8 easy ways to cut calories and lose weight

If you're tired of following a long list of diet rules, only to get frustrated and quit when you just can't take it anymore, you're in luck — the most effective kind of weight loss is slow and gradual.

Weight loss doesn't have to be difficult. In fact, the easier your weight loss plan is, the more likely you are to stick with it. If you're looking for some easy ways to cut calories and drop a few pounds, we've got you covered.


Eat whole foods.

They can help you feel more satisfied. Shutterstock

"Whole food choices, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes all pack in good-for-you nutrients and can help keep you feeling satisfied," Lindsey Bristol

Power up with protein.

Protein is great, especially for breakfast.

"Protein gives you longer-lasting energy and helps your body build muscle," said Bristol. Try adding eggs, yogurt, nuts, chia seeds, nut butters, or oatmeal with milk to your breakfast food options and morning routine to start your day with a protein-rich meal.

Top 10 Best Thai Food in Phuket - Thailand

Thai food - as exotic as it is - needs no introduction. Nowadays you can find at least one Thai restaurant in most western towns but Thai food in Thailand itself is a whole new experience. The juxtaposition of sweet, sour, hot and salty flavours is what makes Thai cuisine so distinct and nowhere is it more noticeable than in the Thai national soup tom yam. Thai chefs are extremely talented in appropriating foreign dishes and making them their own - such as in a typical noodle dish. Forget green salad for a while - enjoy a hearty papaya salad, otherwise known as som tam, while Thai green curry is as distinct a dish as they ever get. Enhance your stay in Thailand with its delicious food. 

1 Tom Yam Goong 

This is the national aroma of Thailand, thanks to the generous use of fragrant herbs. Lemongrass, lime leaves, galangal, and shallots provide the memorable smells, with chilis and fish sauce providing the kick. Substance comes in the form of jumbo shrimp (goong) and mushrooms. The flavour is a unique combination of spicy hot and sour and makes for an ideal start to a meal, or - when paired with rice - a worthy main dish. Read More... 

2 Pad Thai 

Thailand's calling card to the rest of the culinary world, pad Thai doesn't need an introduction. There are an infinite number of variations on this timeless tradition, but usually noodles are dressed up with tofu, bean sprouts, onion, and the brilliant final touch: peanuts ground to near dust. Pad Thai is a diner-participation meal; you put on the finishing touches of fish sauce, sugar, chili powder, and crushed peanuts to suit your taste. 

3 Kuay Tiew (Noodle Soup) 

Brush up on your chopstick skills and get your slurping muscles ready, noodle soup is a quick-and-easy staple of the Thai eating experience. Variations in ingredients mean ten different vendors could serve it ten different ways ' making it nearly deserving of its own top ten list. Noodles ' usually thin, occasionally broad ' are served up in a broth with just about any edible meat: pork, chicken, beef, duck, and seafood being the most popular. One sample and you may not stop until you've tried them all. 

4 Som Tam 

Som tam ' spicy papaya salad ' comes from northeast Thailand, but it's reached near-cult status throughout the rest of the country. Slight regional differences in ingredients means placement on the sweet-or-sour scale may vary greatly between restaurants. Common to all recipes is shredded green papaya and a healthy dose of heat. Barbequed chicken and lumps of sticky rice are the perfect companions. 

5 Gai Med Ma Moung (Chicken Cashew Nuts) 



Roasted cashew nuts. Sweet soy sauce. Honey. Garlic. And, of course, chilis ' it would be Thai food without a little enjoyable pain. Three cheers for the clever soul that figured out nuts and chicken were a good mix. A dish this popular must be more than a little good. Phuket raises the standard with a vast supply of some of the world's best cashew nuts, and they're grown locally. 

 6 Geng Kheaw Wan Gai (Green Curry Chicken) 



So what gives green curry its colour? Green curry paste. Sorry, not an exciting answer, but it is an exciting dish. Of all the curries, and there’s plenty of them, the one that’s the colour of American money is among the spiciest. It’s also the least like Indian curry; Thailand has a way of making borrowed food distinctively Thai. The proof is in the coconut milk. 

 7 Tom Kha Gai 



Possibly the world's most refreshing soup, tom kaa gai (boiled galangal chicken) combines coconut milk with lemongrass, galangal ' ginger's Asian sister ' and chicken. It's a sweet, tame twist on tom yam goong. On a table filled with delectable Thai dishes, tom kaa gai stands out; your spoon will return to this bowl time and again. 

