Hot pot, this beloved winter delicacy, has recently been under increasing fire. High in cholesterol, easy to exceed calorie limits, and even posing a cancer risk... In fact, nutritionists often say, "There are no bad foods, only bad ways of eating them." For this reason, Taiwan's "Common Health" magazine has listed five common misconceptions for hot pot enthusiasts, teaching you how to stay healthy even while feasting.
Misconception 1: Lamb and fatty beef are too high in fat, while fish and meat balls have less oil. The ingredients you choose for your hot pot directly affect its calorie and fat content. Processed meat products like fish dumplings, shrimp dumplings, and various balls all contain large amounts of oil and salt. Some lower-quality balls even add a lot of starch, which not only makes them high in calories but also lacks the nutritional value of meat. Therefore, it is recommended that when choosing hot pot ingredients, you should opt for lean meats and low-fat seafood. You can choose more low-fat foods like chicken slices, tenderloin slices, seafood, and omasum. You can also add some tofu or skin to replace meat and supplement with plant-based protein.
Misconception 2: The more green leafy vegetables, the better. Many people know the principle of a balanced diet with both meat and vegetables. However, due to their large surface area, leafy vegetables easily absorb oil from the broth. The same is true for edible fungi, which increases the overall fat content of the vegetable dishes, making the supposedly low-calorie vegetables no longer "light." We can choose root vegetables or seaweed, such as lotus root, potatoes, carrots, and kelp. It is especially recommended to add some white radish, as its chunky form won't "absorb" as much oil from the pot. Moreover, the dietary fiber it contains can help expel grease from the digestive system.
Misconception 3: All dipping sauces have about the same calorie content. While focusing on the dishes, people often overlook the fact that dipping sauces can be surprisingly high in calories. Whether it's sesame paste with chives or sesame oil with garlic, they are all very high in fat and salt. A single tablespoon of sauce can contain over 100 calories. If you make a dipping sauce with soy sauce, scallions, and chili peppers, the calorie content will be three-quarters lower than that of commercial sauces. Additionally, adding a bit of vinegar to your sauce can help cut through the grease.
Misconception 4: After eating hot pot, you still need to eat staples like sesame cakes or pastries. When eating hot pot, people often have a sesame cake after finishing all the ingredients, which causes the calorie count to skyrocket. The correct approach is to eat a small amount of starchy foods when you are about 60-70% full. This can help control calorie intake and aid digestion. If you have already eaten a lot of starchy foods like potatoes and vermicelli, you can reduce the amount of or skip the staple food.Misconception 5: Swirl a little bit and eat slowly. Although slow eating is generally healthy, hot pot is an exception. After the broth has been simmering for 90 minutes, the nitrite content will increase significantly. Therefore, the duration of a hot pot meal should not be too long and should be controlled within one and a half hours.