Instant noodle (Ramen) evolution - Nissin chief eyes healthier, less salty fare

[The Straight Story]

Instant noodle evolution
Nissin chief eyes healthier, less salty fare

KUALA LUMPUR — More than a half-century after his father invented instant noodles to feed Japan's war-ravaged masses, Koki Ando says it is time to change the high-calorie, salt-laden fast food into healthier fare.

This week, Ando chaired a World Instant Noodles Summit that brought together manufacturers to focus on the food's future: less salt to lure health-conscious customers, better environmental standards and a bigger push for corporate responsibility by donating noodles to disaster victims.

"Evolution is very important" for the noodle industry, the chief executive of Nissin Foods Holdings said at the end of the two-day meeting in Kuala Lumpur of representatives from nearly 50 companies.

Last year, more than 92 billion servings of instant noodles were sold, Ando told a news conference late Wednesday. "I hope our noodles can reach 100 billion servings per year soon."

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nb20100423a1.html

[SpiralHawk]

1. "Noodle evolution is a socialist concept." -TeaBaggers (R)

"Real TeaBaggers know that it is evil to evolve or progress. We demand that things remain the way they never were."

- TeaBagsters (R)

[Another Bill C.]

2. Everyday for lunch

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
2 medium garlic cloves chopped or pressed
1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
A couple ounces of chopped cooked chicken
A palm full of chopped cilantro
1 pkg chicken-flavored ramen noodles

It's addicting.

[nickinSTL]

5. I do Maruchan's chicken flavor, every weekday for lunch

with a couple shakes of red pepper
scoop of Patak's Mild Curry paste
couple shakes of yellow curry powder
couple shakes of garlic powder
a bit of cumin
a bit of coriander
half a carrot, chopped
handful of peas
and a couple shakes of dried cilantro leaves

[nickinSTL]

3. I usually eat Maruchan

and thanks to this article, I just learned that Maruchan now has a lower-sodium line - includes their beef and chicken flavor ramen.

I'll definitely have to look for that.

Maruchan ramen is about the cheapest lunch I've found, and saving money is really important to me these days - but I haven't been happy about the amount of sodium. Definitely plan to get the lower-sodium options if I can find them.

[Codeine]

4. Nissin Oriental flavor ramen is my favorite snack.

Vegan junk food. :9 Easily the lowest-nutrient-value food I eat, so I limit myself to a package a week.

[undeterred]

6. As the global economy degenerates

Ramen will become our main diet.

[madrchsod]

7. at my age that`s way to much salt...

do like the noodles!

[Retrograde]

8. leave out the "flavor" packets

and cook the noodles in homemade stock or broth. We make ramen for lunch regularly, with bits of leftover meat and some veggies added.

[Dr Morbius]

9. Yup.

Actually, I tend to buy the pork flavor ramen noodles. I use chicken, veggie or beef stock with the noodles, and use the pork flavor packet when I make pork stew or gravy. There's a variety of Mrs Dash (garlic variety) that goes really well with the ramen. Those ramen flavor packets are nice additions instead of salt in pasta water or in rice.

One other note is that one can always use most of the packet. One need not use all of it.

A friend of mine loves the chili flavor ramen. He makes it as normal, dumps out all the liquid, and mixes the rest with refried beans and some cheese. He scoops this mixture up with tortilla chips. Never got around to trying it, myself.

[BlooInBloo]

10. Alternatively, people could drop the college mindset and try real ramen...

[Odin2005]

11. In my first year living on my own I ate so much Ramen I feel sick if I even see the shit now.

[QC]

I ate so much during one especially rough stretch in college

when my financial aid was late that my hair started falling out.

[Odin2005]

13. OMG!

:scared:

[QC]

14. I still can't bear to look at the things. n/t

[closeupready]

12. I love the premium Chow Mein line

The regular ramen, not as much, but when $ is short, it suffices. But give me the Beef Teriyaki Chow Mein noodles and an apple, and I have a yummy lunch to look forward to.