8 Kao Phad (Fried Rice) 



Ah, good old fried rice. On first sight, kao phad appears to be little more than a big heap of rice; you call that a meal? But try it. Augmented with your choice of meat ' shrimp and chicken being the most popular ' and egg, onion, cilantro, garlic, and tomotoes, this is rice with hidden secrets. Spice to taste with chili sauce and enjoy. 

9 Massaman Curry 



Massaman is the Thai word for "Muslim", which is the community to heartily thank for this concoction of coconut milk, potatoes, roasted peanuts, bay leaves, sugar, cinnamon, and tamarind sauce. The meat of choice is often beef or chicken, but because it's been embraced by the Buddhists, pork can also be found. 

10 Khao man gai - chicken and rice 

This is Thailand’s answer to British fish and chips – an ubiquitous meal served mostly during the daytime (while stocks last) at special khao man gai dedicated stalls and restaurants. The chicken is gently boiled until it is tender then the water is used in boiling the rice. This means that khao man gai – apart from being delicious – is high in cholesterol. Served with a chicken broth and delicious sweet and spicy sauces, it’s the perfect midday snack.

Top 10 foods to try in Thailand

There are plenty of reasons to visit Thailand, from glorious golden beaches to legendary parties beneath a full moon…and that’s before we mention the food.

Thai cuisine is a celebration of the fresh and fragrant. Whatever your reason for visiting, the abundance of delicious flavours will make you want to extend your stay.

Don’t leave Thailand without tasting…

Phat Thai

Invented in the 1930s by a Chinese-Thai chef, this dish of thin rice noodles stir-fried with egg, tofu and shrimp, and seasoned with fish sauce, sugar, tamarind, vinegar and dried chilli has subsequently reigned as the poster boy for Thai cuisine.

Try making your own phat Thai

Tom yam

This herb-forward broth is often referred to in English-language menus as 'sour Thai soup'. The shrimp version – tom yam kung – is the most lauded, and justifiably so: the combination of fatty prawns and a tart/spicy soup result in an unusual but delicious and distinctly Thai amalgam.

Laap

Thailand’s northeast in one rustic dish; laap (also known as larb or larp) takes the form of minced meat seasoned with roasted rice powder, lime juice, fish sauce and fresh herbs. Be sure to eat it with sticky rice, short, fat grains of rice that are steamed and eaten by hand.

Khao soi

When in Thailand’s north, don’t miss this unique, curry-based noodle soup. Typically revolving around chicken or beef, the optional sides of lime, sliced shallots and crunchy pickled greens provide a pleasing contrast with the rich, spice-laden, coconut milk-based broth and soft, squiggly wheat-and-egg noodles.

Som tam

Although its origins lie in Thailand’s rural northeast, this dish of strips of crunchy unripe papaya bruised in a mortar and pestle with tomato, long beans, chilli, lime and fish sauce, has found a foothold in virtually every corner of the country. Couple the dish with a basket of sticky rice for a light yet piquant Thai meal.

Phat kaphrao

This street food staple combines meat flash-fried with holy basil (the eponymous kaphrao) and a generous helping of fresh chilli and garlic. Served over rice and often crowned with a fried egg, it’s the epitome of the Thai-style one dish meal.

Green curry

For Thai food novices, there’s probably no better starting point than this intersection of a piquant/herbal spice paste and rich coconut milk. Remember to do as the Thais and couple the curry with a plate of jasmine rice – it’s not meant to be eaten on its own as a soup.

Yam

As a side dish or drinking snack, you’re bound to encounter this ubiquitous Thai 'salad' that combines meat or seafood with a tart/spicy dressing and fresh herbs. A good introduction to the genre is yam wun sen, slinky glass noodles paired with minced pork and shrimp.

Kai yang

Thai-style grilled chicken owes its fame to the people of the country’s northeast, who marinate the bird in a unique mixture of fish sauce, coriander root and garlic. Couple the bird with sticky rice and green papaya salad, and you have one of Thailand’s most legendary meals.

Khao phat

For many Thai people, fried rice is comfort food. The variations are endless, and the dish is often the result of improvisation, but a staple at seafood restaurants across the country is the simple but delicious khao phat puu, rice fried with hearty chunks of crab and egg.

The Top 10 South Korean Foods to Try

In recent years South Korea has become better known for its technology than its food. However, thanks to delicacies like kimchi, which has become a global sensation, things are beginning to change. Here are is a list of South Korean foods you have to try.

