Let’s face it, Ramen is convenient – that’s why it’s so dangerous. Ramen is the perfect quick meal that leaves you warm and toasty while saving a bunch of cash. Ramen noodles may be delicious but we have a few healthier alternatives to Ramen noodles.
Unfortunately, there are trade-offs in life. Although delicious and easy, Ramen Noodles contain unhealthy amounts of MSG, TBHG (Tertiary butylhydroquinone ), and saturated fats when consumed often.
We eat Ramen for a few main reasons:
- It’s cheap
- It’s quick
- It’s tasty
- It’s super satisfying to eat on a cold night
Lucky for us, there are great healthier alternatives to Ramen noodles for your guilt-free convenient enjoyment!
Here are 6 healthy alternatives to Ramen noodles.
Rice Noodles
Can’t swear off the noodles? No problem! Rice noodles provide a healthy alternative to Ramen noodles and are just as tasty. Are you gluten intolerant? Rice noodles don’t have any wheat flour, making them a wonderful gluten-free substitute for Ramen noodles. They are also rich in Manganese, a crucial mineral for regulating blood sugar and reducing inflammation, and phosphorus, the mineral your body uses for storing energy.
Fried Rice
The king of Asian and Hispanic carbs – Rice. There are reasons why rice is the staple of nearly every Asian dish; it’s cheap, healthy, and a super absorber for any delicious marinades and sauces.
If you have a rice cooker, you can cook up to a whole week’s worth of rice in less than an hour of cooking. If a rice cooker isn’t an option, boiling rice in water over the stovetop is also a quick alternative to fluffy rice!
My favorite thing to do is cook a bunch of rice for the week and refrigerate them for fried rice! If you enjoy adding eggs to your Ramen noodles anyways, try frying eggs with rice and soy sauce for easy and delicious fried rice.
Pasta with Tomato Sauce
Time for Italian! One of the best things to keep stored in the fridge for a week and still have it taste good is pasta. Cook a big batch of pasta on one day with pre-cooked protein, and you’ll have yourself a few delicious meals for the week.
One serving of pasta isn’t too high in calories (around 250 to 300 calories). Still, it’s starch-heavy, so be aware of an increase in blood sugar.
Fortunately, once you pair the pasta with extra protein, fat, or fiber, you’ll have a healthy and delicious alternative to ramen noodles.
Buckwheat Soba
You can buy a 12 to 16-ounce box of Soba buckwheat for less than $3. Make sure you get buckwheat Soba instead of the so-called Soba noodles in grocery stores – most of them contain additives that make it unhealthy.
Buckwheat flour has many health benefits. It’s protective against heart disease, rich in phytonutrients, and contains many antioxidants that prevent various diseases.
Greek Yogurt with Berries and Honey
Love Ramen noodles for their convenience? You can prepare a fresh, healthy, and protein-filled bowl of yogurt in less than 5 minutes with practically no prep work!
Here’s what you can do:
- Buy greek yogurt (I prefer the one with 17g protein per serving)
- Buy Honey
- Buy berries or bananas
- Put them all together
It’s that simple. In less than 5 minutes, you have prepared yourself a fresh and healthy bowl of yogurt.
Bottom Line
Don’t confuse Ramen noodles with traditional Japanese Ramen noodles. While one is a cheap American alternative to a home-cooked meal, the other is a deliberate, nutritious conglomeration of all the best ingredients.
The cool thing is that you can transform your cup of Ramen noodles into a meal similar to an authentic Japanese meal! Consider adding a few hard-boiled eggs and chopped veggies into your next Ramen meal. Be mindful of the nutritions you incorporate, and you’ll still be able to enjoy the delicious Ramen without feeling guilty!