Korean food has established a place in modern American cuisine, and the influences of Western dietary traditions are likewise finding a place in contemporary Korean eating habits. The nutritional profiles, benefits and disadvantages of the typical American and Korean diets differ. Consult your doctor before making any significant dietary or lifestyle changes.
Typical Korean Diet
Modern Korean cuisine juxtaposes traditional and contemporary influences. In North Korea, food supplies are somewhat limited; South Korea enjoys a variety of available foods. Traditional Korean foods include noodles, rice, vegetables, tofu and various meats. A large number of side dishes, known as banchan, are typically served alongside steam-cooked rice. Kimchi, a dish based on pickled cabbage, is served at almost every traditional Korean meal. Other common ingredients in the traditional Korean diet include bean past, soy sauce, garlic, pepper, salt, ginger and sesame oil.
Typical American Diet
In the 21st century, the diets of people living in the United States are extremely diverse. The traditional Western pattern diet, also known as the meat-sweet diet, is common in the United States and in other developed countries. The meat-sweet diet contains significant quantities of red meats, refined grains, sweet desserts and high-fat foods. Many ethnic cuisines have been adopted in the typical U.S. diet, ranging from Mexican to Asian and European foods. Fast food and convenience food are common in the United States diet and economy.
Advantages of Korean Diet
Overall, the Korean diet places great emphasis on vegetable consumption, and many traditional Korean foods are naturally low in fat. As a result, South Korea has a lower obesity rate than other countries in Asia. According to a 2002 article in the journal "Public Health Nutrition," the United States and Mexico have the highest obesity rates in the world; Korea and Japan have the lowest. The Korean diet has remained low in fat and high in vegetables even as Western culinary influences have been incorporated.
Advantages of American Diet
The food available in the United States is plentiful and certain types of food are often relatively inexpensive. In 2007, the average U.S. resident spent only 9.8 percent of disposable income on food. The percentage of disposable income spent on food in the U.S. has dropped significantly, from 13.9 percent in 1970, according to "Amber Waves," a publication of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A wide variety of food is available to the U.S. consumer, ranging from the typical Western pattern diet to vegetarian, vegan and organic options. In order to eat a healthy American diet, the consumer must fight against dietary traditions of large portion sizes and high caloric and fat content in typical American food.
References
- "Cooking the Korean Way"; Okwha Chung, Judy Monroe; 2003
- "The American Diet: A Recipe for Disaster"; Edmund Devroey MD; 2004
- CancerWire: Lifestyle Choices and the Risk of Cancer
- "Public Health Nutrition"; The Unique Aspects of the Nutrition Transition in South Korea; M.J. Lee et al.; February 2002
- "Korea Times"; S. Korea's Obesity Rate Lowest in OECD; 2009
- "Amber Waves"; Despite Higher Food Prices, Percent of U.S. Income Spent on Food Remains Constant; A. Clauson; September 2008
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