As Chef Woo Can, I preach a lot about eating healthy but I to am a victim of fast food eating and prepackaged frozen food snacks which are loaded with lots of sugar. Sugar makes everything taste better. So, after a purchase at a restaurant or purchasing a prepackaged food, it was sooo good you'll want to visit that restaurant again or buy the same frozen snack.
Lack of time or a busy schedule contribute to eating unhealthy. Just go to your local drive thru and viola, its ready made and the aroma is so enticing.
Who wins? Well the food manufacturers find all ways to increase their bottom line. They are always finding new ways and methods to increase their bottom line. But in the final analysis, it must taste good!
SUGAR and SALT is the answer. As a Chef, the balance of sugar and salt taste is key to a satisfying appetite. But in reality, salt brings out he flavor, so not too much is really needed. The problem here is the product used is of the cheapest grade and therefore no taste but great for the bottom line.
Everyone has a sweet tooth, so the more sugar the better tasting a product is.
Well, the end result is obesity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, tooth decay, heart attacks, clogged arteries, high cholesterols etc...…..
So we resort to diets? Anyone that can write can convince anyone that their diet is the best. Half of all diets sold today do more destruction to your body then benefits. Even if the diet promised losing so many pounds in a short period of time, do we ever realize the shock our body goes through. Being surrounded by all kinds of fast junk food and on T.V 24/7 is self deprivation. Finally, how can a diet fit all people. Everyone is different and each one of us inherit certain diseases.
So we chose to eat the junk food, gain weight, or try a diet and wait for results that show noticeable change giving us a feeling that the diet works but may be detrimental to our bodies.
Chef Woo Can says, think about the following:
1. Are there issues that we try to escape from? Sometimes, we turn to drinking and drugs to escape pain, food does the same "comfort food." Resolve the issue by being truthful to yourself.
2. We follow what our families prepare for food on holidays and special occasions. Snacks in the house, frozen pizza etc...
So rather than continue with the same diet, maybe a change to eat healthier is in order. With the advance in technology, we now know what items cause inflammation of the joints (arthritis) and what foods and spice are considered anti inflammatory.
Case in point, I always have American cheese on my burgers and I drank lots of cow's milk. But I realize cheese and milk are inflammatory and hurt my joints. I stopped, took Tumeric everyday and avoid milk by switching to soy milk. For me I feel 100% better. I tie that in with swimming at the YMCA and do weights to tone my muscles and walk around the block. Stagnant muscles creates weakness of strength.
3. Everything in moderation is ok, so a little fried food, seafood, sweets is ok. I recommend natural sweets like fruits. Talking about fruits, mother nature is pretty amazing. An apple a day an orange has the perfect amount of natural sugar needed for our bodies. This idea of a glass of OJ is healthy is questionable. It takes 6 oranges for an average glass of OJ when all we need is 1 orange.
Let me know what you think.
By Chef Woo Can
​www.chefwoocan.com    

India Garden Restaurant
5 Bel Air South Parkway, Bel Air, MD 21015
​(443) 456-3282

​A funny thing happen on the way to meet a buddy at this restaurant. He loves Indian food as I also. I've heard from a number of friends that when Indian food is mentioned, their facial reaction is not the most chipper. They always seem to have  disdain for that Indian curry.
​I can honestly say, that Indian curry is an acquired taste. I guess its the spiciness of the herbs used or the uniqueness of the flavor. Like any other cuisine, unless you have it often, it just doesn't sit right. The same goes for Chinese food, Japanese food, Thai food, Vietnamese food. Just keep in mind that these foods have to be modified quite a bit for the American palate.
​The restaurant is located in the Bel Air Festival Shopping Center. My buddy and I got together for the lunch buffet that was quite reasonable at $9.99 all you can eat.  Now the typical Indian buffet will only carry the most popular dishes but this restaurant offered a vegetarian Samosa. What is a Samosa. It consist of mash potatoes and peas with a curry flavor and wrapped in a crispy deep fried wrapper that after its all done, looks like a fried triangular dumpling.  This is a first that I've seen this dish on the buffet.
​They had an assortment of chutneys (relish), mint, tamarind and curried onions. The relishes can be placed on these thin wafer crackers that are so thin but very tasty. Of course the naan bread, the spinach with cubed cheese, the Tiki Marsala with Chicken and the mixed vegetables with a nice curry sauce to name a few.
​It was a pleasurable experience and if your tired of the steamed American vegetables, try the vegetarian curry vegetables. The waiters are willing to offer their recommendations.
I'd go back again. My mouth is watering as I think about this place!
​RECOMMENDATION RATING: 5   on a range of 1-5, 5 being the best.
​www.chefwoocan.com          

ATTENTION ALL HUNGRY MILLENNIALS!
​by Chef Woo Can
Recently it has been revealed that the Millennial Generation seldom prepares their meals at home. Whether they have no time, not interested in cooking, it seems that this generation is being the focus of attention by food companies specifically those companies involved in packaged food service. In other words, you pay good monies for a parcel that includes the necessary ingredients along with very simple instructions on how to put it all together. The question that Chef Woo Can is....
​are you really getting good value for the price? and how long can you sustain this method of quick and easy meals? I would venture a guess, NOT LONG.
​So, Chef Woo Can will offer  simple alternative. I will offer the day before a list of ingredients based on your appetite so you can purchase these items at your local store (Aaah, saving on delivery charges) and the day you want to make the meal, I will be able to communicate with you on a one to one basis, showing you step by step on how to prepare your meal on "Skype"
​You'll get the individual attention LIVE and research has shown, people are more at ease with personalized instructions.
​Chef Woo Can would like to know what you think?
​Save money, have fun and always remember, "If Chef Woo Can You Can Too!"
​www.chefwoocan.com