Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mcviking]

I have been happy with my life in Korea so far (except a few I hate Korea days) and have been noticing a fair amount of weight loss. I am staying much more active and I am embracing the Korean diet.

I would like this to continue, but I am kind of sick of eating the same sorts of food everyday. I stay away from the Western joints as much as possible. Unless its the weekend, I usually just grab some noodles, kimbap, or bibimbap. If you could please list some healthy Korean foods that I could try it would be greatly apreciated.

[Rteacher]

I've been a vegetarian in Korea for about eight years. No problem stir-frying all sorts of vegetables with tofu (dubu) and cooking brown rice (or one of the local varieties).

Since I also eat (rennetless) cheese, I make plenty of pasta with cheese and spinach, zucchini, and other green vegetables. Organic tomato sauce is pretty cheap at the Foreign Food Mart in Itaewon, and they even have organic canned chick peas.

If you're worried about losing weight, buy some of their whole-grain pita bread or tanduri naan. a big block of cheese (mozzarella or pepper-jack), tomato sauce, olives, etc. and make your own pan pizzas [toast one side of pita, flip it over, add cheese, cover with a lid till cheese is mostly melted, then add sauce topped with some oregano flakes, cover again over low heat for a minute-or-two, turn off heat but keep lid on for a couple more minutes till everything is cooked/melted...]

There are lots of healthy vegetarian Korean foods - if you ever check out the Sanchon in Insadong or one of the many other vegetarian restaurants (including SM Ching hai, SoSim, and a bunch of Seventh Day Adventist buffets...)

Many sell vegetarian supplies such as faux meat products and whole-grain bread. Some are listed here ...
http://www.happycow.net/asia/south_korea/seoul/
Here's another list ...
http://wiki.galbijim.com/Category:Vegetarian_restaurants_in_Seoul

Probably the largest and easiest to find Korean vegetarian buffet in Seoul can be found at Achasan Station (subway line 5) at the top of exit one. Their price is 15,000 won weekends, 10,000 won on weekdays.

In Bundang, subway line 8 Hanti station there's a large "health food" section in the Lotte department store supermarket.

There's also a Seoul Veggie Club that meets every couple weeks, but they "organize" (to the extent that it's organized) mainly out of Facebook.

[Yesterday]

I doubt you are losing weight - because of eating Korean food

Korean food - does not have many nutrients or protein - Korean food is mainly starch, salt and spices (not good for your body NOR your teeth).

Korean white "sticky" polished rice - basically is all starch and no nutrients -

Korean meals have lots of salt, oils and not many vitamins..

You are probably losing weight - because you are "more active" here - Its great to visit another country - and I can guess you have been active in going out to see lots of things (walking, walking, walking).

The healthiest Korean dishes - are usually the side dishes (vegetable side dishes).

(One kimbap roll - has 400 calories and not many nutrients)

When you said noodles - did you mean Korean Ramien? That is junk food - once again lots of calories and almost no nutrients...

Keep active - many people when they first come to Korea are very active - trying to see many things (tourist sites, markets etc) - all the walking helps many people lose weight.

Although I recommend buying vegetables, fruit and meat from the supermarket and cooking it yourself - however FRESH vegetables, fruit and meat is very expensive at supermarkets in Korea.

Perhaps kimchi-jigae or Daeng-jang jicke might have more nutrients - but once again the salt and spices and oil is not good for you - and will rot your teeth.

[Cerriowen]

I usually eat soups...

yook-kay-jang (spicy soup - lots of mushrooms / veggies, some meat)
kim-chi-chigae (kimchi soup, sometimes w/ meat)
sul-lang-tang (white broth, white noodles, some beef)
man-doo-kook (mandu soup)
Mul-nang-myun (cold noodles in broth with ice)
sam-gya-tang (whole-chicken soup w/ rice)
Sha-boo-sha-boo is actually japanese, but it's pretty healthy. Slightly more expensive (beef cut paper-thin that you flash-boil in a soup of vegetables and broth)

[Chet Wautlands]

[Yesterday]

[Chet Wautlands]

Well, I'll stay away from it for good. 400 calories is a lot for something I'm not that into. I'd rather have a big mac.

[digsydinner]

[Papa Smurf]

[Yesterday]

[Fishead soup]

Salmon and Tuna are rich in Omega three acids. Salmon and Tuna Sushi are available at most department stores. It can be purchased in sets or eaten a la carte at a rotating table restaurant. You can also purchase Salmon smoked or cooked Salmon at the department store. Too much Tuna Sashimi can make your mercury levels high

Bibimbap contains lots of vegetables and is good for you. Kimchi is healthy although it contains lots of sodium eating it excessivly can cause stomach cancer and high blood pressure.

[TpaK]

Yesterday, all ur information about nutrients and all that crap is pointless. Korean food IS healthy for you end of story. Theres a reason why Korean people are proven to have healthy diets.

Kimbab is not bad for you simple as that. Maybe if you get it at the local kimbab chongook or something then yeah it wont be as nutritional. My family would make kimbab all the time and it is in fact, healthy for you.

OP, Im a student at SNU currently in the language institute from the states. I would say im pretty darn healthy here in Korea. Im half korean and half white so I know for a fact Korean food is good for you.

I recommend the following foods:
Kimchi bokumbap
Kimchi Jiggae
Dwenjjang jiggae
Tofu Soup (In korean its called soonduboo something like that)
Mandoo / Mandoo soup
Bibimbap
Bibimguksu
Samgyetang
Seolleongtang
Galbitang
bibim nengmyun / Mul nengmyun
Kalguksu
Bindaedduk
Gamjjatang
Haejjangguk
Budaejjigae (I wouldnt say its the most healthiest but it shouldnt be that bad. its pretty delicious.)

Im sure you know all the meats as well such as
Bulgogi, Galbi, Dweji Galbi, Dweji Bulgogi, Samgyeopsal etc. Theres alot of restaraunts around with fish.

Theres so many more foods out there that you should check out. Of course the side dishes are very healthy too. Try to avoid ramen, chinese food and western food. they got alot of unhealthy and fatty ingredients.

Alot of the other peoples post before me are also good such as Tuna, Salmon, Sushi and Sashimi. enjoy

[mcviking]

Thank you for all the helpful suggestions. I am not worried too much about calories and such, because even the most unhealthy Korean food is probably better than what I was eating at home. (Italian subs, New York Pizza, Chinese food, you know all the delicious stuff that is horrible for you) I didn't take care of myself at all and my old job had me eating at gas stations all the time. I will definately try all of these foods out.

[Socks]

[KimchiNinja]