Both meals are often coated in sauce, but the rice has the unpleasant distinction of being cooked in oil first. The disadvantage is the high salt content of the soy sauce in which the noodles are floating, but that’s a simple fix. You can ask for the sauce on the side so you can choose how much you put on because customizing it is always a good idea.
Lo Mein is much superior to fried rice. However, the issue of the healthiness of Lo mein is a separate conversation since it is not only rich in calories but also high in salt. To make it healthier, use nutritious vegetable substitutes and less oil and sodium when preparing it at home. Check out these vegan lo mein recipes to get started! When it comes to deciding which is better and healthier, I’ve compiled a list of essential factors to keep in mind. Stay tuned to find out.
Let’s start from the beginning: Which is healthier: rice or noodles?
So, which is better for you: rice or noodles? They’re both carbohydrate sources. A hundred grams of rice, on the other hand, has 175 calories. Fifty grams of noodles have the same number of calories. As a result, for the same quantity of food, noodles will provide more calories. However, when it comes to which is healthier, the noodle or rice you typically eat is more or less the same. Again, the carbohydrate type is more significant than the quantity consumed.
Both of these foods have a high glycemic index
The glycemic index is a metric for determining how food affects blood sugar levels. The stronger the glycemic index, the more capable the meal is of raising blood sugar levels. The glycemic index is termed high if it is more than 70, moderate if it is between 69 and 57, and low if it is less than 55. Rice has a glycemic index of 73, while meals like noodles and pasta have a moderate glycemic index.
Both are refined grain products
The noodles we typically eat are made from processed flour. If the noodles are not made with whole grains, they are made with refined grains. White rice, on the other hand, is a refined grain. As a result, we may deduce that rice and noodles are refined grain products. Eating refined grains in excess may raise the chance of developing metabolic syndrome. Inflammation is caused by refined grains that may lead to degenerative illnesses, including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
The manner you eat these items has an impact on how nutritious a meal is. If you’re trying to reduce calories by eating quick noodles instead of rice and side dishes, you may want to rethink your selections. Instant noodles may contain up to 400 calories per box. Not to mention the excessive salt and saturated fat content.
If you eat 100 grams of rice and a modest non-fat piece of meat, your calorie consumption is unlikely to exceed 300 calories. When you add low-calorie fruits and veggies, you’ve got a full, healthy dinner for the same amount of calories as a box of quick noodles.
I enjoy writing and I write quality guest posts on topics of my interest and passion. I have been doing this since my college days. My special interests are in health, fitness, food and following the latest trends in these areas. I am an editor at Content Rally.
If there is something that I have learned in life, it is about gardening. Well, almost everything if not all. And if there is one thing that took me some time to master, it was knowing how to harvest potatoes at home!
Potatoes are one of the most versatile and popular vegetables in the world. They can be cooked in many different ways, such as boiled, baked, fried, mashed, or roasted. Moreover, they are also rich in carbohydrates, fiber, vitamin C, potassium, and antioxidants.
But how do you grow and harvest your own potatoes at home? You see, potatoes are not like cilantro or other plants. These are tubers.
In this article, I will show you everything you need to know about how to harvest potatoes, from planting to storage.
So, if that is something that you are interested in knowing, then I have you covered! Keep on reading this blog till the end to learn more...
How to Plant Potato Seeds or Tubers?
The first step in how to harvest potatoes is to plant them. You can start with either potato seeds or tubers. Potato seeds are small, round, and black, and they are usually sold in packets.
Potato tubers are the actual potatoes that you eat, and they have eyes or buds that can sprout new plants.
You can buy certified seed potatoes from a nursery or garden center, or use organic potatoes from the grocery store.
Here are some if the steps that you must take to plant them:
Planting Potato Seeds
To plant potato seeds, you need to sow them indoors in pots or trays filled with moist potting soil.
Place them in a sunny spot and keep the soil moist but not soggy.
The seeds will germinate in about two weeks and produce small green shoots.
When the shoots are about 3 inches tall, you can transplant them outdoors in your garden or in containers.
Planting Potato Tubers
To plant potato tubers, you need to cut them into pieces, each with at least one eye.
You can do this a few days before planting to let the cut surfaces heal and prevent rotting. Alternatively, you can plant whole small potatoes with several eyes.
To prepare the soil, you need to loosen it and add some organic matter, such as compost or manure.
You also need to make sure the soil is well-drained and slightly acidic, with a pH of 5.0 to 6.0.
You can use a soil test kit to check the pH level and adjust it with lime or sulfur if needed.
Planting Potato Pieces
To plant the potato pieces, you need to dig a trench about 4 inches deep and 12 inches wide.
