Whether you call them bak zhang, zongzi or rice dumplings, these pyramids of rice and meat wrapped in bamboo leaves are a delicious tradition we can get onboard with. Some bak zhang’s lover probably can have it for 3 meals!
But do you know most rice dumplings are high in energy and fat, and so excessive consumption may lead to obesity!
▼ To enjoy the festive fun to the full without affecting health, you may want to look at the 10 suggestions below:
① Not everyone can eat bak zhang
Glutinous rice is hard to digest. A savoury rice dumpling is usually made with pork belly and preserved pork, and it’s high in fat. Therefore, elderly, young children and people with gastrointestinal problem, patient with diabetes couldn’t eat that much!
② Do not paired your bak zhang with cold beverages
Do not eat bak zhang with cold drinks. As glutinous rice is hard to digest, if it’s cold then it’s even harder to digest and make you bloated.
③ Not more than 2 in a day
Eating too much may cause indigestion, feeling full or bloated. Best is to have one or half bak zhang a day and not more than 2 a day. If discomfort occur after over-eating bak zhang, you should do exercise more for e.g some walking or jogging, and increase some dietary fibre, more vegetables in the next meal.
④ Do not buy bak zhang with too greeny bamboo leaves.
To avoid getting a dyed bamboo leaves, you can soak the leaves in to water for an hour. If you found the water turn greenish, most likely the bamboo leaves was dyed.
⑤ Bak zhang is not safe to eat if it’s undercooked.
Undercooked glutinous rice may leads to digestive problems and even cause health concerns like food poisoning, so it’s best not to eat it.
⑥ Better not to eat with empty stomach or before sleep.
Bak zhang are made with glutinous rice, which is much more sticky than rice, not easy to digest. Mostly contain pork belly which is high in fats, salted duck egg yolks and preserved meat, which are processed foods with high sodium content. Lack of dietary fibre, thus it will be in stomach for long hours. Therefore, it’s not advisable to have bak zhang 2 hours before sleep.
⑦ Do not reheat Bak zhang over and over again
The thawing and reheat process not only kill their nutritional capacities but might also induce toxic development in them which may lead to food poisoning. The symptoms typically involve vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach cramps.
⑧ Do not consume Bak zhang that keeping for too long.
Even the homemade bak zhang do have the best-before date. Best is to be consumed within 4 days. The bak zhang must be kept in the fridge at four degrees Celsius or below,.
Consume the bak zhang as soon as possible and avoid prolonged storage.
⑨ No additional condiments
Many people like to season their bak zhang with chili sauce, soy sauce or granulated sugar, inevitably boosting sodium or sugar intake. Use seasonings sparingly.
⑩ Pairing beer with Bak zhang? NO
Icy cold beer with bak zhang may sounds good. But, for people with gastrointestinal issue, It’s a big NO NO! Hardly- digest food and alcohol will definitely irritate the stomach and develop significant medical complications and health issues.
After reading the 10 things you need to know when eating a bak zhang, i’m sure you have a better idea how to enjoy the festive fun in a healthy way ! And remember to share this piece of knowledge with your family & friends!
Info via：Department of Health HK| blog.xuite.net
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