Category: Foods

Top 10 Must-not-miss Thai Food

Thai cuisine is one of the best gourmets in the world. It is well known for the diversity of ingredients, outstanding spiciness and ample medicinal properties. Most of Thai food is cooked and refined with more than two types of herbs or spices which are beneficial to health.

The (mostly unconscious) principle Thai food is the balance of five flavors which are spicy, salty, sweet, sour and bitter. The one indispensible ingredient which is generally used in seasoning a majority of Thai cuisine is fish sauce. Thai food is eaten either as a single dish or with rice. Steamed rice is the staple food although sticky rice is more popular in the north and northeast of Thailand.

Thai food is one of many things that you should not miss while you are traveling in this beautiful Land of Smiles. Since there are numberless delectable Thai dishes, I am writing this guideline for you to select the most distinctive and authentic ones out of the plethora of Thai signature dishes.
The following list is a top 10 rank of Thai food that you must not miss. The consideration and ranking is based on the popularity, uniqueness and authenticity of the delicacies. Here are the winners.

10. Kai Pad Med Mamuang Himmapan (Stir-Fried Chicken with Cashew Nuts)
Even though Kai Pad Med Mamuang Himmapan does not represent the overview of Thai food but it is a very nice treat to your bland taste buds. Since it is by no means spicy or hot, this slightly sweet and salty chicken fried with crunchy cashew nuts is aptly satiating for children or beginners who are not used to spices.

9. Por Pia Tord (Fried Spring Roll)
Fried spring roll is one of the most popular appetizers among foreigners because it is not spicy and comes with sweet and sour dip. Spring rolls are crispy pastries with fried vegetable fillings. Though spring rolls are commonplace in many Southeast Asian countries, Thai Por Pia is different in flavors with a special dip prepared from Japanese apricot.

8. Panaeng (Meat in Spicy Coconut Cream)
Panaeng can be cooked using either pork, chicken or beef. Panaeng tastes like Thai red curry but the coconut milk sauce is relatively thicker and richer. Compared to Thai red curry, Panaeng is mildly spicy and sweet. Paneang is best served with warm steamed rice. There is nothing to dislike about Panaeng expect the fact that it can be too greasy or fleshy for some people.

7. Som Tam (Spicy Papaya Salad)
Som Tam is one of the most popular foods among Thai people for its fiercely spicy and sour flavors. Som Tam, which literally means Sour Pounded, is a spicy salad made from a mix of fresh vegetables including shredded unripened papaya, yardlong beans and tomato. Som Tam is unique that the spicy dressing and salad vegetables are pounded and mixed in the mortar using a pestle. Somtam is usually served with grilled chicken and sticky rice. Som Tam is good for your health that it contains no fat, low calorie and high vitamins. This is a truly authentic Thai dish that will make a great impression. The only reason why Im ranking Som Tam at No.7 (though it deserves higher rank) is its strong spiciness that might leave your tongue burned and swollen. Just say Mai phed (not spicy) to your waiter if you really want to try.

6. Moo Sa-Te (Grilled Pork Sticks with Turmeric)
This tantalizing sweet-flavored grilled pork sticks are refined with rich, juicy sauce made of turmeric and curry powder. Moo Sa-Te makes a savory hors d’oeuvres that will appease any taste buds. These juicy grilled pork sticks are usually served with two saucy dips one is a mildly spicy thick sauce with ground peanuts, coconut milk and curry powder and another one is a sweet and sour vinegar sauce with chopped shallot, pepper and cucumber to mitigate its oiliness.

5. Tom Yam Kai (Spicy Chicken Soup)
Chicken soup is very good to eat when you have a cold but Tom Yam Kai or spicy chicken soup is a yummy treat that you will fall in love with just in a first sip. Tom Yam Kai is a clear chicken soup seasoned with a blend of chili, lime and fish sauce. The broth is simmered with Thai herbs as lemon grass, shallot and galangal which give it a unique and satiating aroma. My foreign friends order this tasty soup anywhere they go so you should not miss it by any means!

