I’m a writer, so I work from home. That means I spend most of my day in front of a computer, and that’s not great for me my back hurts, my eyes hurt, and if I don’t take breaks to cook or eat something every couple of hours, it starts to affect my productivity.
The best way for me to get up from the computer and refresh myself is by making a nice bowl of ramen noodles.
Ramen has become an important staple of my diet since I transitioned into freelance writing: it’s delicious (duh), easy to make, easy to clean up after, and perfect for eating at your desk while you finish up some last-minute emails before going on a walk or doing some light stretching.
If you’d like to incorporate this Japanese comfort food into your diet while working from home (and who wouldn’t?), here are some tips on how to make it work for you!
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Embrace Quick and Easy Meals: Ramen noodles are a convenient and time-saving option for busy freelancers. |
| 2. Add Nutritious Ingredients: Enhance the nutritional value of your ramen by tossing in vegetables and lean proteins. |
| 3. Experiment with Flavors: Customize your ramen with various seasonings, sauces, and spices to suit your taste preferences. |
| 4. Mind Your Sodium Intake: Be mindful of the high sodium content in ramen seasoning packets and use them sparingly. |
| 5. Opt for Healthier Broths: Choose ramen options with lower sodium and more natural ingredients for a healthier meal. |
| 6. Try Different Noodle Varieties: Explore alternative ramen noodle types like whole wheat or rice noodles for added diversity. |
| 7. Make It a Balanced Meal: Pair your ramen with a side salad or fresh fruit to ensure a balanced and satisfying meal. |
| 8. Quick Cooking Methods: Experiment with different cooking techniques like stir-frying or sautéing your ramen for a unique twist. |
| 9. Portion Control: Enjoy ramen in moderation to avoid excessive calorie intake and maintain a healthy diet. |
| 10. Homemade Broths: Consider making your own flavorful broths using fresh ingredients for a more nutritious ramen experience. |
| 11. Freeze Extra Portions: Prepare extra ramen servings and freeze them for quick and effortless future meals. |
| 12. Ramen Salad: Transform your ramen into a refreshing salad by mixing it with fresh greens and a zesty dressing. |
| 13. Nourish Your Creativity: Use ramen as a canvas for culinary experimentation, and create your own delicious inventions. |
1. Get Yourself A Stylin’ Bowl
The first thing you should do is invest in a nice bowl. You don’t need to go out and buy the most expensive one at Pottery Barn or Crate & Barrel, but it’s probably worth spending $10 on a bowl you like and will want to eat out of.
You should also make sure that your bowl is big enough to hold your ramen! If you get one that’s too small, then you’ll have a lot of leftover noodles which leads us right into our next tip:
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2. Use Dried Instead Of Fresh Ramen Noodles
If you’re going to be eating ramen, the least you can do is use dried noodles. Fresh noodles are more expensive and, what’s more, they don’t travel well.
Dried ramen is also cheaper than fresh. When you make it yourself with boiled water, the dried kind has an added advantage: You get a lot of them for a small price tag and that means less time spent waiting for your meal to cook or spending money on takeout.
If this isn’t enough to convince you that dried noodles are better than fresh ones (and they should be!), consider what else makes them so great:
- They stay stable in the bowl
- They’re durable and last longer than their fresher counterparts
- They’re flexible they won’t snap when sitting in liquid as most fresh pasta would
3. Don’t Forget The Egg
While you don’t have to add an egg, it’s a good idea if you’re feeling adventurous. It’s also a great way to make your ramen more filling and will help you get through the day.
If you’re lazy or feeling extra lazy, there are other options available:
- Powdered eggs – While these can be difficult to find at most grocery stores, they are easy to order online. They are often sold in bulk with other ingredients needed for cooking, so be sure that’s what you want before buying them
You can also use powdered eggs in place of real ones if you’re feeling even lazier!
- Powdered egg with water – This is an even lazier version of adding a whole egg into your ramen mix. Simply add some water into the powdered mixture and stir until smooth (you may need more or less depending on how much is added).
Then pour directly into the bowl of cooked noodles and stir again before eating!
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4. Don’t Forget The Chili Oil
The secret to creating the perfect ramen recipe is chili oil. The addition of this ingredient can make all the difference in the world, and it’s worth buying! Not only does it add flavor and aroma, but it also adds a nice kick to your ramen noodle dish.