Place the pieces about 12 inches apart, with the eyes facing up.
Cover them with 3 inches of soil and water well.
As the plants grow, you need to hill up the soil around them to cover the lower stems and prevent the tubers from being exposed to sunlight, which can turn them green and bitter.
You can also mulch the soil with straw, leaves, or grass clippings to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
How to Care for Your Potato Plants?
The second step in how to harvest potatoes is to care for your potato plants. You need to water them regularly, especially during dry spells, to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. You also need to fertilize them every two weeks with a balanced organic fertilizer, such as fish emulsion or seaweed extract. Also, you can add some wood ash or bone meal to provide extra potassium and phosphorus, which are essential for tuber formation.
You also need to protect your potato plants from pests and diseases, which can reduce your yield and quality. Some of the common potato pests are:
Colorado potato beetles, which are yellow and black striped insects that feed on the leaves and can defoliate the plants. You can handpick them and drop them in a bucket of soapy water, or use an organic insecticide, such as neem oil or pyrethrin.
Potato leafhoppers, which are small, green, winged insects that suck the sap from the leaves and cause them to curl and yellow. You can spray them with a strong jet of water, or use an organic insecticide, such as garlic or hot pepper spray.
Wireworms, which are thin, brown, worm-like larvae that bore into the tubers and cause holes and tunnels. You can trap them with pieces of carrot or potato buried in the soil, or use beneficial nematodes, which are microscopic worms that parasitize and kill the wireworms.
Common Potato Diseases
One of the most common reasons why a potato cannot grow or survive is the diseases. If you were wondering what some of these can be and how to deal with them, I have you covered!
Some of the common potato diseases are:
Late Blight: It is a fungal disease that causes brown spots on the leaves and stems, and black or brown lesions on the tubers. It can spread rapidly and destroy the entire crop. You can prevent it by planting resistant varieties, avoiding overhead watering, and removing any infected plants and tubers. You can also use a fungicide, such as copper or sulfur, as a preventive measure.
Scab: This is a bacterial disease that causes rough, corky patches on the tubers. It does not affect the taste or edibility of the potatoes, but it reduces their appearance and storage quality. You can prevent it by planting resistant varieties, maintaining a slightly acidic soil pH, and avoiding excessive nitrogen fertilization.
Potato Virus Y: Lastly, this is a viral disease that causes mosaic patterns, mottling, or yellowing on the leaves, and misshapen or knobby tubers. It can reduce the yield and quality of the potatoes, and it can be transmitted by aphids or infected seed potatoes. You can prevent it by planting certified virus-free seed potatoes, controlling aphids, and removing any infected plants and tubers.
How to Determine When Your Potatoes Are Ready to Harvest?
The third step in how to harvest potatoes is to determine when they are ready to harvest. This depends on the type and variety of potatoes you planted, and the size and maturity you want.
There are two main types of potatoes: early and late.
Early potatoes are ready to harvest in about 10 to 12 weeks (about 3 months) after planting, and they produce small to medium-sized tubers that are tender and thin-skinned. They are best for boiling, steaming, or roasting.
Late potatoes are ready to harvest in about 15 to 20 weeks (about 4 and a half months) after planting, and they produce large, starchy tubers that are firm and thick-skinned. They are best for baking, mashing, or frying.
Early Harvesting
To harvest early potatoes, you can start digging them up when the plants begin to flower, or when the lower leaves start to yellow.
You can use a garden fork or a spade to gently lift the plants and tubers from the soil, or you can use your hands to feel for the tubers under the soil.
You can harvest as many or as few potatoes as you need, and leave the rest in the ground until you are ready to use them.
You can also harvest some of the young, tender leaves and stems, which are edible and nutritious.
Late Harvesting
To harvest late potatoes, you need to wait until the plants have died back completely, or until the first frost.
This allows the tubers to develop a thicker skin, which helps them store better.
You can use a garden fork or a spade to dig up the entire row of plants and tubers, or you can use a potato digger, which is a special tool that lifts and separates the tubers from the soil.
You need to be careful not to damage or bruise the tubers, as this can cause rotting or spoilage.
How to Dig Up, Cure, and Store Your Potatoes?
The final step in how to harvest potatoes is to dig up, cure, and store your potatoes. This is important to preserve the quality and shelf life of your potatoes, and to prevent them from sprouting, rotting, or shrinking. Here are the steps to follow:
Digging Up
After digging up your potatoes, you need to brush off any excess soil and remove any damaged, diseased, or green tubers.
Do not wash your potatoes, as this can remove the protective skin and invite bacteria and fungi. You can wash them just before cooking or eating them.
