Rice!!!!

ihateroses

I teach in South Korea and eat a school lunch every day. The two constants on my plate are white rice and kimchi.

I have been trying really hard to just eat a small portion of the rice and finish everything else (really healthy meat and veggies usually) but these days it is really difficult because either the meal would be mixed with rice or a meaty sauce that goes over rice.

Can anyone recommend the healthiest alternative to rice that I can bring to school with me to replace it? (quinoa is a no go because I think it would cost more than an arm and a leg to get it shipped here).

Thanks in advance!!!

mamamc03

Check into bulgar wheat. Can you bring anything, or does it have to be rice related?

ihateroses

I can bring anything. I guess the root of my problem is that many times lunch is something where rice is the star (like bibimbap) and I need something of similar consistency that I can mix with the other ingredients.

Bulgar wheat is a great idea! I need to look into that for sure.

Sp1nGoddess

I actually like cauliflower "rice" You just cook some cauliflower and then pulse in a food processor until you get a rice like texture.. but nothing will replace real rice.. I like vermicell & wild rice

tameko2

as long as you keep the portion under control you should be ok with the rice honestly. As far as things like hitting your protein macro you can work in extra protein for dinner (And breakfast if you eat it) since I assume you have more control over those meals. Just make your lunch work for you.

suziecue66

as long as you keep the portion under control you should be ok with the rice honestly. As far as things like hitting your protein macro you can work in extra protein for dinner (And breakfast if you eat it) since I assume you have more control over those meals. Just make your lunch work for you.

+ 1. Don't make it unnecessarily hard on yourself. Rice is good.

ihateroses

I completely agree that rice isn't as bad as potatoes, but it is served every day as the main dish so I just wanted to replace it with something thats not so empty.

Thanks guys!

ericgAU

Brown rice?

ChristineS_51

Shedded cabbage, cooked a little?

ElPumaMex

I completely agree that rice isn't as bad as potatoes, but it is served every day as the main dish so I just wanted to replace it with something thats not so empty.

Thanks guys!

Well, the Southern Japanese don't eat as much rice as the Northern Japanese.

Instead of rice, they eat Sweet Potatoes that I understand has more nutrients:
http://www.downtoearth.org/health/nutrition/okinawan-sweet-potato-purple-powerhouse-nutrition

BeetleChe13

Brown rice?

Just my thinking. A healthier alternative to white rice that will serve your purposes perfectly.

vindhi

Brown rice is realy good.

GoalSixPack

I realley like cauliflower rice. You just put some cauliflower in a blender for a few secs till it looks like rice. Then warm it. Makes a really good base for a pizza.

pumalama

in many restaurants here we have the choice of rice, brown rice or noodles.
Could you get soba (buckwheat) noodles or other kind of healthy noodles?
I would also stuff some of these meals inside a pita but that's just me

another thought, barley! I love barley! take the one that still has parts of its bran for more nutrients. You can cook one volume of barley in 2-2.25 volume of liquid (water, broth, etc.) until the liquid is absorbed.

pinkminy

there is a pasta on the market called SLIM PASTA its angel hair pasta and it looks like those Asian glass noodles only has 6 calories per serve. I have used it with saucy dishes before, or how about chick peas or lentils maybe

stephaniethomas80

quinoa is a good alternative as well

RAFValentina

Potatoes are better than you think! Good starchey carbs and the skin is rich in iodine which is great for metabolic health/thyroid. a 100g portion is about 70calories so mik that in to a salad with other lovely things like persimmon/cachi/sharon fruits and som elan meat with some chilli (great for thermogensis.

You could also try: Butternut squash or sweet potatoes/yams.

RAFValentina

Oh yeah! Buckwheat soba or udon noodles!

rudegyal_b

I completely agree that rice isn't as bad as potatoes, but it is served every day as the main dish so I just wanted to replace it with something thats not so empty.

Thanks guys!

whats wrong with potatoes?

LaMujerMasBonitaDelMundo

I completely agree that rice isn't as bad as potatoes, but it is served every day as the main dish so I just wanted to replace it with something thats not so empty.

Thanks guys!

I understand where you're coming from because I also live in Philippines where they consider white rice as staple food but there is no such thing as "bad food". Even healthy foods can turn into a diet disaster if you're overeating it. As long as you keep foods under control, you'll be OK. How come you said potatoes are bad? They are loaded with nutrients.

ihateroses

Thanks guys these are all great ideas! Definitely going shopping tomorrow.

p.s. I just meant the calories/starches in potatoes. I've never googled them to check out the nutrients. Noted.

tameko2

I completely agree that rice isn't as bad as potatoes, but it is served every day as the main dish so I just wanted to replace it with something thats not so empty.

Thanks guys!

Well, the Southern Japanese don't eat as much rice as the Northern Japanese.

Instead of rice, they eat Sweet Potatoes that I understand has more nutrients:
http://www.downtoearth.org/health/nutrition/okinawan-sweet-potato-purple-powerhouse-nutrition

Okinawa is not southern Japan - I mean it is but its on its own fairly distant island and its culturally and food wise unusual. My family is from the last bit of main island japan in the south before you hit ocean and I assure you they eat rice, but the portions just aren't as big as here, a bowl of rice in japan is small and that's all the rice you'd eat at a normal meal unless you're a pig like me. You fill in the rest with other things. Korean food is comparable IMO - thats why I think she'd be fine eating the rice every day. the portion size of rice isn't bad.

ElPumaMex

I completely agree that rice isn't as bad as potatoes, but it is served every day as the main dish so I just wanted to replace it with something thats not so empty.

Thanks guys!

Well, the Southern Japanese don't eat as much rice as the Northern Japanese.

Instead of rice, they eat Sweet Potatoes that I understand has more nutrients:
http://www.downtoearth.org/health/nutrition/okinawan-sweet-potato-purple-powerhouse-nutrition

Okinawa is not southern Japan - I mean it is but its on its own fairly distant island and its culturally and food wise unusual. My family is from the last bit of main island japan in the south before you hit ocean and I assure you they eat rice, but the portions just aren't as big as here, a bowl of rice in japan is small and that's all the rice you'd eat at a normal meal unless you're a pig like me. You fill in the rest with other things. Korean food is comparable IMO - thats why I think she'd be fine eating the rice every day. the portion size of rice isn't bad.

Ok, I understand you felt that by southern I meant all of the half portion to the south of Japan.
I should have said "southern most" part of Japan, to be correct.

On the other hand, my main point was that there is an alternative to rice, and the people at Okinawa eat it.
It is likely that at Korea, they will have available the Sweet Potatoes.
They are nutritionally speaking superior to white rice; I love rice, and in general Japanese food, but the facts are there.

pumalama

look up Shirataki noodles, that could be something worth trying. very low calories but some brands may have a weird texture.