Kimchi (fermented vegetables)

One of the oldest and probably the most essential dishes in Korean cuisine, kimchi is a spicy and sour dish made up of fermented vegetables. It is prepared with various kinds of ingredients, but the most common main ingredient is cabbage. Kimchi is popular among foreigners for its unique flavor, as well as its high nutritional value, fiber content and low calorie content. However, for Koreans, it is most popular due to its significant cultural value. Without kimchi, dinner is considered incomplete.

Bibimbap (mixed rice)

Bibimbap is essentially a bowl of mixed ingredients including, but not limited to, rice, namul (seasoned and sautéed vegetables), mushrooms, beef, soy sauce, gochujang(chili pepper paste), and a fried egg. The ingredients found in bibimbap vary by region, and the most famous versions of the dish are found in Jeonju, Tongyeong, and Jinju.

Bulgogi (marinated beef barbecue)

A juicy, savory dish of grilled marinated beef, bulgogi is one of the most popular Korean meat dishes throughout the world, and was ranked as the 23rd most delicious food in the world according to CNN Travel’s reader’s poll in 2011. It is often grilled with garlic and sliced onions to add flavor to the meat. The meat is usually wrapped in lettuce and it is also traditionally eaten with ssamjang (a thick, red spicy paste).

Japchae (stir-fried noodles)

Often served as a side dish during lunch or dinner, japchae is a traditional Korean noodle dish made up of stir-fried sweet potato, thinly shredded vegetables, beef, and a hint of soy sauce and sugar. Depending on the chef, additional ingredients like mushrooms are added to the mix. Japchae is known for its sweet and flavorful taste and its soft yet slightly chewy texture.

Hoeddeok (sweet syrupy pancakes)

Known as a sweeter version of the Western pancake, hoeddeok, or sometimes spelled as hotteok, is a popular Korean street food, especially during the winter season. It is essentially flat, circular dough that is filled with a mixture of cinnamon, honey, brown sugar, and small pieces of peanut and cooked on a griddle. The delicacy has crunchy exterior and soft interior as well as an irresistible flavor.

Ddukbokki (spicy rice cake)

Ddukbokki, also spelled tteokbokki, is a common spicy Korean food made of cylindrical rice cakes, triangular fish cake, vegetables, and sweet red chili sauce. It is often sold by pojangmacha (street vendors). People enjoy ddeukbokki for the combination of spicy and sweet flavors.

Seolleongtang (ox bone soup)

A traditional hot Korean soup made from ox bones, ox meat and briskets, seolleongtang is a local dish of Seoul, often seasoned with salt, ground black pepper, chopped green onions, or minced garlic according to the consumer’s taste. The broth is of a milky white, cloudy color and is often eaten with rice. Seolleongtang is known for its soft yet chewy texture and flavorful broth, and can be found in most Korean restaurants in Seoul.

Sundubu-jjigae (soft tofu stew)

Served in a large stone bowl, sundubu-jjigae is a common spicy Korean stew generally made of dubu (tofu), vegetables, mushrooms, seafood, beef or pork, and gochujang (chili paste). Depending on the chef and region, some ingredients are removed, substituted or added to the mix. Though different variations exist, traditionally, a raw egg is placed on top of the stew and mixed with the soup before serving to add additional flavor to the dish.

Samgyeopsal (pork strips)

One of the most popular Korean dishes in South Korea, samgyeopsal consists of grilled slices of pork belly meat that are not marinated or seasoned. They are commonly dipped in seasoning made of salt and pepper mixed in sesame seed oil, and then wrapped in lettuce along with grilled slices of garlic, grilled slices of onion, shredded green onions, and kimchi. It is one of the most common dishes found in any Korean restaurant throughout the world.

Haemul Pajeon (seafood vegetable pancake)

A version of pajeon, which is a pancake-like Korean dish made predominantly with green onions, egg batter, wheat flour, and rice flour, haemul pajeon incorporates seafood to the common pancake. Common seafood ingredients used include, but are not limited to, oysters, shrimp, squid, and clams. Haemul pajeon is generally eaten as a main dish and is known for its soft and chewy texture as well as its mixture of seafood flavors.

