What Are the Drawbacks of Instant Noodles?
Instant noodles or instant ramen noodles that are available commercially across the globe in supermarkets or stores may provide some amounts of iron, protein, and manganese, however, the major drawback of many instant noodle packs is that they are processed foods. As instant noodles usually lack fiber, protein, or any other important micronutrients or vitamins important for bodily immunity, the frequency of consumption of instant noodles may not be recommended by nutrition research. Current Nutrition research shows that regular consumption of instant noodles has been associated both in children and in adults with an increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome, risk of obesity due to abdominal fat deposition, abnormal levels of blood lipids, and LDL (low density cholesterol) or bad cholesterol in the blood.
Is There Any Nutritional Value in Noodles?
Generally, noodles are made from unleavened wheat dough. Then they are flattened and then shaped or cut into long strips or strings. But today's commercial noodles are packed with potentially harmful preservatives like for example propylene glycol that is commonly used to retain moisture in the noodles or the seasoning sachets that have loaded additional sodium content in them. As commercially available instant noodles especially are made from processed refined flour, they just fill up with empty calories and leave with little to no nutritional value. They also yield no feeling of satiety and can leave the kid craving for more food or potentially cause them to be craving or addicted to refined and processed junk foods that are harmful to systemic health. In kids, instant noodle consumption is more harmful to multiorgan systems (such as on the liver and the brain) on a long-term basis apart from the predisposition to being overweight because of the processed nature of foods, the added preservatives, wax coating over the noodles and the additional sodium content.
What Are Healthier Alternatives to Instant Noodles?
- It is always a healthier alternative to substitute these commercially available noodles for millet noodles. Millets being nutrient-dense can aid in improving or boosting the child's mental health and physical build.
- Noodles can also be homemade if one knows the right recipes to do so without any added salt sugar or any other preservatives. They can be made from durum wheat, buckwheat, pulses, grains, beans, rice, and more all of which are healthier ingredients that can be used for or feed the child with.
- Legumes, beans, whole grains, pulses, and even millets, in general, are immunity-boosting and rich in vitamins and minerals (most commonly vitamins A, C, and K).
- One can opt for low-sodium versions of store-bought noodles from supermarkets by examining the ingredient and nutrition labels on the product that are buying, and can make a conscious effort to significantly reduce the excess sodium content, thus making a healthier choice. Look for noodle brands or variations that are specifically labeled as low-sodium options.
- Instead of using the instant flavor or seasoning packets they provide with the commercial noodle packets, one can create their own homemade broth by either using fresh herbs and spices (for vegans) or chicken stock with herbs for nonvegetarians. One can simply opt for a protein-rich topping over noodles like eggs, fish, chicken, tofu, and more.
What Are Healthier Seasonings for Noodles That One Might Prefer?
The instant seasoning sachets that are seen in commercial products are harmful to child's health and neither contains soluble fiber nor minerals. Always opt for healthier ingredients that can boost a child's immunity like incorporating adequate amounts of fresh vegetables and sauces that are packed with seeds or extracted from healthy legumes or veggies to load in some protein content within a child's noodles.
Given below are a few options that make for a healthy seasoning over homemade or millet noodles:
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The Italian sauce seasoning is a combination of healthy ingredients like garlic, cloves, parmesan, and basil that gives a rich greenish seasoning and is loaded with antioxidants that can season with over noodles.
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Sesame seeds and linseeds can be added as a seasoning and for flavor over a child's noodles. These tiny seeds are packed with healthy oils and high proportions of healthy unsaturated fats. In fact, these seeds have been used in traditional medicine globally and have excellent health benefits.
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Pumpkins are nutrient-rich (beta carotene, vitamins A, C, phosphorus, and potassium) and can be added for a sweet and simple flavor, and zest into noodles (that can bake or stir the pumpkins). It can satiate the child's appetite better.
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Lime or lemon is a great seasoning agent for the child's noodles because of the rich vitamin content or ascorbic acid that boosts immunity and maintains essential metabolism in the body.
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Turmeric powder not only makes for a great taste when added to the noodles but also is flavorful and gives the much-needed natural color to the noodles that can be appealing to the child. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, it is the best thing to sprinkle over or add to the noodles.
Conclusion:
Though an occasional indulgence in instant noodles is not harmful to systemic health, it is always wiser to opt for millet-based or veggie-based noodles and healthier seasonings ditching the instant flavor or seasoning packets that accompany the noodles packets. Low-sodium versions of commercial noodles can also be a good alternative. Also while instant noodles are usually tempting for many because of the flavors and energy-dense carbs, they can also choose to give the children other healthier options like brown rice, oats, cruciferous veggie side dishes or starters, and potatoes that can be deemed much more beneficial, to systemic health of the family. According to current nutrition research, because of the growing risk factors of individuals to developing lifestyle diseases such as central obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cancers, nutrition experts usually advocate that the consumption of processed or refined foods should be limited and instead advocate the consumption of whole foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy, plant or animal-based protein sources and heart-healthy mono or polyunsaturated fats in order to sustain a healthy immune and cardiovascular system.
