the name says it all
I know that foods with the word instant in the title are totally out of fashion these days, but I’ve chosen to write about this one anyway. What is ‘roasted nuts powder’ anyway? And what does it have to do with me? You might be thinking. Well, if you are a busy person who hardly has time for breakfast or lunch, this might be just the item for you. I’m not a busy person, and I have loads of time for breakfast and lunch (not to mention dinner!) so I haven’t been drinking this lately, but there was a time when I snacked on this drink (does that make sense?) several times a week.
Quoting from the product description: … It is an instant natural health food produced for the purpose of easy consumption whenever one is hungry, especially for those that want to avoid spending too much time in preparation. Originally it is a traditional instant food designed to give the human body the 10 most important cereals such as nuts, sesame etc. and especially beneficial for the brain. Also this can be taken at ease when going fishing, hiking or on trips.
Back when I was living in Korea, there was a time when I was so busy that I didn’t have a free moment for lunch three or four days a week. This was entirely my own fault: I was working at one kindergarten (teaching English, of course) and another kindergarten was looking for a part-time teacher, so they asked me if I could work there during my lunch break. I said yes. I’m not sure why– maybe the extra money motivated me, or maybe I’m just bad at saying no. In any case, the manager of the kindergarten would come pick me up and drive me to the second kindergarten where I would work for an hour. After, she delivered me back to my regular job. The drive to and from the second kindergarten took about half an hour each way, so in total I was gone for two hours, and had no time whatsoever to eat lunch. The manager/chauffeur was not a cruel woman (she was exceptionally sweet, actually) so she took it upon herself to arrange something for me to eat each day, while I was working. Sometimes it was a plate of fruit or some rice cakes, but the act of chewing and swallowing made it difficult for the children to understand what I was saying, which cut down on my productivity as a teacher. So, what I’m trying to say here is that drinking this grain & nut tea was a convenient way to keep going for hours at a stretch, without eating (don’t try this at home) just like the Energizer bunny (TM). Those busy South Koreans have thought of everything.
All that’s required to make this is one packet of nut/grain powder, one mug or glass, some hot water and a spoon or something to stir it with. This will buy you some time between meals, but at 80 calories a serving I wouldn’t recommend it as an actual meal replacement. As far as packaged foods go, though, you could do worse than this one: it’s mainly composed of powdered walnuts and chestnuts, and has a lot less sugar (2g per) than those snack bars (granola bars, bran bars, cereal bars, etc.) that are so popular here in Canada these days.
What did you talk to the manager about during the hour you spent together in the car, you ask? Well, we didn’t really talk about anything. I barely spoke Korean and she barely spoke English, but we managed to understand one another very well, I think. The manager, Eun Joo, was passionate about OST’s. I didn’t know what those were, but they are Original Sound Tracks. From the movies. So, we would listen to movie soundtracks while we drove (or more frequently) sat stuck in the traffic of Kangnam, Seoul. Though busy, it was not a bad time in my life.
But, if you have the time, do make a proper breakfast/lunch for yourself, and take a minute to think of the poor souls out there in the world who are rushing around, trying to find time to eat, rest, breathe.
So, how about it? What do you eat when you’re in a hurry?
love,
meg
Unfortunately I’m stranded in the middle of nowhere and can’t find anything like this….but I miss your posts!
Thank you, Mary! I’m vacationing and visiting family in Nova Scotia now, but will try to get a new post up very soon.
Hope you’re having a lovely summer.
I was just introduced to this wonderful drink last night by a new Korean friend! Wonderful.
BTW,how can I subscribe to your blog?
Many thanks!
I have been absent for some time, but now I remember why I used to love this web site. Thank you, I’ll try and check back more often. How frequently you update your web site?