Pre-packaged rice/pasta....

ShadowsVale
ShadowsVale Posts: 21
in Food and Nutrition
Ok, this might be a strange question, but I was wondering something. I have several packages of Knorr Rice (and Pasta) sides. I know they are loaded with sodium, so i was thinking that maybe if I rinse the rice/pasta before I cook it, I could rinse out most of the pre-packaged seasoning and put my own. Is that something that would help? I don't want to up my sodium too high.

Replies

  • ShadowsVale
    ShadowsVale Posts: 21
    Anyone?
  • kikiboniki
    kikiboniki Posts: 398 Member
    common sense tells me that rinsing seasoning off would cut some of the sodium. watch out for the MSG though
  • ShadowsVale
    ShadowsVale Posts: 21
    I've heard of MSG, but I've never been sure of what it is.
  • Pearsquared
    Pearsquared Posts: 1,656 Member
    I've heard of MSG, but I've never been sure of what it is.
    It's a preservative that enhances the "savory" taste (more specifically known as umami) of your food. It's often found in Americanized Chinese food. People are wary of it because it preserves food to Twinkie-like standards (as in, a long, long time).
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    Twinkies get stale after a week or two.

    Sodium isn't worth worrying about unless you have a medical issue.
  • ShadowsVale
    ShadowsVale Posts: 21
    So, if I rinse the pre-packaged seasoning off the rice and add my own, will that reduce the MSG I'll be consuming?
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    So, if I rinse the pre-packaged seasoning off the rice and add my own, will that reduce the MSG I'll be consuming?

    Why are you concerned about MSG? Some people think they're "sensitive" to MSG, but scientific experiments don't support these claims. If you think you're sensitive to MSG, you should be eating foods without it, not trying to rinse some off.

    If you're not "sensitive" to MSG, just eat the seasoning and don't worry about it. Some extra sodium won't negatively affect your weight loss.
  • nobleammonite
    nobleammonite Posts: 64 Member
    I've heard of MSG, but I've never been sure of what it is.
    It's a preservative that enhances the "savory" taste (more specifically known as umami) of your food. It's often found in Americanized Chinese food. People are wary of it because it preserves food to Twinkie-like standards (as in, a long, long time).

    I'm fairly sure MSG isn't a preservative, just a flavor enhancer. A version of it is found naturally in some foods (parmesan, tomato paste, mushrooms...) - not that I think it needs to be added artificially, but I'm skeptical it's as scary as people make it out to be. If it causes you migraines or something, then by all means avoid it, but if not, eh.
  • ShadowsVale
    ShadowsVale Posts: 21
    I've heard of MSG, but I've never been sure of what it is.
    It's a preservative that enhances the "savory" taste (more specifically known as umami) of your food. It's often found in Americanized Chinese food. People are wary of it because it preserves food to Twinkie-like standards (as in, a long, long time).

    I'm fairly sure MSG isn't a preservative, just a flavor enhancer. A version of it is found naturally in some foods (parmesan, tomato paste, mushrooms...) - not that I think it needs to be added artificially, but I'm skeptical it's as scary as people make it out to be. If it causes you migraines or something, then by all means avoid it, but if not, eh.

    I've heard it's bad for your health even if you don't have symptoms which is why when it was mentioned, I was concerned.
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    I've heard of MSG, but I've never been sure of what it is.
    It's a preservative that enhances the "savory" taste (more specifically known as umami) of your food. It's often found in Americanized Chinese food. People are wary of it because it preserves food to Twinkie-like standards (as in, a long, long time).

    I'm fairly sure MSG isn't a preservative, just a flavor enhancer. A version of it is found naturally in some foods (parmesan, tomato paste, mushrooms...) - not that I think it needs to be added artificially, but I'm skeptical it's as scary as people make it out to be. If it causes you migraines or something, then by all means avoid it, but if not, eh.

    I've heard it's bad for your health even if you don't have symptoms which is why when it was mentioned, I was concerned.

