Korean Job Discussion Forums

[daveeslcafe888]

Hi Guys,

I am having some trouble eating healthy. I am wondering what cost-effective healthy foods people can recommend, and where to buy them.

So far, I have seen:

Brown Rice
Kimchi
Banana's
Protein Powder (Costco or Online).

Anything else?

Thanks

[oldtactics]

Fresh fruit & vegetables. Chicken breasts. Eggs. What kind of food are you looking for?

[hostness]

Protein powder isn't the healthiest 'food' since it should be used as a supplement. I guess you can use it as a meal replacement but really it's not the healthiest use of protein powder compared to using it as a supplement for nutrition from 'real' foods.

And just generally speaking, it's expensive to eat healthy. In Korea it's pretty difficult. I'm still trying to figure it out myself.

[Illysook]

It's not that difficult, just expensive. Food costs have been rising steadily since I came here. It's not a bad idea to try some Korean foods. Your basic Bibimbap is just vegetables, rice, an egg, and some hot sauce.

[huck]

Fruits and vegetables from the store.

I've found that spinach/banana smoothies with a scoop of protein powder tastes like a chocolate banana shake..

Chicken and frozen blueberries from Costco or gmarket....Eggs like someone else said.

It's boring, but it's healthyish...

Pita Time if you live in HBC.

[R. S. Refugee]

Assuming that you're interested in preparing your own food, Costco has a fair amount of organically grown veggies and organic chicken. You won't find any grass-fed beef there though. It's all Australian grain fed or Korean beef which I'm not sure what it's fed but it's unaffordable, I think.

EMart has an organic section. Some things in it are affordable. For example, Kale and some other greens. Some aren't. For example, a 453gram jar of organic peanut butter for 14,000 won.

Things like that you can get cheaper even including shipping by dealing with a great online company that many foreigners here do business with called iHerb.com

They'll get the organic peanut butter to you in 4 days at half the price. If it's your first order with them, you can get $5 off of your 1st order by using this discount code: COC920.

This jar is $4.87 plus shipping minus the $5 discount you still come out much cheaper than buying it at EMart.
http://www.iherb.com/Arrowhead-Mills-Crunchy-Organic-Peanut-Butter-16-oz-453-g/16910?at=0

They also have organic eggs and chicken at EMart. They have organic veggies at other places like HomePlus too but not in a separate section. Just learn to look for the official Korean organic label.
Here's a page displaying (and explaining) the Korean organic labels.
http://healthyhomes.asia/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=87&Itemid=183&lang=en

[ayahyaha]

I just read that someone found organic grass-fed meat at a store called Han Seuri near Banghak Station. Has anyone been there?

[isisaredead]

vegetarianism?

[Harpeau]

This produce guy at E-Mart at IPark Mall told me that the Aussie beef is from grass-fed cows. They also have free range eggs and chicken~though more expensive. Their organic secion is not too shabby either.

Cut out processed foods. also cut out pork and sugar. It makes a big difference!!
Make soups from scratch and get good healthy rye bread from a good baker. (The Oleo Italian style Bakery in upper Gyungleedan is excellent~though my friend thinks it sucks! Go figure!!)
IMHO, iherb.com is the way to go. Great deals and fast delivery!!
Any other organic online store similar to iherb?

[alongway]

Eating healthy is great and cheap. Costco just marked their Kirkland brand bacon 3000won down on a 4 pack of low sodium bacon and their 6 pack of sausages got a price reduction of 1100won.
Eat good!

[plato's republic]

@Harpeau,

Does that mean all Emarts stock grass-fed beef or just the IPark Mall one?

Can anyone tell me the difference between the organic labels in Korea? The link above no longer works.

Thanks.

[Harpeau]

The guy in the produce dept. at E-Mart at I'Park Mall said that the Australian beef that they were carrying was grass-fed...though there is other grain-fed as well, so ask them.