While you can certainly use store-bought chili oil or even just add some crushed red pepper flakes to your ramen broth this step should be done right if you want your meal to be truly memorable.
5. If You Eat At Home Or In Your Work Space, Don’t Spill It On Your Computer
The best bowls to use are those which can be easily cleaned and carried, so you can eat from them at your desk. Ideally, the bowl will also be large enough that you don’t have to hold it in your hands while eating, but small enough to fit on your lap.
If you spill ramen on your computer, it’s going to cause damage. If this happens, take a look at our blog post about how we fixed ours!
6. When Eating Out, Don’t Be Afraid To Get Messy
When you’re out at a restaurant, don’t be afraid to get messy. Grabbing a handful of noodles and bringing them to your mouth will help you savor the flavor of your meal. If you have time, consider sitting down for this.
Don’t be afraid to eat ramen noodles with your hands! When in doubt, invest in some cheap plastic gloves from the pharmacy or Dollar Tree before eating out. They’re easy to throw away when done and they’ll give you an excuse not to wash dishes later (that’s what I always tell myself).
If possible, order extra noodles they’re usually pretty cheap anyway. And maybe even order two orders at once if there are enough people around the table who want some too. That way everybody gets more food without having to wait longer than usual (which can also lead to people getting bored while waiting; so try doing something else while waiting).
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7. It’s Ok To Use Your Hands
Ramen noodles are delicious and fun to eat, but there’s no need for a fork or spoon if you don’t have one lying around. Use your hands and go to town on those noodles. Gather them into a pile and put them in the bowl first, then add the broth over top of them.
Then crack an egg into the broth and stir it up until it’s all combined. Now you can add your meat (if there was any) onto the top of your ramen soup before eating all that goodness with your bare hands, chopsticks, or both!
8. Use Chopsticks If You’re Good With Them, A Fork If You’re Not
You don’t have to become a chopstick expert. If you’re not great with them, a fork is fine! But if you’re looking for a fun, challenging, and hygienic way to eat your noodles, then let’s talk about chopsticks for a bit.
- Chopsticks are more traditional than forks and spoons in Asian cultures.
This might be why we think of them as “weird” or “hard.” But if your ramen noodle eating experience involves slurping up hot broth from the same bowl as your noodles (which it should), then don’t worry about splattering yourself with hot liquid on top of everything else.
- They’re more fun and entertaining because they involve coordination: use one hand to hold the bowl while using the other hand to hold both ends of one chopstick (one end is longer than the other).
Move that long end around constantly so that it keeps touching food at all times (but not too much so that it touches anything else). Maneuver all pieces into your mouth without dropping anything on yourself or anyone else nearby!
- They’re challenging because they require two hands instead of just one even though one hand will be mostly occupied by holding onto something anyway (“something” being either another person or some kind of furniture).
Try eating rice balls with chopsticks sometimes. It’s hard but rewarding when done correctly; who knows what other skills could come from this practice?
9. You Can Eat Ramen Cold, Too
Here’s the thing: when you’re a freelancer, there’s no time to cook during the week. Most days I’m so busy that it doesn’t even occur to me until lunchtime that I haven’t eaten anything since breakfast and it’s now 2 pm.
And even then, if I do manage to sit down and make myself something, who wants to get up from their desk just for food? So instead of turning into a gross bag of bones from starvation (or worse yet a corpse), here are some tips for how to make sure your ramen stays fresh until dinnertime:
- If your office has a microwave, heat up what you have leftover at home before work. If not, pack a small container in your bag so that it’ll be ready by lunchtime.
- Eat the noodles cold. It’s good this way because they turn into these chewy little balls kind of like wild rice and they taste almost exactly like rice cakes (the ones without cheese).
- Plus they hold up better than fresh noodles would if heated over again later on in the day or tomorrow morning; just don’t expect them to be soggy anymore after cooling down overnight.
10. You Can Also Microwave Instant Ramen! Some People Like It Better This Way
A microwave is a great tool for ramen noodle eating. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it’s convenient. The only thing that could make it better is if you could eat your ramen noodles while driving!
Well, guess what? You can! Just shove your instant noodles in between your car keys and ignition key and drive over to the local Ramen Oasis for a quick bite.
11. Have Some Water Handy While You Eat It Hot
If you’re eating ramen noodles, this is a no-brainer. Ramen noodles are delicious and they can be eaten without anything else (they are also usually cheap). However, in my experience, they don’t taste as good when they’re cold.