Curing
You need to cure your potatoes for about two weeks in a cool, dark, and well-ventilated place, such as a basement, garage, or shed.
This allows the skin to harden and heal any minor cuts or bruises and enhances the flavor and texture of the potatoes.
The ideal temperature for curing is between 50°F and 60°F, and the ideal humidity is between 80% and 90%.
You can spread your potatoes in a single layer on a newspaper, cardboard, or wooden crate, and avoid exposing them to light, which can turn them green and bitter.
Storing
You need to store your potatoes in a cool, dark, and dry place, such as a cellar, pantry, or closet. The ideal temperature for storage is between 40°F and 50°F, and the ideal humidity is between 65% and 70%.
You can store your potatoes in paper bags, cardboard boxes, mesh bags, or wooden crates, and check them regularly for any signs of sprouting, rotting, or shriveling.
You can also store your potatoes in a root cellar, which is an underground or partially underground structure that maintains a constant temperature and humidity.
Additionally, you can also store your potatoes in a clamp, which is a mound of straw, hay, or leaves covered with soil, that insulates and protects the potatoes from frost and rodents.
Wrapping It Up!
If you want to know about how to harvest potatoes, I hope that this blog has been of help to you. However, if there are any other queries related to the same, please feel free to let me know.
All that you need to do is scroll down till you reach the bottom of the page. Then leave your comments and suggestions in the box below. And I will be there to answer them all for you!
Read Also:
How to Harvest Lettuce: A Step-by-Step Guide for Fresh and Crispy Salads
Everything You Need To Know About Harvesting Basil!
Asparagus 101: When, How, And How Often To Harvest?
Have you ever eaten a protein-based coconut bar and tasted just how satisfying they are? Offering flavors that take your mind to the sun-drenched beaches of the Caribbean, coconut products like these get your mouth watering when you know you’re about to take one out of your day bag and eat it. It’s one of life’s little pleasures.
As a low-carb, high-fiber snack, it’s great for bedding down your hunger, but did you know that the humble coconut offers a bunch of health benefits? Well, they do, and by reading on, you’ll understand just what a wise move including them in your diet really is.
The fruit of the palm tree is cultivated around the planet, being used in many different types of cooking and health-food products. As we’ll see in a moment. However, the range of body support this natural food source provides is surprisingly extensive.
Ways The Coconut Bar Helps The Body
So, aside from the delicious taste, what exactly do coconut products like these do for your health? We’re glad you asked, and here are five ways that they assist…
1 - Bacteria-Fighting Power
One of the first great things about your average coconut bar is that it’s able to prevent the growth of particular strains of bacteria. Studies have shown that coconut is particularly helpful as oil, at the same time stemming the growth of bacteria like Streptococcus.
Since coconuts are naturally antiviral and antibacterial, they can actually help you safeguard your immune system. A hefty immune system is critical for helping you prevent diseases as well as illnesses.
2 - Packed With Nutrition
Coconut is different from many other types of fruit in that they contain mostly fat and not carbs. They are also known to contain a range of vital minerals, as well as B vitamins. Also on offer is manganese - something that’s great for supporting your bones.
Copper and iron also exist in coconut, boosting the health of your blood vessels. A coconut bar is packed with satiating fiber as well as digestion-friendly ingredients. It never fails to provide minerals such as iron, zinc, magnesium, copper, and manganese.
3 - Blood Sugar Stabilizing
Being low in terms of carbohydrates means that coconut does not cause those blood sugar spikes you get after a typical candy bar. As such, they help to keep your blood sugar levels nice and stable, and the fruit is even thought to be beneficial in preventing insulin resistance - a problem that causes misery for many.
A study found that HDL cholesterol levels improve significantly on consuming coconut oil for 8 straight weeks. It also enhances triglyceride levels and ultimately reduces blood sugar.
4 - Free Radical-Busting
Free radicals are elements in our environment that cause cell damage. We’re talking about things like pollution and stress, and again, coconut comes to the rescue with its innate antioxidant compounds that hold them at bay. Battling them in this way helps to keep you looking younger and feeling great.
Coconut, in any form, has hydrating properties. Electrolytes in it help to hydrate and regulate the fluid balance in our body. Moreover, they also help regulate muscle contraction and blood pressure.
How To Choose The Right Coconut Protein Bar?
Protein bars are not just snacks, they are the prime energy sources for fitness freaks. While choosing the right one might be daunting, the process should never go unnoticed. Thus, the last thing you would want is to select the wrong coconut protein bar for yourself. Here are some tips to opt for the right protein bar enriched with the goodness of coconut.
