Life is a different Wave moving by Time and ending at Shore: Kimchi Jjigae

Healthy diets favored by Koreans include traditional Korean dishes like kimchi stew, doenjang jjigae, bibimbap, salads, and grilled fish, as well as menus reflecting health trends. These favored menus tend to balance both flavor and nutrition. Below are ten representative healthy diets favored by Koreans.

1. Kimchi stew: It is called the 'soul food' of Koreans, and the main ingredient, kimchi, contains probiotics and

It is a representative fermented food rich in various nutrients.

2. Doenjang Jjigae/CheonggukjangJjigae: Doenjang and cheonggukjang, made by fermenting soybeans, are rich in protein and easy to digest.

It helps to cook a variety of vegetables and make a balanced meal.

3. Bibimbap: A dish where various seasonal vegetables, herbs, and small amounts of meat are mixed with rice.

Balanced food that allows you to consume various nutrients evenly in one bowl

This is the menu that was caught.

4. Salad and Vegetable-Based Diet: Reflecting recent health trends, there's a strong trend toward increasing vegetable intake, including salads and side dishes. Korean ssambap, in particular, is gaining attention as a healthy food that's effective for blood sugar management and vegetable intake.

5. Grilled Mackerel/Saury: Blue-backed fish are rich in unsaturated fatty acids, which are good for your health, and are one of the favorite home-cooked meals and dishes eaten out by Koreans.

6. Tofu Dishes: Tofu is an excellent source of plant-based protein and is enjoyed in various forms, such as braised tofu or tofu kimchi.

7. Japchae: A dish made by stir-frying various vegetables, mushrooms, meat, etc. with glass noodles. It is a dish that is always served on holidays or banquet tables and is good for consuming vegetables.

8. Seaweed soup: Known as an essential diet for expectant mothers, it is rich in iodine and calcium, which helps with blood circulation and bone health.

9. Porridge (abalone porridge, vegetable porridge, etc.): It is easy to digest and does not put a strain on the stomach, so it is preferred for breakfast or as a meal for patients.

10. Stir-fried Mushrooms/Vegetables: Mushrooms and various vegetable side dishes are rich in dietary fiber and low in calories, helping maintain a healthy diet.

These menus are consistently loved because they suit the taste of Koreans and are nutritionally excellent.

This information has been made by the Gallup Korea from Oct 2 to 29, 2014 based on 1,700 people above 13 years old Korean questioning about their favorite menu. The best menu is Kimchi Jjigae – Kimchi Stew- (21%) and Doenjang Jjigae – Soybean Paste Stew - follows 2nd position (16%) which is increasing at Kimchi Jjigae and Bulgogi –Korea Beef Barbeque - while Doenjang Jjigae is decreasing comparing to those data at 10 years ago.

1. Korean 10 Favorite Menu

Korean favorite menu with Kimchi Jjigae (18%) was 2nd position while Doenjang Jjigae (first position) was 23% in 2004. But this favorite rate position was changing to reverse for 10 years. We think this change would be the reason most people would prefer to take Kimchi Jjigae than Doenjang Jjigae at all age, regardless young or old, while Kimchi has been keeping its position at 3^rd which was no changing for 10 years’ time. As you probably know, Kimchi Jjigae raw material is Kimchi which means Kimchi is the best menu Korean likes to cook for food.

The most favorite menu from ranking 1st to 3^rd is almost serving at Korean dining table every day and every meal. But menu at 4^th ranking is somewhat special or irregular menu calling as Bulgogi – Korean Beef Barbeque (12%) which was particularly loved by teenager due to its tender and sweet beef. Next one (ranking five) is Bibimbab (6%) which is widely and internationally introduced and is serving at some local internal outbound flight. Other Korean favorit menu at the best 10 Korean Menu are Japchae (3%) – mixed dish of boiled bean thread, stir fried vegetables and shredded meat, Galbi (3%) – grilled rib, Cheonggukjang (2%) – fast fermented bean paste soup, Samkyeopsal (2%) – grilled bacon pork and Galbi Jjim (1%) – Stewed rib.

2. Korean 10 Favorite Fruit Juice

Korean favorite fruit juice is first orange juice (23%), apple juice (15%) and strawberry juice (15%) which was remarkably decreasing at orange juice (43%) in 2004 and diversifying many different fruit juice for last 10 years’ time. There are many different fruits are available depend on different seasons in Korea which Korean could enjoy different nutrition according to different season. But people is inclined to take instant fruit juice without complicated cleaning and preparation process of each fruit. It is typical example Korean favorite fruit juice is apple juice people outstandingly increasing to 15% from 6% in 2004 which could be offsetting orange juice losing market. There are many imported fruits were introduced and closer to Korean for last 10 years.

Orange juice (23%) is still the best fruit juice at Korean, even considering remarkable drop, apple juice (15%), grape juice (12%), strawberry juice (12%), Kiwi juice (9%), tomato juice (9%), mango juice (3%), banana juice (2%), tangerine juice (2%) and peach juice (2%)..

3. Korean 10 Favorite Drink

There are one person out of three Korean who could dink and could be fond of dinking Soju (54%) – around 20 to 25% alcohol percent drink - and bear (35%) which is decreasing at Soju consumption while increasing bear and Maguelri – about 5% alcohol rice wine. They questioned which drink you lie to take and answered to this question as first Soju (54%), second bear (35%), Makgeulri (7%), wine (2%) and whisky (1%).

If you look up data referring to gender, Soju (70%) and bear (21%) in male which is mostly Soju while bear (54%) and Soju (34%) which they prefer to take milder drink in female. Soju is more favorite than bear at higher age while bear more love at younger age.

4. Korean 10 Favorite Side Dish for Drink

Korean drinker’s favorite side dishes are Samkyeopsal (18%) – grilled pork bacon – going well with Soju at man while fried chicken (12%) at woman going well with bear. Chimak (chicken + bear ) has been popularized at home and abroad market thanks for lovely home melody drama at domestic as well as global market and peak for the best menu at 2002 Korea and Japan World Cup event times. Chimak was widely welcome to all ages from younger to senior. But the best side dish at Korean drink is not Chimak but Samkyeopsal. What is the reason why Chimak is not at top? It is the answer to this question Soju drinkers are still majority at drink market and preferably taking Samkyeopsal side dish with Soju who takes side dish as Samkyeopsal (31%), Kimchi Jjigae (10%), Sashimi (7%) – raw fish, fried chicken (4%), Odenftang (3%) – fish cake soupo, Jeokbal (3%) – pig foot and fish hot soup (3%). While bear drinker case, their side dish are obviously different from Soju drinker as fired chicken (28%), dried squid (19%), fruit (11%), peanut (5%), golbangei (4%) – whelk, Samkyeopsal (3%) and Pajeon (3%) – pan cake with green onion and sausage (2%).