CookSmart (13th Issue) Page28

Dietitian Guide

Dipping into a Healthy Hot Pot

Having a nice hot pot dinner is an excellent way to spend an evening with family and friends. Autumn and winter are great times for hot pot, and many restaurants offer “hot pot buffet” in these seasons. However, Sylvia Lam, chairlady of Hong Kong Dietitians Association and an accredited practicing dietitian, reminds us that we should not overeat and that we should choose healthy ingredients and soup base.

“People tend to eat more when they are in a happy, festive mood,” Sylvia says. She recommends a healthy order of eating, that is, eating vegetables first and then meats and other ingredients.

Health Traps in Hot Pot Meals: High Fat, High Sodium and High Calories

Sylvia says, “Hot pot soup bases such as pork bone soup and Sichuan-style hot-and-spicy soup have a high fat content. Meats also release oil during cooking. Beer, soft drinks, sour prune drink and sugarcane juice have high sugar content. People who have high blood pressure, high blood sugar and high blood cholesterol should be especially vigilant.”