4. Tom Kha Kai (Chicken in Coconut Milk Soup)
Although Tom Kha Kai is another variation of chicken soup, it deserves the No.4 because of its unparalleled taste and popularity. Similar to Tom Yam Kai, the broth is prepared with many types of Thai herbs with the special addition of coconut milk that makes this soup unique. Though the soup is seasoned with chili, lime and fish sauce just like Tom Kha Kai, thanks to the coconut milk, the broth is milder and less spicy. This is probably more liked by non-spicy eaters.

3. Kang Keaw Wan Kai (Green Chicken Curry)
Since we are having three dishes in a row made of Kai, you would have guessed that it is chicken in English. Not that chicken is particularly popular in Thai cuisine; it is usually used in most curry and soup. Kang Kiew Wan, literally translated as Sweet Green Curry, is nicely sweet and slightly spicy and tastes very delightful with a proper blend of the spiciness from green curry chili paste, blandness from coconut milk, sweetness of sugar and saltiness of fish sauce. It is usually eaten with steamed rice or served as a sauce to rice noodle known as Kanom Jeen likewise to how you eat Spaghetti.

2. Pad Thai (Fried Noodle)
This national dish prides itself for its long history traced back in previous centuries. Pad Thai flaunts the authenticity of Thai culinary arts in using only fresh and best ingredients and the well-balancing of the five fundamental flavors. The stir-fried noodle becomes popular because it tastes yummy and comes with a choice to add in a set of seasonings to suit your appetites. Through history, Pad Thai has evolved into two different styles: the classic and the variation. The classic Pad Thai is a stir-fried noodle with eggs, fish sauce, tamarind juice, red chili pepper plus bean sprouts, shrimp and tofu and garnished with crushed peanuts and coriander while another style is relatively dry and lightly-flavored. The latter is easily found in street vendors and dominant in Thai restaurants in the West but the having classic Pad Thai freshly cooked in its original country is a way to go.

1. Tom Yam Goong (Spicy Shrimp Soup)
No other dishes can defeat this renowned Tom Yam Goong as the optimal representative of Thai gourmet. Tom Yam Goong is truly one of a kind with its fierce spiciness and sourness and a blatant use of fragrant herbs including galangal, lemon grass, kaffir lime leaves, shallot, tamarind and chili pepper. There are two styles of Tom Yam; the clear spicy soup and thick spicy soup. The latter is cooked by adding coconut milk or milk to the broth in order to thicken the stock and give the dish a milder flavor. Tom Yam is very versatile and can be made with prawns, chicken, fish and mix of seafood, and mushroom. Tom Yam Goong is the most popular variety of Tom Yam since Spicy Shrimp Soup is the original. Though not very surprising, Tom Yam Goong is definitely a signature dish of Thailand.

Even though it is commonly known that Thai food utilizes many health herbs and spices, there have always been debates whether Thai food is really good for health since they tend to be somewhat greasy. It is important to note that it depends on each dish; some can be highly caloric but many dishes make a good use of herbs. Garlic, for example, is very good healthwise because it can prevent heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and cancer.

No matter what the food is, the same old concept of moderate intake comes into play. From Mcdonalds burger to Japanese Sushi, a key to optimal fitness is to avoid overconsumption. Thus, a claim that Thai food is mainly coconut-based and fattening should never be an adequate reason for you to still order a Big Mac. Ravish your taste buds with Thai food – tasty and healthy!

Join Akshaya Patra Foundation to Provide Food for Children in India

When children are fed well, it shows in their physical and mental growth. The children will be more energetic and playful and more importantly they will be happy. This happy state of mind will enable them learn and explore which will help in their academics. As is stated by MFK Fisher, -First we eat, then we do every thing else.- It is a fact too. Hunger is at all level but the sooner we can address it, the better. The Mid-Day Meal Scheme is one such initiative implemented by Government of India to provide food for children in India.

The Akshaya Patra Foundation under the aegis of Central and State government implements this scheme by providing mid-day meal to children studying in Government and Government-aided schools. By doing so, it also helps in countering hunger at the root level. The Foundation is working towards a future that will be hunger free and educated. It believes in providing unlimited food for education.

