Doctor, what menus do you recommend from a Traditional Korean Medicine perspective when I have to eat out while on a diet?
While there is no single perfect menu, I recommend warm foods with minimally processed ingredients. Focus on warm-natured vegetables and lean proteins. Avoid overly cold foods or flour-based meals, as they strain the digestive system. The key is choosing foods that align with your body's current digestive capacity.
Choosing a menu when eating out for social reasons can be the most challenging part of a diet. I've personally experienced how aggressively opting for raw salads can sometimes upset the stomach if the body isn't ready for them.
I recommend foods that are 'warm and maintain their original form.' Dishes like Shabu-shabu, boiled pork (Suyuk), or steamed dishes—which combine cooked vegetables and lean meats—significantly reduce the burden on digestion. In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), this type of diet supports those with 'Spleen Deficiency' (Bi-heo), a state where weakened spleen function leads to poor digestive power. Warm foods facilitate blood circulation and help smooth out the metabolic process.
Conversely, you should be cautious of cold-natured foods and refined carbohydrates. Consuming cold noodles or iced beverages with a meal lowers the stomach temperature, creating an environment prone to 'Phlegm-Fluid Retention' (Dam-eum), which is the accumulation of unnecessary metabolic waste. Specifically, flour-based foods can contribute to a feeling of 'Blood Stasis' (Eo-hyeol), making the body feel heavy and sluggish due to stagnant circulation.
Ultimately, it is difficult to prescribe one absolute 'best' menu because the answer varies based on your daily condition and inherent digestive strength. However, if you remember the core principle of 'warm and minimally processed,' you will make better choices. If you visit the clinic, I can assess your current physical state and help you determine the most suitable dietary plan for your body.
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