Street food has a special place in cultures around the world. It's often some of the cheapest, tastiest food in an area, which means it usually represents what the locals eat on a day-to-day basis. That makes it a great representation of popular flavor profiles in an area.
Why is street food so popular? The answer is relatively simple. Street food is quickly prepared and can be eaten directly. However, the quality of the ingredients and the method of preparation are decisive.
The only drawback of street food is that it falls under the category of what most deem as junk food. It is true that a large part of what constitutes street food is devoid of nutrition and any significant health benefits, but there are some dishes that may not necessarily fall into the list of foods one must avoid.
Food safety and hygiene: One of the primary concerns with street food is the risk of foodborne illnesses. Street food vendors may not always adhere to the same strict food safety and hygiene standards as established restaurants.
Although it may be beneficial to eat junk food once a week, make sure that you eat just one such meal throughout the day, or your body might end up stocking all those calories which may end up getting stored as fat.
Although Pakistan street food is generally cleaner and hygienic compared to neighbouring countries, some ingredients are prepared in organic way and may not be suitable to tourists who have not built immunity to local bacteria.
Eating street food every day can have both positive and negative consequences, depending on various factors such as the quality and hygiene of the food, your overall diet, and your health status.
Concerns of cleanliness and freshness often discourage people from eating street foods. According to experts, all street food, cooked or raw, can cause gastroenteritis, typhoid and hepatitis, depending on the bacteria or viral infection they contain. Most contamination is caused by contact with feces.
No, not all street foods are considered junk food. While some street foods may fall into the category of junk food due to their high fat, sugar, and salt content, there are many street foods that can be nutritious and well-balanced.
Street/restaurant foods are cooked with enhanced sugar, fat, and salt that tastes instantly high. This is similar to alcohol and drugs which instantly increase the dopamine levels in your body that make you feel high and good. This prompts you to keep (binge) eating subconsciously. One word - Food science.
Foodborne bacterial pathogens commonly detected in street vended foods are Bacillus cereus, Clostridium perfringens, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella spp. [8–14]. People who patronize street food, have been reported to suffer from food borne diseases like diarrhea, cholera, typhoid fever and food poisoning [15–19].
The beauty of street food is not only its delicious convenience, being able to feed the fast-paced lives of today's population, but its ability to bounce back, to adapt and to respond to the consumer demand.
From mouth-watering Paani Puri, the Dahi Bhallas to the Chaat Papdi Indian Street foods are delicious. As diverse as is the country, it experiences a manifold of cuisines, each having at least one speciality of Street Food. Here's a list of the top Street Foods of India: Aloo Tikki, The Delectable Street Food in India.
It's generally convenient and cheap, but its appeal goes far beyond that. Street food can be simple yet utterly delicious, and it's often a great way to sample some authentic local cuisine.
The current recommendation is to eat at least five portions of fruits and vegetables each day for optimum health. However, recent studies have shown that actually seven is the magic number, with four to five being vegetables and two to three being fruits.
A lot of street food is cooked in a pot of boiling water or a vat of sizzling oil, so most dishes are hot enough. But if you're served something that's not fully cooked, ask for it to be cooked a few more minutes, and be especially vigilant if it contains meat.
There are also many healthy foods available on the streets, which can be a good source of protein, vitamins, fibre etc which is needed in our body. One problem with the street foods is lack of hygiene but street vendors have now realised that health is considered more when selecting the food along with the taste.
The bustling city of Karachi, located on the southern coast of Pakistan, is a melting pot of cultures and cuisines from all over the world. The city's street food culture is a tribute to this variety, with innumerable vendors and food stalls serving everything from spicy chaat to juicy kebabs.
Lahore: Lahore is known as the food capital of Pakistan and is famous for its rich and spicy cuisine. The city's signature dishes include nihari (slow-cooked beef stew), paya (beef or lamb trotters), and haleem (a thick porridge made of wheat, lentils, and meat).
Thailand. The Land of Smiles stays at the top of the list with its spectacular cuisine. The mention of 'tom yum kung' or 'mango sticky rice' could already make our mouths water. Then, traveling to Thailand won't be complete without sampling its flavorful dishes, including hunting for street food.
The composition of Maggi contains one of the unhealthiest fats, called trans fat. This is why it is regarded as one of the worst food choices for those who are health conscious. Also, why trans fats are bad? This kind of fat requires longer than saturated fatty acids to break down in the system.
Place large quantities of food into your mouth at once, but only break down the food as much as needed in order to swallow it. You don't want to choke, but you don't want to waste time chewing food unnecessarily either. As soon as you know it won't get stuck, swallow it down so you can move on to the next mouthful.