One nourishing meal has a big impact on the health and growth of children, and especially for those who are in need. Many instances and testimonials of the beneficiaries of Akshaya Patra’s meal have brought to fore the hard truth that the mid-day meal more often than not is their only full meal. While it is providing food for Indian children, it is also helping the children to remain in school and get educated so they grow up to be responsible and able citizens- able enough to feed their family.

The mid-day meal has contributed in positively in various ways. It has increased enrolment in schools and also has been able to reduce the dropout rates. A stomach that’s full can concentrate better- this factor is evident among children. Studies indicate that the health and general growth of children have also shown considerable improvements.

The success stories of the beneficiaries are a great motivating factor for Akshaya Patra. It works in Public-Private Partnership model. Apart from Government support, it is supported by Corporate and Individual philanthropist. The help of generous donors has been an integral factor. Smile of a child is the most wonderful gesture and everyone has the potential to bring this smile. Come ahead and donate for children. It will not only satiate their hunger but it will also bring them to school.

Your support will bring a welcome change in the future. When you contribute towards food for children in India, you are actually taking a significant step towards countering hunger and illiteracy. So, when you do food donation for children, you are actually guiding the children of India towards a successful and bright future.

Why Acidic Foods Are Bad For Your Health

It is stated a medical fact that all diseases thrive in environments characterized by high levels of acidity. If we want to lead a healthy life, it is imperative for us limit our intake of acidic foods. I ignoring this comes at a high price

Foods rich in acid may cause diseases like obesity, osteoporosis, flu, skin disorders, and even cancer. High acidity also results in cramps, spasms, headaches, joint and muscle pains, and fatigue. Eating too much acidic food and not enough alkaline food can also result to insomnia, stomach ulcers, water retention, and constipation.

Also, besides weakening the immune system, indulging in acidic foods can bring forth a decrease in strength and stamina, slow mental reaction, and ineffective digestion.

Acid foods per se can post a threat to our health, but the ubiquity of these foods even furthers the damage. You see, these foods are almost always splattered in peoples daily menus: from breakfast staples like white rice, eggs, cheese, milk, coffee to main courses like pasta, beef, pork, chicken, turkey, to light meals composed of chocolates and peanuts, beer and soft drinksand the list stretches longer than canteen tables! Foods that are rich in phosphorus, sulphur, and chlorine are not spared from the list since these elements are acid-forming.

So how do we steer clear of acidic foods? While it may seem impossible to escape these usual hunger-solvers, there is still a way to counteract their harmful effects on our health. The so-called alkaline diet, which is designed to neutralize the outcomes of acidic food ingestion through consumption of alkaline-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, and other low-sugar foods, is a viable option. An alkaline diet can help restore the balance between acidity and alkalinity. According to Robert Young, who is a prime promoter of alkaline diet and alternative medicine, it is ideal for the body to have a diet that constitutes an intake of 70-80% alkaline foods and 20-30% acid foods.

So what it all boils down to is moderation. Acidic foods are not all bad for our health. In fact, they are an integral part of the balance Young is pointing out. It is even said that a little amount of acidthe right typecan help lower our blood glucose levels. Acetic acid, which is the chief acid in vinegar, can significantly reduce the glycemic index of a starchy meal.

Xtreme Gain- The Master of Perpetual Release

There are a big number of dietary supplements available in the market these days, almost all of them claim to give amazing results, but any serious old body builder can tell you the real situation. Most supplements just make your pockets empty by feeding you with yeast and starch, they don’t add to lean muscle mass. You should only buy products that have been manufactured inside a good country and ones which has several satisfied users.

(Body building) becomes pretty easy by the use of a good food supplement. Common food items are usually not able to give you the energy required for intense workouts, but if you add (Xtreme Gain) into the diet, then things become a lot better. This amazing food supplement has been made to increase strength of your muscles, in this way you are able to workout really hard. This product has got highly beneficial ingredients that are naturally present in the body and you are not fed with alien elements. By the use of this product you shall have whole day long perpetual release, which means that you would be able to experience the ripped and super pumped look for a long period of time. Serious bodybuilders just love the feel and look of this condition. The users of this product have specifically mentioned this experience of theirs in the testimonials. Matthew a happy user stated that this supplement is even worth purchasing due to its perpetual release feature. He used to stay as ripped as he was after workout throughout the day and ladies went crazy for him. While having the ripped look you feel a lot more confident and that adds a joy to life.

