I left for the islands weighing 202 pounds. By the grace of God, I weighed 202 on the scale this morning. I chalk this up to being so active PLUS eating two and only two (hefty) meals each day. Yes, I had the exact same things to eat during my entire stay in Hawaii, with no snacking in between.
Breakfast was a no-brainer. The Kailua Zippy's has the best and least expensive breakfast you will find on Oahu.
Two eggs over medium. Bacon crispy. Two scoop rice. And the coffee? Oh my -- so ono! That meal provided all the carbs and protein I would need for hours upon hours of surfing that day. Then later I would have my second meal of the day, and this too was the same thing daily. It's called Kalbi and it's my favorite Korean dish of all time. I learned to love it during my 6 trips to South Korea to teach. In fact, I kid you not when I say that Korean food is my favorite cuisine in the world. Primarily because of its great taste. But also because it's super healthy. In fact, it took me several trips to Korea before I saw my first overweight person, young or old. Korean food is big on fresh vegetables, fermented foods like kimchi, and healthy cooking techniques. The Korean diet is low in processed foods and high in fiber. Korean dishes are often prepared through low-fat cooking methods such as steaming and have a very high vegetable content. Korean cuisine also provides ample supplies of vitamins and minerals while limiting unhealthy saturated fats.
As soon as I arrive in Hawaii I start craving the amazing flavors and mouth-watering aromas of Korean food. Korean dining is especially healthy if you are on a high protein diet like I am. It includes a variety of protein sources such as beef, chicken, tofu, and seafood. And then there are the spices. Garlic, ginger, even red pepper flakes are used generously in Korean dishes and have antiinflammatory properties. Oh, and have I mentioned how it limits the use of sugar in cooking?
My favorite Korean dish in Hawaii, as I said, was a plate of sizzling hot Kalbi.
Note the presence of "banchan" or side dishes that are always served with the main meal and provide additional nutrients and flavors to the meal.
If only I knew how to cook Korean I would cook it every day at home!
