Oodles of Asian Noodles May Not Be Best Dietary Habit

Sometimes the quick fix for the winter blues is a steaming bowl of flavorful Asian noodles. And with so many convenient options in the supermarket aisles, you can whip up a batch in seconds -- no chopping or mixing required. Noodle mixes come in an assortment of flavors, shapes, and sizes, from square boxes of spicy Thai noodles to bowls of Korean sweet chili noodles. The beauty of these products is that you just mix in the seasoning packet and microwave them or add boiling water.

Those little flavoring packets included in dried Asian noodle mixes have multiplied -- and not just in size and flavors, but also in sodium, fat and saturated fat levels. As usual, when you give in to convenience, you often end up making a trade-off when it comes to nutrition. That's because ramen noodles are fried as a means of dehydrating them. Does this mean you need to say "sayonara" to those quick bowls of comfort? Not at all; just use our helpful hints to ensure your noodle nirvana is as healthy as it can be.

The next time you need convenient noodle goodness, try these tips:

Season sparingly

In most convenience foods, the seasonings are the source of a good deal of the sodium. Because many packages of Asian noodles include seasonings in a separate packet, you have some control over the sodium content. A simple step is to use just half the packet. It will still have plenty of flavor and your blood pressure will thank you.

Add vegetables

Even though some of the Asian noodle selections have "vegetables" in their name, don't think you're actually getting a "serving." To boost your noodles' nutrient content, toss in some of your own vegetables -- leftover, frozen, low-sodium canned, or quick-steamed.

Check serving size

In most cases, a serving is the entire package, but there are a few products for which a serving is just half the package. So, if you go ahead and eat the whole package, remember that's double the fat and sodium.

(c) 2013 Tribune Media Services. "Oodles of Asian Noodles May Not Be Best Dietary Habit"