(Xtreme Gain) has become really famous in the media due to its amazing results and 100% satisfaction guarantee. The comments of its happy users can be read on the official website and you can also place your own order on the same site. The ingredients of this product are not hidden in a vault, rather all info is available online and you can read it to satisfy yourself.

Jeffrey Wilks is a freelance journalist traveling the world with the idea to explore all fruits with healthy benefits. His researches are popular all over the world. Check out his other articles for everything you need to know about Fitness Supplement, body building.

What In The World Is A Crossover Food

Searching for healthy, inexpensive and versatile ways to add more protein into your diet? Why not think about dried beans? Dried beans, also recognized as legumes and pulses, aren’t only an excellent source of protein, but are low in fat, packed with vitamins, minerals and both soluble and insoluble fiber. Ask any vegetarian how they get sufficient protein in their diet plan and they most likely will say “I eat a lot of beans”.

I decided to become a vegetarian as a tiny child and my parents (who were not vegetarians by the way) worried that I could be lacking inside the protein essential for growth. So, following consulting with my pediatrician and many books on raising vegetarian kids, they added beans and lentils to the family table. Not only did I grow, but I am the tallest woman in my family, an enormous 5 feet five inches tall. Yea, nicely, my family is not famous for its tall women?

Protein, Fiber, Vitamins and Minerals

Ok, ok, back to the beans. Beans are an superb, non-fat source of protein. Just one cup of beans has about 16 grams, about the exact same as 3 ounces (audio cassette size) piece of chicken, fish or beef.

Simply because they’re a plant, they contain fiber, vitamins and minerals like vegetables. Nutritionists refer to them as “crossover foods” which means they can be employed in a meal as a protein or vegetable item. Take a take a look at the cuisines of various countries and cultures. You will notice that most cultures contain beans, prepared in numerous different ways. Such a versatile food!

Yet another distinctive top quality of beans is the fiber. Beans contain both soluble and insoluble fiber. Huh? What does this mean?

Insoluble fiber is the technical term for what my Mom often referred to as “roughage”. You know.. the stuff that makes food move via your body a lot more easily. Insoluble fiber has received plenty of publicity in recent years because of the link to a high fiber diet and lowered risk of numerous forms of cancer.

Soluble fiber forms a “gooey” substance in the digestive procedure that helps with processing of fats, cholesterol and slows the release of carbohydrates into the bloodstream. The American Diabetic Association loves beans!

Beans are rich in antioxidants, folic acid, vitamin B-6 and magnesium. Folic Acid and B-6 are identified for their ability to lower homocysteine levels inside the blood.

Elevated blood levels of homocysteine inside the blood are related to risk for heart attack, stroke and peripheral vascular illness. 20-40 percent of patients with heart disease have elevated homocysteine levels.

So, whats the downside of this wonderful food? In case you are not utilized to a high fiber diet flatulence. As with the introduction of any high fiber food, go easy with the amounts the first few days until your body adjusts. Then any uncomfortable feeling will possibly pass.

The best way to Cook

You can use canned beans which are nutritionally similar to dried ones. It is a great thought to rinse the beans just before eating them to get rid of the salt and preservatives used in canning.

I tend to attempt and stay away from processed foods where achievable so I buy dried beans and cook them following the directions on the package. Typically, beans are not complicated to cook, but need time. Most beans, except lentils, need an overnight soak in water to soften them up. Then they could be simmered until soft on the stove or in a slow cooker. Generally, the larger the bean, the longer they take to cook. One factor to note: following soaking, rinse the beans and cook them in new water. This will aid prevent flatulence!

Beans could be frozen right after cooking and employed in sauces, soups, salads or anywhere your imagination takes you. Where I live, red bean ice cream is well-liked. Delicious!