The new year is here and I’m sure plenty of you have resolutions to prioritize your wellness and eat healthier. The trick is not to deprive yourself of the good stuff! If you’re having trouble finding yummy, easy, and healthy food options, I’ve got you covered!
From drinks, snacks, sauces, and more, I’ve curated healthy food options to help you enjoy hearty Asian recipes and actually keep your resolution of building a healthier lifestyle this year and beyond!
You got this!
Calories per serving: 10 per bag
Primary health benefits: Contains Korean ginseng that reduces inflammation and promotes healthy brain function
Why you should buy this: Ginseng has been used for over 2,000 years across Asia in several forms– ginseng tea being one of them. Korean Ginseng Tea has a sweet taste and aroma that’s typically made even sweeter with the help of honey.
A cup of ginseng tea should not be used as a cure for ailments but it aids in improving overall health. It’s packed with potent antioxidants that reduce inflammation. It also stimulates brain activity, improves memory, and increases mental performance. It’s light, soothing, and loaded with health benefits. Whether warm or cold, make it a habit to drink a cup for a light, soothing, and healthy start or end to your day.
Calories per serving: 30 per pack
Primary health benefits: Low-calorie drink with less sugar
Why you should buy this: Giving up soda this year? Vita Soy’s Reduced Sugar Chrysanthemum Tea will help you stick to your new year’s resolution effortlessly. This popular summer-time beverage has a cooling taste that helps soothe a sore throat, induce calmness, and refresh the body. Best of all, it contains low sugar and only has 60 calories! Packed in a juice carton, carry one and enjoy a healthy refreshment wherever you go. Just after a few sips, you won’t be looking for soft drinks any longer!
Calories per serving: 15 per candy
Primary health benefits: Contains natural ginger that relieves stomach aches, nausea, and more
Why you should buy this: Healthy candy exists and it comes in the form of Prince of Peace Ginger Chews. These delectable sweets may be sugary but it’s also made with 100% natural ginger that offers relief from tummy aches, sore throat, nausea, and headaches. The balanced blend of sweet and ginger spiciness is a hit among kids and adults. The sugar won’t hurt your teeth; neither will the ginger throw you off. It’s a healthy and enjoyable way to satisfy your sweet tooth cravings.
Calories per serving: 250 per ¾ cups
Primary health benefits: Contains seven key vitamins to help start your day right
Why you should buy this: Repeat after me: snacking is not a crime when dieting, especially when you have Calbee Fruit and Granola in your kitchen shelves! This fruit and granola mix contains a unique blend of five grains paired with dried fruits and seeds. You can find a delightful blend of strawberries, apples, papayas, raisins, pumpkin seeds, almonds, and coconut in each bag.
What makes this a super healthy snack is that it contains no high fructose corn syrup, has seven key vitamins like vitamin A, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12, and six grams of fiber per serving. Use it as a topping for yogurt, eat it with cereals, or enjoy it as it is!
Calories per serving: 30 per pack
Primary health benefits: Low-calorie snack
Why you should buy this: With 30 calories per serving, there’s no need to feel guilty about enjoying another pack. These delicious nori sheets are roasted and seasoned with sesame oil, so you can add a light smokiness and saltiness to rice balls, rolls, salads, and meats. It comes in a pack of 8 because we won’t stop you from enjoying more than 1 pack per sitting.
Calories per serving: 100 per ¼ cup cooked rice
Primary health benefits: White rice alternative that’s loaded with antioxidants
Why you should buy this: Meet the colorful, flavorful, and healthier alternative to white rice! Compared to white rice, red rice is unhulled, which means it retains plenty of its nutritional value. It’s loaded with vitamins B1 and B2, fiber, iron, and calcium that aids in weight management. In terms of color, the red and dark purple hues are attributed to the antioxidant called anthocyanins which helps reduce inflammation. Apart from its vibrance, it’s flavorful too! It maintains a mild nutty flavor and chewy texture that’s great for low-glycemic recipes.
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Calories per serving: 10 per 1 tbsp.
Primary health benefits: Less sodium soy sauce option for those watching their salt intake
Why you should buy this: Less sodium doesn’t mean less flavor! This healthy Kikkoman soy sauce alternative is made by removing approximately 40% of the salt after the fermentation process. However, its flavor and characteristics are retained due to the aging process it undergoes prior to extraction. You can still achieve that savory and briny taste for healthy Asian chicken recipes, soups, stews, stir-frys, and more with a bottle of this soy sauce!
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Calories per serving: 40 per 1 tbsp.
Primary health benefits: Contains spices that help keep your gut healthy and speed up metabolism
Why you should buy this: This spicy and tangy Chojang Sauce can add some fun to your favorite Korean and fusion recipes. It comes in a squeeze bottle that makes it easier for you to add heat to your salads, pizza, hamburgers, ribs, wings, and more. Yes, you can eat pizza, burgers, and more even while on a diet! Before you say no to a little bit of spice, keep in mind that spicy food is believed to help boost metabolism, burn fat, promote a healthy gut and heart, and more. With a dollop of delicious chojang in your meals, cheat days are made more rewarding.
Calories per serving: 190 per 2 oz. (56g)
Primary health benefits: Vegan, low saturated fat food, cholesterol-free noodles
Why you should buy this: Some noodles may have you feeling bloated and heavy after every serving. That isn’t the case with Annie Chun’s Maifun Rice Noodles. Made only with rice flour and water, these vegan and gluten-free noodles have a light flavor and bouncy texture that’s ideal for Chinese stir-fries, savory noodles soups, chilled noodles salads, and more! Even when on a diet, the healthy recipes that use these noodles are endless!
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Calories per serving: 25 per 1 tbsp.
Primary health benefits: Linked to better digestion and lower blood pressure
Why you should buy this:
You can never go wrong with miso soup. Not only does it taste good, but it’s also incredibly easy to make and feels light on the tummy! Recent studies have also found that habitual consumption of miso soup helps lower blood pressure and improve digestion, With this gluten-free instant miso, you can get your healthy soup fix in just a minute! All the more reason for you to include this in your meals!
As I always say, food doesn’t have to taste boring for it to be healthy. With the several healthy food options listed here and a bit of discipline on your part, starting healthier eating habits can be super fun and incredibly rewarding. We’re rooting for you!
For healthy Asian grocery selections, shop at Karman Foods!