    Yeah a lot of people have "heard" that but it's nonsense.
  • Contrarian
    Contrarian Posts: 8,138 Member
    Why are you concerned about sodium?
  • laele75
    laele75 Posts: 283 Member
    Low sodium eater here (High blood pressure). As the prepackaged sides go, Knorr is better than Rice-a-Roni for sodium. Some of the pastas are almost reasonable. I have never seen MSG listed on their ingredients, so don't go to all the fuss and just make it as directed. If you want to keep down the sodium, don't add any salt or seasoning salt to it.
  • ShadowsVale
    ShadowsVale Posts: 21
    Why are you concerned about sodium?

    My family has a history of high blood pressure so I'm trying to be careful.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    What Johnny said on both accounts.

    I eat Knorr Rice Sides regularly. It hasn't negatively impacted my weight. And I don't see monosodium glutamate (msg) as an ingredient on the handful of packages I just checked. Some might.

    Truth be told, when I was obsessive about restricting sodium, the only difference it made was that I was more sensitive to sodium during those times I couldn't avoid it (restaurant food, other people's cooking). I don't get wild fluctuations in my water weight now that I'm less restrictive about it.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    Ok, this might be a strange question, but I was wondering something. I have several packages of Knorr Rice (and Pasta) sides. I know they are loaded with sodium, so i was thinking that maybe if I rinse the rice/pasta before I cook it, I could rinse out most of the pre-packaged seasoning and put my own. Is that something that would help? I don't want to up my sodium too high.
    The sodium is in the flavoring.

    It's around 600 or 700 grams, though, so if you keep your sodium low for other meals, it isn't that bad. Plus, going over sodium every once in a while isn't the end of the world.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    Why are you concerned about sodium?

    My family has a history of high blood pressure so I'm trying to be careful.
    Do YOU have a history of it? My mother has very high BP. Mine is never higher than 110/60 unless I'm very stressed. I don't deliberately eat low sodium.
  • meganrae09
    meganrae09 Posts: 10
    If you are going to buy rice/pasta with the seasoning already included, only to rinse off the seasoning and add your own, maybe consider just buying plain rice/pasta that comes without seasoning.
  • Contrarian
    Contrarian Posts: 8,138 Member
    If you are going to buy rice/pasta with the seasoning already included, only to rinse off the seasoning and add your own, maybe consider just buying plain rice/pasta that comes without seasoning.

    This. Give those packets to the food bank.
  • ncmedic201
    ncmedic201 Posts: 540 Member
    Twinkies get stale after a week or two.

    Sodium isn't worth worrying about unless you have a medical issue.

    That's not entirely true...I didn't worry about it and it caused my medical issue. It's a lot easier to prevent the medical problems then to try and treat them after the fact.
  • MelsAuntie
    MelsAuntie Posts: 2,833 Member
    If you have high blood pressure, sodium IS a huge problem. I have a dear friend who has high blood pressure and likes salty flavors, one of those people who likes to sprinkle on some extra salt. He also has a 12" dissecting aneurysm that could kill him at any moment.
  • socajam
    socajam Posts: 2,530 Member
    Twinkies get stale after a week or two.

    Sodium isn't worth worrying about unless you have a medical issue.

    That's not entirely true...I didn't worry about it and it caused my medical issue. It's a lot easier to prevent the medical problems then to try and treat them after the fact.

    My sentiments exactly. I see a lot of people on here saying don't worry about the sodium, but as you said why put yourself in that position when it can be prevented beforehand. Sodium is not something to play with, it is and can be very dangerous.
  • Ang108
    Ang108 Posts: 1,711 Member
    Some extra sodium won't negatively affect your weight loss.
    [/quote]

    Processed rice dishes like Rice-a-Roni go way beyond "some extra sodium ". Also, and this might be hard to believe, some people avoid salt for general health reasons and not just for weight loss.
    Often when people are new to MFP and have a pantry full of food from the " old " lifestyle they need to find a way to make some things healthier and washing off the salt is one way to do that. Not everyone can just go ahead and throw everything out, or donate it. I know I couldn't .
  • ShadowsVale
    ShadowsVale Posts: 21
    Some extra sodium won't negatively affect your weight loss.