Hobakjuk (pumpkin porridge)

A sweet and grainy dish, hobakjuk is a traditional Korean porridge made from steamed pumpkin and glutinous rice that has been soaked in water. Though its appearance is simple, it is extraordinarily sweet and flavorful due to the pumpkin. It is a popular meal during breakfast hours, and is often a perfect meal choice for people who are unwell and unable to consume heavy meals. It is served both hot and cold but is best when hot.

Naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles)

Naengmyeon is a common cold Korean noodle dish that consists of long, thin noodles, cucumbers, slices of Korean pear, slices of beef and a hard-boiled egg. The noodles are often made of buckwheat, potatoes, and sweet potatoes, but can also be made of arrowroot and kudzu, depending on the type of naengmyeon. It is a popular dish especially during the summer to cool off under the scorching heat and thick humid air in South Korea.

Soondae (blood sausage)

Soondae, or sometimes spelled as sundae, is a unique Korean dish made of pig’s intestines stuffed with several ingredients such as noodles, pork blood, and barley. Versions of soondae differ in fillings and wrappings, and are often prepared differently according to the province or city in South Korea. Nevertheless, though the recipes differ, every soondae is chewy on the outside and soft and flavorful on the side, creating an interesting mix of textures as well as flavors.

Samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup)

A common dish particularly during the summer, samgyetang is a traditional soup made of chicken, garlic, rice, scallion, Korean jujube, Korean ginseng, and spices. It is known to have a high nutritional value. Not only is it known for its healthy contents but it also is popular simply for its creamy and meaty flavor.

The most popular foods you have to eat in Japan

Today I will talk about the food in Japan. As many of you already know, Japan has a wonderful an unique cuisine but mostly when we think about Japanese food automatically comes to our minds fish and rice. This blog will help you to have a different view about the food culture in Japan, and also will help you to know what to order at the moment you sit at the restaurant.

Here you are my 13 favourite options when I want to feel Japan through its flavors.

1.- Sushi/sashimi

I will start with the one that most of us identify Japan with: Sushi and Sashimi. Sushi is known all over the world. It is called sushi to every piece of rice seasoned with a rice vinegar mix (made with sugar and salt) mixed with different ingredients: variety of fishes, vegetables, nori (seaweed), etc.. You grab the pieces of sushi with the chopsticks and dip them into soy sauce or wasabi, or both. It is a mixed of flavors in your mouth! Sushi can be: Nigiri sushi, Maki sushi , Oshi sushi , Temaki sushi, etc.

Depending on the shape an ingredients that are used. 

Sashimi is basically raw fish or seafood served with wasabi (a very spicy japanese condiment), soy sauce and generally it comes with slices of radish on the side. The name sashimi comes from the tale of the fish the it used to come with the meal to identify which kind of fish you are eating. Sashimi in kanji it is written like this: 刺身 . The first kanji means spine and the second kanji means body. 

2.- Ramen

Ramen is one of the most popular options at the moment of choosing a place to eat. It is a wheat noodles bowl served in a soy sauce or miso soup mixed with many kinds of ingredients. The most typical ones are slices of pork, green onion, seaweed and egg. I can´t compare the flavor of this dish with anything I have tasted before. The most important part of this dish is the soup. It is the most tasty flavor a ever tried, also strong according on where do you order it. The way the pork is cooked, makes it so soft that sometimes it breaks into pieces as son as you catch it with your chopsticks. With one order of ramen and a side dish of rice, you can be sure that you will be satisfied when you finish your meal... If you can...

There are correct ways of enjoying your ramen, and special ramen such as the Tsukemen Ramen. Learn about all of these things in the following video:

3.- Tempura

Tempura is a Japanese fried snack made mostly from seafood and vegetables but we can find tempura made also from fowl and fish, seasoned with a sauce made with soy sauce, ginger and sugar previously. As vegetables, it can be made by almost every vegetables. The size of the piece has to be able to be eaten in one bite and even when it is fried, it is carefully looked after not to be oily. Tempura is served with Tetsuyu sauce that it is a mix of consomme, sweet sake, soy sauce, ginger, radish and spices.

4.- Kare raisu (rice with curry)

Also a very popular, simple and delicious dish that we can find in Japan. Kare raisu is just rice with curry but the taste is different from the To make the japanese curry, it is used a variety of meats and vegetables. The basics vegetables are onions, carrots and sweet potatos, and the meats used are chicken, pork, beef and sometimes duck. There are different levels of hot spicy: soft, regular and hot are the most common. Which one would you chose???

