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Monday, April 1, 2013

Cooking Method Affects Diet


Breaded Fish Fillet c/o Dreamstime.Com
“99 ABC’s of Wellness” Article Credit: The original article 99 ABC’s of Wellness is by Mylene Mendoza-Dayrit, which has appeared on the Philippine Star on January 12, 1999.

Principle #23: The Cooking Method

“The cooking method you use determines your food’s fat content...” (excerpt from the original article)

Many people say that frying is not a very healthy cooking method. It would still be best to boil steam or grill meat instead of frying it in oil.

According to wiki, frying is a method of cooking that dates back to ancient Egypt, which 2,500 years ago. Up to now, fried food is still the most popular method of cooking. Perhaps, people like frying because it is the easiest method of cooking and admittedly, the most delicious to the taste. Who would resist fried chicken?

In an article I have read, it says that - "New York Times" explains that using clean oil at the right temperature and removing the food at the right time before the hissing and sizzling ceases will prevent excess fat -- and calories -- from adhering to your chicken, fish or even Twinkie. The oil you choose can make a big difference as well. Olive oil does not get as hot as other cooking oils, which means you have to leave the food in longer and will up your fat and calorie count. Peanut oil has the highest flash point of comparable cooking oils and will require the least amount of cooking time. One cup of peanut oil has 1,910 calories. Corn and canola oils, both of which have high flash points as well, have 1,980 calories per cup. A cup of lard has 1,849 calories (http://www.livestrong.com/article/504208-how-many-calories-does-frying-add) 

Diet conscious individuals avoid fried dishes. They would opt for steamed fish or grilled meat. However, steamed dishes are bland so people add mayonnaise usually. So, if one fillet of steamed fish has 157 calories and a tablespoon of mayo has 57 calories, you will consume 214 calories already.

One fillet of grilled fish has 123 calories. Well, that’s 34 calories less than a steamed fish. While a fried battered fish has 267 calories. Consuming one fillet of fried battered fish is like eating two fillets of grilled fish! It could be more ‘cause most often, we would add some gravy to it so if you will consume 3 tablespoons of brown gravy, that would add up to 291 calories.

It seems healthier to prepare grilled food than fried but I guess, if you can balance your diet with an active lifestyle, you need not worry about some excess calorie intake. Just burn them and you will still be fat free.

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