    Processed rice dishes like Rice-a-Roni go way beyond "some extra sodium ". Also, and this might be hard to believe, some people avoid salt for general health reasons and not just for weight loss.
    Often when people are new to MFP and have a pantry full of food from the " old " lifestyle they need to find a way to make some things healthier and washing off the salt is one way to do that. Not everyone can just go ahead and throw everything out, or donate it. I know I couldn't .
    [/quote]

    Thank you! I can't afford to throw out my food either. Thank you for understanding. And you're right. I'm not looking at the sodium in terms of weight loss.
  • gamagem
    gamagem Posts: 87 Member
    I don't know about rinsing your rice or pasta dishes off, as I totally stopped eating those pre-packaged rice and noodles because of the sodium content. There are lots of recipes out there that you can try to make those dishes more palatable, I make my own beans and put them on top of my rice. Also try using zero sodium boullions with your water when you make the rice. If I can't find a zero sodium canned veggie, rinsing them helps. But I tend to eat fresh veggies. I don't have medical issues regarding sodium and don't ever want them. Same reason I watch artery clogging foods, I don't have heart issues, but don't want them either.
  • du4u02
    du4u02 Posts: 42
    And I don't see monosodium glutamate (msg) as an ingredient on the handful of packages I just checked.

    Check to see if "natural flavors" is listed on the ingredients. MSG is sometimes labeled that way.
  • lovespinkflowers
    lovespinkflowers Posts: 7 Member
    anything that is prepackaged is usually higher in sodium you should not have anymore than 1teaspoon of salt sodium a day. I would say it is not so much in the noodles and it is In the flavoring. if you eat just plain noodles that would work but it would not have any real flavor. I would say just do not eat it.. or make the same thing from scratch this way you know what goes in it.
  • iggyboo93
    iggyboo93 Posts: 524 Member
    One think I've done with pre-packaged foods like Knorr noodles or Rice a Roni dishes - I've added a bunch of veggies or chicken and converted them into a kind of hot dish or casserole in a skillet on the stove top. You'll be stuck with the sodium but it's now stretched out from 2 servings to 6-8 servings. There may even be leftovers for work the next day.

    Broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, potatoes, mushrooms, and onions work well. Maybe cook up some more brown rice and mix it in. Throw in some chicken breast, pork loin or even tofu or fish. Add a little more moisture with low sodium chicken broth (I make my own broth with no added salt - it tastes pretty good). I've stirred in a little sour cream or greek yogurt to give it a creamy texture. Garbanzo or black beans are really tasty (drained and rinsed to reduce salt or better yet - use dried/soaked in water/cooked). If you have lost some flavor due to the "diluting of the rice/noodle package", add a little of the 21 seasonings salute from Trader Joe's - so much tastier than Mrs. Dash. Avoid adding cheese since it's high sodium. Knorr alfredo noodles with a bunch of broccoli, cauliflower and carrots is actually very tasty.
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    And I don't see monosodium glutamate (msg) as an ingredient on the handful of packages I just checked.

    Check to see if "natural flavors" is listed on the ingredients. MSG is sometimes labeled that way.

    Also shows up as "yeast extract" and other things. "Hydrolyzed yeast extract" and "hydrolyzed vegetable protein" have large amounts of MSG.

    But it's just an amino acid. It's not some crazy chemical. It's the most abundant amino acid there is. Proteins are strings of amino acids. When you take a protein that has a lot of glutamic acid and hydrolyze it, you break it down into its component amino acids and produce glutamic acid. Your digestive system does the same thing. So any time you eat any protein, your body basically produces MSG out of it in your intestines.

    It's not a big deal.

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