Pad Thai Plate

Food is an essential element of our dietary needs. Without it we would dwindle. Therefore, careful planning of nutrition is likely to enhance our chance of survival. In fact, healthy eating is half the story to longevity. Although I’ve never eaten proper Pad Thai, the Thai famous street food plate, it looks nutritious.

Pad Thai, is a stir-fried rice noodle dish commonly served as a street food in Thailand as part of the country's cuisine. It is typically made with rice noodles, shrimp, peanuts, scrambled egg, sugar and bean sprouts. The ingredients are fried in a wok.

The body creates water through metabolism, a process where the breakdown of nutrients like carbohydrates, fats, and proteins generates metabolic water as a byproduct. This metabolic water, along with water from the foods we eat and the liquids we drink, contributes to the total water needs of the body. Pad Thai offers a good balance in this respect.

A typical plate like Pad Thai can be part of a balanced diet, offering carbohydrates from rice noodles, protein from eggs, tofu, or shrimp, and fiber from bean sprouts and vegetables, but it often contains high levels of sugar, sodium, and oil, which can make it unhealthy. To make Pad Thai a more balanced meal, you can reduce the number of noodles and sauce, ask for less oil and salt, and add more fresh vegetables for extra fiber and nutrients. 

Whether there's "enough" protein in Pad Thai depends on your dietary needs and how it's prepared, as protein content varies significantly, with some versions being a good source (e.g., over 50% of the Daily Value) and others being lower (e.g., around 20-30% of the DV). To increase protein, ensure your Pad Thai contains a substantial amount of a protein source like chicken, shrimp, tofu, or eggs. 

All the best!

Prof. Carl Boniface

Vocabulary builder:

Dwindle (v) = decrease, decline, diminish, fall, drop, reduce, lessen, shrink, fade, disappear

Thai (adj) = The people from Thailand. The word "Thai" itself is often said to mean "free people," and it also serves as the plural form for individuals.

Wok = is a traditional, deep, round-bottomed cooking pan of Chinese origin known for its versatility and high-heat cooking capabilities.