Check The Protein
A coconut bar offering 10 grams of protein, at least, in every serving might just be the right one for you. Proteins help the body to build muscles extensively and also recover after rigorous exercise. Further, it enables the stomach to remain full in the middle of meals and fulfills cravings.
The Carbohydrate Factor
A coconut bar offering carbohydrates of less than 10 grams is excellent for your health. If that amount exceeds, chances are you will have an increased fat amount in the body. This further results in more carb cravings which are not good for your fitness.
Sugar
A coconut protein bar offering more than 6-8 grams of sugar on each serving is fine. Manufacturing companies usually add sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners to enhance the taste. But these added sugars take a toll on your health. In a coconut protein bar, avoid sugar alcohols such as mannitol, erythritol, and sorbitol, to name a few.
Cut Down Fats
Search for coconut protein bars that have increased healthy fats and reduced saturated fats. If your bar has trans fats, it is best to avoid it. Healthy fats present in protein bars consist of nuts, coconut oil, seeds, and nut butter. Always search for a coconut bar that has no trans fat, as it can affect your health significantly.
Calories
Last but not least, you will have to consider the calorie factor of your coconut protein bar. For men, a protein bar must consist of calories between 170 to 250 per serving. On the other hand, a coconut bar should have 140 to 200 calories in each serving. Considering this might help you reap significant health benefits.
A Regular Coconut Bar Is A Great Way To Stay Healthy!
So, as we can see, the coconut is a bit of a hero when it comes to human health. Busting free radicals, stabilizing your blood sugar, fighting bacteria, and supplying you with essential minerals and vitamins, it’s one of the best types of snacks you can put in your body.
One thing is for sure, you don’t get this kind of body support from a candy bar, so why not consider switching to something that’s no less tasty but so much better for you in the long run? Like the sound of something sweet without the guilt? It would seem coconut protein bars might just be the answer!
Read Also :
The Top 10 Best Foods To Eat In Early Pregnancy
Foods To Eat On A Low-Carb Ketogenic Diet
Your wedding is the ultimate opportunity to celebrate the love you have for your spouse-to-be as well as the love and friendship you share with your guests. It’s the chance to get creative with your plans and show your guests how much you want them to have a good time and how much you appreciate them.
How do you give your guests a delicious meal without breaking the bank? Simply team up with an expert caterer and they can walk you through the best options for your wedding so you can showcase your personality and satisfy the stomachs of your guests. Want to know what you should skip and what you shouldn’t miss for your wedding food? Read on.
Don’t Miss It: Local Food Options:
Statistically speaking, your wedding is going to generate a decent amount of waste. Even if you only consider the food waste that comes out of preparing multiple meals as well as the plastic and glass that collects from the bar, that’s a sizeable amount of resources. Then if you think about the gas your guests will have used to arrive at the venue and the electricity that goes into powering your wedding, your nuptials will create an impact.
If you’re green-focused then you will have likely already considered sourcing your wedding food and drinks from local outlets. And even if the environmental impact of your wedding isn’t at the top of your list priorities, local options offer the promise of fresh food and unique types of drinks that your guests might not have had elsewhere.
Skip It: the Boring Buffet:
No one needs another boring buffet with rubbery chicken, flavourless iceberg lettuce, and too-oily roast potatoes. When the food comes out at your wedding, that’s the chance to brighten the faces of your guests with something exciting. Whether you serve your food buffet style or sit-down style, the meal options of your event venue can be spiced up with the help of an event caterer.
Don’t Miss It: A Unique Cake:
Are you going for a traditional, white wedding cake? Have you thought of what else you can serve? One way to impress your guests with something unexpected is through the dessert. You’ve gone so far as to customize every other aspect of your wedding, why stop at the cake? Maybe your love for donuts means you’d like to have a gourmet donut station in place of cake. Maybe you’d like to create a tower of pretty-looking cupcakes that anyone can come up to and eat as they like. Don’t limit yourself!
Skip It: Sugary Snacks:
When your guests arrive at the reception, they’re probably hungry in anticipation of the main meal. Don’t make the mistake of serving only overly sugary snacks like brownies and cookies. This type of food will just give your guests a sugar rush followed by an unpleasant crash. And for your guests without a sweet tooth, you can opt for a savoury-sweet dessert option like cheese and fruit that will still end the meal on a nice note without overdoing the sugar.
With all this in mind and an open-minded attitude to unique culinary options from skilled caterers like The Food Dudes, you can ensure your wedding meal and snacks will reflect your style and impress your guests.
Read Also:
Finding The Perfect Place To Have Your Wedding
Make Your Pre-Wedding Amazing: 8 Bridal-Shower Planning Ideas
