Often Considered Unhealthy, Here's the Right Way to Consume Gado-Gado

Dream - Gado-gado, karedok, and asinan are often chosen as local healthy food options because they are made from vegetables or fruits. On the other hand, there are also those who consider these dishes unhealthy because they contain a lot of sugar and salt.

Regardless of the different opinions, Indonesian society should be proud because Jakarta's gado-gado has been chosen as one of the best salads according to Taste Atlas.  

Traditional food should be acknowledged that many of them are made from fresh ingredients that are rich in nutrients. However, some of their contents can add calories and are not very good for health.

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"In terms of nutrition, gado-gado or karedok is actually healthy. It has vegetables, potatoes as carbohydrates, tofu and tempeh that fulfill the principles of balanced nutrition. It's just that there is an excessive amount of peanut sauce added, so there is an unnecessary addition," said Marya Haryono, during the introduction of SaladStop! Concept Store 2.0 in PIK, North Jakarta, on Tuesday, June 13, 2023.

The seasoning for gado-gado and karedok is made from healthy ingredients, namely peanuts, but the high sugar content makes the amount should be limited.

How to Consume Healthy Gado-Gado

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Dream friends can consume gado-gado and karedok healthily by limiting the amount of seasoning. Marya suggests 1-2 tablespoons of sauce or seasoning for gado-gado, karedok, or other healthy foods to maintain their nutritional value and calories.

Also pay attention to the basic ingredients of the seasoning or sauce in each dish to be able to control the food consumed. "Understand what is in the dressing. If you don't know, it's better to use it in moderation, 1-2 tablespoons are enough to give flavor".

You can make gado-gado, karedok, and other foods healthier by paying attention to the processing process. Raw and fresh ingredients like vegetables have higher nutritional value compared to fried vegetables, so adjust the processing process and food condition to your needs.