These Are Healthy Alternatives To Ramen Noodles

Ramen noodles are so popular for a reason. They're cheap and delicious, though they're pretty bad for you because they're notoriously high in salt and MSG, among other unhealthy ingredients. Also, the noodles are just not very nutritious. Luckily, there are a number of alternatives to ramen noodles that are healthier and do the trick when you are craving ramen (via How Tonight).

Some alternatives call for you to make the ramen from scratch at home. While that may sound daunting, making ramen at home really is not as hard as you might think. It just takes more time than the quick-and-easy route to microwave noodles. Making ramen at home is likely the healthiest option because you can control what goes into the bowl (via NBC News). 

There are some instant noodles available that are a healthier option than ramen too. Many pre-packaged noodles actually come in a wide variety of flavors that swap out MSG with other more nutritious ingredients, or even use tofu noodles instead (via Thrillist).

If you choose to make ramen at home, the options are practically endless. You can choose to make it nearly carb-free by leaving the noodles out altogether. Another very healthy option is vegetable noodles or spirals. These are often made out of zucchini, carrots, and squash (among other options). They can also be found premade in grocery stores many times, too. Daikon, a somewhat bitter Asian radish, is another hit for spiralized veggies in ramen (via NBC News).

For real noodle alternatives, try udon or soba noodles. These are low in sodium and fat and make for a great alternative in ramen bowls. Shirataki noodles come already cooked and are very low in calories too (via How Tonight).

For healthy, instant ramen alternatives, try brands like House Foods, One Culture Foods, and Nona Lim for delicious ramen in a flash. These brands come with tons of flavors to choose from and are significantly lower in sodium. 

Whatever option works best for you, there are certainly ways around unhealthy ramen. In fact, you may even find these alternatives more flavorful, and you might not miss the other ramen noodles at all.