Top Ramen is one damn handy thing to have on the panty shelf.  Unfortunately it’s also incredibly unhealthy, particularly if served as is with no adornment.  Most brands serve up 190 calories, 7g of fat and 900mg, count them, 900mg of sodium per serving AND here’s the real clincher, that’s not for the whole package!  Most manufacturers claim there are two servings in each little package.  Take heart however.  There are ways around this.

First, throw away the flavor packet.  That’s where almost all of the sodium is.  Without the flavor pack there are only around 50mg of sodium per serving.  Now, a plain ol’ bowl of wet noodles admittedly holds little interest.  This however can easily be remedied.

Next, I never follow the manufacturer’s instructions to boil the noodles.  I put the noodles in a bowl, pour boiling water over them, cover and let sit until properly softened.  While the noodles are steeping I prepare a wide variety of other ingredients to enhance the appeal of the noodles as well as the nutritional value. 

Finely chopped green onion, including some of the green is a good addition.  Slivered Omelet; this is a good thing.  So are slivered bits of pre cooked chicken, meat, fish and seafood.  It’s a good way to use up those little bits and dabs you didn’t want to throw away but didn’t know what to do with.  I also love to add very thinly slivered red bell pepper, celery and a few sliced mushrooms, and of course slivered fresh snow peas.

Sometimes I steam a few broccoli or cauliflower florets to add and very, very thin julienne of carrot or daikon.  Oh, and a handfull of frozen peas.  Don't forget the peas and some cubes of tofu are not amiss.

 Be creative.  There is no end to the variations you can come up with.