How to Make Cup Noodles More Nutritious

Dream - Cup noodles can be an emergency food for various occasions, especially when traveling. It tastes delicious and the portion is large enough for one meal.

Cup noodles products usually do not have sufficient nutritional value, so Dream Friends need to complement the dish with other ingredients to make it balanced. There is no need to add a lot of ingredients to make cup noodles healthier. Here's how.

1. Pay Attention to Nutritional Value

Photo: Instagram @jennifervidya

Nutritionist Jennifer Vidya suggests looking at the nutritional value first. The carbohydrates contained in one cup of noodles are sufficient to meet the body's needs, but the protein and fiber are lacking. The sodium content in one cup of noodles is also very high.

2. Add Protein and Fiber Sources

Photo: Instagram @jennifervidya

Add eggs and vegetables as a source of protein and fiber. Dream Friends can replace eggs with chicken, beef, tempeh, tofu, and others. The vegetable options are also varied, ranging from lettuce that can be used as a salad, bean sprouts, to mustard greens.

3. Avoid Excessive Broth Consumption

Avoid consuming too much noodle broth to reduce high sodium intake. Occasionally consuming it with a lot of broth or without protein or vegetables is also allowed, as long as it is not done too often.

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'4 Healthy 5 Perfect' is No Longer Relevant, Here's the Balanced Nutrition Guidelines

Dream - Perhaps, Dream Friends are familiar with the '4 Healthy 5 Perfect' nutrition guide. The guide recommends consuming staple foods, side dishes, vegetables, fruits, and milk.

Since long ago, '4 Healthy 5 Perfect' has always been applied by parents to meet the nutritional needs of children and families, but the nutrition guide is no longer relevant.

"Along with the development of nutrition science, '4 healthy 5 perfect' is no longer relevant to use," said Dr. Nadhira Afifa through Instagram.

She suggests the 'My Plate' guide, which shows recommended food portions on one plate. The guide shows a plate that contains 50 percent fruits and vegetables, while the rest contains carbohydrates and protein.

Photo: Instagram @nadhiraafifa

The percentage of carbohydrates and fruits is less than vegetables and carbohydrates. The recommended protein is animal-based, such as chicken, eggs, seafood, or red meat.

Unlike the previous nutrition guide, 'My Plate' does not require the consumption of milk. "From the 'My Plate' guide, we can learn that milk consumption is not mandatory because milk is just one of the protein sources that can be replaced with other types of food as long as they contain similar protein and mineral content."

Don't forget to drink enough water and engage in physical activity for at least 30 minutes per day to maintain health and ideal body weight. The 'My Plate' guide is a nutrition guide for healthy adults. If you have certain health conditions, consult with a doctor regarding your diet.