GUILT-FREE FOODS TO TRY THIS RAINY SEASON
When it comes to satisfying food cravings, the Thais are resolute. With the rainy season presenting a change in temperature that may cause changes in our palettes and food desires, here are a few guilt-free comfort foods that you can indulge in while staying on the right path with your fitness goals.
Tom Yum Goong
An icon of Thai cuisine, ‘tom yum goong’ is a meal that correlates with the flavour palette of most gravy-based Thai dishes. This soup is cooked using ingredients such as fresh lime juice, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, shallots, chillies, garlic, lemongrass, and fish sauce. Combined with shrimp and mushrooms, it is a meal that is best eaten with friends or family members.
Som Tam
This meal comes in a variety of styles, but the original ‘som tam’ serving, however, consists of shredded green papaya, tomatoes, carrots, peanuts, dried shrimp, runner beans, palm sugar, tamarind pulp, fish sauce, lime juice, garlic and chillies. Using a pestle and mortar to mix these ingredients together, a serving of ‘som tam’ provides for a well-balanced yet delicious appetiser.
Mango Sticky RiceThis dessert is a particular favourite, both in and out of Thailand. Combining three basic ingredients which are fresh mango slices, sticky rice and lashings of sweetened coconut milk, it is a dessert that is easy to make, yet extremely delicious when eaten. For a healthier alternative, opt for reduced portions of sticky rice and coconut milk.
Pad Krapow
‘Pad Krapow’, a meal that is cooked by stir-frying minced pork, chicken or tofu with Thai basil and chillies, is also a popular dish with the Thais. The Thai basil leaves used provide a sharp, peppery flavour that provides a substantial amount of spice when combined with chillies. This meal is usually served with a plate of white rice, a sunny side-up fried egg and bowl of soup.
Yam Talya
Depending on your location in Thailand, the ‘yam talay’, which is translated to mixed seafood salad, can contain any combination of seafood which include squid, shrimp, mussels, scallops or crabs. The seafood mix of this dish is then combined with tomatoes, onions and rice glass noodles to provide a simple, healthy and delicious meal.
Indulging yourself in food cravings can disrupt a regimented diet and fitness plan. You can immerse yourself in any of these healthy options above guilt-free this rainy season
