Health-conscious diners tend to steer clear of Chinese takeout because its menu is notoriously filled with foods high in salt, sugar, and trans fat. Health-wise, these nutritional no-nos tend to do more harm than good for seniors. There are several healthier Chinese food options available to seniors craving those takeout flavors. Egg Roll in-a-Bowl, for example, provides all the flavor of Chinese food without the unhealthy ingredients.
Egg Roll in-a-Bowl offers an all-in-one bowl meal that is protein-packed, well-rounded, and bursting with savory Asian ingredients. It features gluten-free rice noodles, ground turkey, and vegetables, smothered in a healthier Asian-inspired coconut-amino sauce.
What is coconut aminos?
A surprising addition to our Egg Roll in-a-Bowl recipe makes it much more health-conscious: coconut aminos. But what exactly is it? As an alternative to soy sauce, coconut aminos shares a similar appearance and taste but contain significantly less sodium.
Fermented coconut blossom sap is the source of coconut aminos. To preserve the enzymatic content of coconut nectar, small batches are preserved in sea salt then aged, giving it the umami taste. Since coconut meat is not used to produce coconut aminos, the product does not have a coconutty taste, making it an excellent substitute for soy sauce.
Although coconut aminos is not salt-free, it is significantly lower in sodium when compared to traditional soy sauce. Coconut aminos contains 140 mg of sodium per teaspoon (5mL), while traditional soy sauce contains about 306 mg of sodium in the same serving size.
Egg roll in-a-bowl recipe
Serves 4
Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 20 min
Total Time: 30 min
Supplies
- large skillet
- large pot
- strainer
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup coconut aminos
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 4 ounces coleslaw mix
- 1 whole egg
- 1 package rice noodles
- 2 tablespoons, sliced green onions (optional)
Instructions
- Heat the sesame oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground turkey, crumble, and cook until browned. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Next, reduce the heat to low. Pour in the coconut aminos, ginger, salt, and pepper to taste. Add the coleslaw blend, and cook until the veggies are tender; approximately 5 minutes.
- Make a well in the center of the mixture, and crack an egg. Scramble the egg into the mixture over low heat until cooked.
- While the meat mixture continues to simmer, prepare the rice noodles according to the package in a large pot. Once cooked, drain immediately. Add the noodles to the meat mixture, tossing to combine. Serve in bowls, and garnish with sliced green onions. Enjoy!
Cooking Tips While Aging in Place
Our recipe calls for cooking rice noodles, which may be challenging for some seniors with arthritis, grasping, or upper extremity disabilities to maneuver around the kitchen safely. In lieu of rice noodles, seniors could opt to use microwavable instant rice.
For seniors with hand or wrist mobility issues, minced garlic or garlic powder can be substituted for fresh garlic.
Alternatively, if you have been advised by your physician to eliminate yolks from your diet and eat only egg whites, you may substitute liquid eggs for traditional ones. It is also possible to omit the egg completely from the recipe.
