most Indian recipes. Strong spices like these are full of antioxidants that help fight off many diseases such as cancers, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Indian cuisine features along with a variety of vegetables, lentils and chickpeas that are full of fiber; dhokla, curd and idly are all fermented dishes high in probiotics and enzymes to aid digestion. Although I live far from India, I’m really lucky that India has come over 7,000 miles in the form of a number of Indian restaurants that bring the flavors directly to me most of the time in a take-out container.

Hot Damn

My restaurant of choice for Indian take-out is a small family run place called India Palace. India Palace may not get 5 out of 5 stars on décor but it does get 6 out of 5 stars on tastiness. They sell a wide variety of dishes from appetizers and soups to curries and vegetarian options. My all-time favorites are daal mulligatawny, mushroom masala and chicken tikka.

Daal Mulligatwny is a coriander flavored soup with lentils and veggies; the fiber’s guaranteed to make your tummy happy.

Daal Mulligatwny

Mushroom Masala is mushrooms and onions in a curry sauce often times served with rice or naan. The curry contains many anti-inflammatory properties sure to make you chow down guilt free.

Mushroom Masala

Chicken Tikka is a tandoori flavored chicken. With the boost of health benefits of the spices plus the protein from the chicken this meal is sure to make on anyone’s go-to list of preferred take-out.

Chicken Tikka 

Bonjour From France!

France is known for being the country of romance and culture; I know it as the country of great food. Most, if not all classic French staples contain fat and/or carbs in some sort or another, milk, cheese, yogurt, fois gras, baguettes, croissants and the list goes on and on. In my opinion, these are all delicious (and fattening) treats! Having been to France myself a few times I couldn't help but wonder "Where are all the fat people?" Despite the French's love of rich foods most are relatively healthy with only about 17% (1) of the population being obese.

How do they do it?
Many explain France's health as The French Paradox. It boils down to 4 things they do that we don't: 1) They don't snack between meals; 2) They don't eat and run, giving food time to digest; 3) They eat way less fast food and highly processed foods; 4) They don't eat nearly as much as us, keeping portion sizes moderate to small. I thought it would definitely be worth sharing my trip's delicious (and healthy?) bites.

Le Grenier a Pain is THE place to be. It's the best bakery in all of Paris, well of all the ones I went too anyway. I found my love for French pastries and croissants there and apparently I was not the only appreciator because the line went out the door and down the block.

Decisions, decisions, decisions...

During my trip I would definitely say I tried my fair share of new and exciting foods but I was sad to return home leaving my favorite foods behind. Low and behold we have access to the internet and I was about to find awesome recipes for some of those new found favorite foods.

Tarte Tatin
The french equivalent to the all-American apple pie, one slice give you half a serving of the daily recommened amount of fruit. Tots healthy! Bring on the tarts! Find the recipe here.

Tarte tatin

Croque-Monsieur
Basically the fanciest grilled-cheese you'll ever eat, and the tastiest one too! With calcium from the cheese and protein from the ham you'll be eating this sandwich with #noregrets. Find the recipe here.

Croque-Monsieur

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(1) http://obesity.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=004371