Meet one of the best curry shops in Tokyo - Curry Kingdom. They have one of the greatest variety of curry to choose from that we have ever seen, inclusing fish curry, chicken curry, pork curry and even fruit curries such as the Strawberry-flavored one.

5.- Okonomiyaki

It is a mixed made with flour, yam and egg, but you can add also anything you like. The most commons are green onion, beef, shrimp, squid, vegetables, mochi and cheese. It is cooked in a griddle. In some restaurants, the chef goes to the table and make it there with the customers who also help in the process adding the ingredients. Because the preparation has to be cooked from both sides, by the time it has to be turned, it is a stressful and also funny moment, specially when it is your first time doing it!!!

6.- Shabu shabu

Shabu shabu is the japanese hot pot. For this dish it is used many kinds of meats and seafood, mostly the soft ones, and sides of vegetables, tofu and sometimes noodles. The way it works: you grab a piece of meat (you can also pick some of the vegetables) and immerse it in the pot with hot water or consomme. Once it is cooked, you dip it in a sesame sauce with some rice as a side dish. Very delicious!

7.- Miso soup

Miso soup it is served as a side dish in mostly every meal and with almost every dish. It is a soup made from a miso paste (fermented soybeans) and dashi (the consomme). Inside this kind of base soup, you will find pieces of tofu, onion wakane seaweed, and sometimes vegetables like sweet potatos, carrots and radish. It is never served as a main dish. It always comes with a bowl of rice and one or 2 more dishes.

8.- Yakitori

It is the Japanese brochette. At the begining the meat used was chicken (tori=bird), but nowadays it is also made with pork, beef and fish. So, this brochette is a mix of vegetables and meat cooked in a grill and dipped in teriaki sauce. It is also a very typical kind of fast food in japanese style.

This is one of the options that foreigner could be more identified with. It has a occidental flavor so if you are not sure about what to taste first or you find out that Japanse flavors are not your thing but you still want to try, I would recommend you to start with Yakitori so you can feel something familiar.

9.- Onigiri

This is the most popular snack in Japan. No matter what time is it, or where you are, if you are hungry and you don´t have time, you will buy an onigiri. Onigiris are rice balls seasoned in many kinds of ways, some of them with some fill like chicken, vegetables, fish, pork, others covered with a seaweed or with a slice of egg, some of them they have just the rice mixed with some sauce, vegetables, beans, furikake... Etc. As you can see, you can find a huge variety of flavors for all the tastes. It is also cheap and you can buy it in any convenience store, supermarket and also you may find some shop that only makes onigiris.

10.- Udon

Udon is a thick noodle made from wheat flour. It is commonly served in a consomme with soy sauce and mirin. Most of the times it comes with negi (onion). The shape and the size depends on the prefecture it comes from. Udon can be eaten cold or hot. Soba and Udon are very popular in Japan. It is a common dish for black-coated workers and students when they have lunch time and they need to eat something fast. There are Udon shops everywhere and don´t be surprised if it is always crowdy, but don´t worry, you won´t wait long time to have a seat.

11.- Soba

Soba noodles are made by buckwheat flour which gives it the colour. Also known as fast food in Japan because they are cheap and popular. Soba noodles are thin (Udon noodles are thick) and they can be eaten also cold or hot. There are shops in Japan that only cook soba, maybe with some simple side dish as tempura. At the supermarket you can find the fresh noodles to cook at home. This noodles can be also eaten just with a mentsuyu sauce to make it easy the preparation.

12.- Gyudon

Gyudon it is basically a bowl of rice with beef on the top seasoned with different ingredientes and spices. The most famous place to eat gyudon is Sukiya. Besides the simplicity, it is a very delicious dish, and the most important, also cheap. In most of the places, you can order it in a set that comes with a small salad and miso soup. Another important tip about this: the service is very fast!!!! In less than 5 min you have it in your table. Also, the sizes of the dishes are very suitable. You can pick from small, medium and large. For a lunch quick time, gyudon is a very good option.

13.- Green Tea - Flavored sweets

This is the last one for this blog and I can´t leave you without the tea time. Greet tea in Japan is the most famous drink. It is related to history, to Geishas. The Tea Houses are always harmonious and quiet places where you can enjoy a peaceful time through the most typical drink in Japan. Green tea is never alone. Tea in Japan has to be also accompanied with sweets, japanese sweets. The most common sweets in japan are made with beans or sometimes with matcha. Japan has the tastiest sweets and the most beautiful shapes and colors in the world.

Sweets in Japan are Art.