So if you feel like having some ramen noodles for lunch and then going back to work on your laptop or somewhere else that isn’t close to a sink or toilet with running water after you finish eating them.
There’s no way for you to wash your hands you might want to consider having some water nearby so that when it comes time for cleanup, all you have to do is rinse out the bowl before tossing everything into the trash bin.
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12. If You Eat Out, Bring A Book With You And Take Your Time. People Do That, Right?
If you eat out because it’s faster, bring a book with you and take your time! People do that all the time, right? It can be tough to focus on your food when everyone else around you is eating at light speed.
The best way to combat this is by getting some reading done while waiting for your meal. You’ll feel more relaxed and less rushed, and will probably enjoy your food more as well.
There’s no need to worry about what other people think or how long it takes for you to finish a meal you are allowed to eat at whatever pace suits you.
13. When Eating Out, Go Somewhere With Comfortable Chairs And Tables For One, So You Can Work On Your Laptop If You Want To
When eating out, go somewhere with comfortable chairs and tables for one, so you can work on your laptop if you want to. I love the variety of restaurants in my city, but they’re not always conducive to freelance writing. When picking a place to eat lunch or dinner, keep these things in mind:
- Comfortable chairs (or at least cushions)
- Tables for one (or at least some seating by yourself)
- WiFi (so you can get some work done over lunch)
- A good selection of beverages – including tea!
If all else fails and I don’t have time for a proper meal before heading back to the office after the lunch break, sometimes I just buy myself an iced coffee from Starbucks or Peet’s Coffee & Tea and drink it while walking around town until it gets cold enough that it stops tasting good anymore.
In general, though I prefer hot beverages like tea since they keep me warm all day long even after they’re gone; this preference is especially important during winter when we get lots of snowstorms here in Seattle.”
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Final thoughts
Now that we’ve covered some of the best tips for eating ramen noodles while freelancing, it’s time to get out there and try them! We hope you enjoyed reading our blog post and learned something new today (while keeping a smile on your face)
Further Reading
Tips on How to Make Instant Ramen Better A guide offering creative ways to enhance your instant ramen for a more enjoyable and flavorful experience.
What to Know About Ramen Noodles Important information and insights about ramen noodles, their nutritional value, and their impact on your diet.
Ramen Noodles: Health Benefits and Concerns A comprehensive article discussing the health benefits and potential concerns associated with consuming ramen noodles.
People Also Ask
What Are The Benefits Of Stuffing Your Face With Ramen Noodles While Freelancing?
There are many benefits to stuffing your face with ramen noodles while freelancing. Ramen noodles are extremely affordable, which means you can spend more of your hard-earned money on things like video games and comic books.
They’re also easy to prepare, so you don’t have to worry about spending time cooking or cleaning up after yourself. And finally, they taste good!
What Should I Do If I’m Working From Home And My Neighbor Is Being Loud?
Be a good neighbor! It’s important to respect the people around you, especially when you’re working from home. If your neighbor is being too loud, consider knocking on their door and asking them to turn down the volume. If they’re not willing to do it for you, then maybe it’s time to find a new place to work.
How Can I Keep My Freelancing Job From Taking Over My Life?
It’s important to remain balanced when it comes to work and play and we all know how easy it can be for things like video games or binge-watching Netflix to take over our lives.
To avoid this happening with your freelancing job, make sure that every task has a deadline attached to it so that there’s always something driving you forward rather than just sitting around waiting for inspiration (which never comes).
You’ll be surprised by how much more productive you can become by just setting concrete deadlines.
Why Do You Think Ramen Noodles Are So Popular With Freelancers?
Ramen noodles are a great option for freelancers because they’re cheap and portable, so you can eat them wherever you want without having to worry about your food getting cold or messy (like if you were eating a sandwich).
Ramen noodles are also extremely versatile you can make them spicy or mild, depending on your mood; and they can be eaten by themselves or with a variety of different seasonings and add-ons.
Plus, they come in all sorts of flavors, which means that even when you’ve had them every day for a year straight (which is pretty common), they don’t get boring!
How Do I Avoid Eating Ramen Noodles All The Time?
You can’t. I’ve tried everything from raw vegetables to a variety of expensive, healthy foods, and they just don’t taste as good as ramen noodles. You’ll just have to resign yourself to your fate: you’re going to eat ramen noodles every day for the rest of your life.
What If I Want To Eat Something Other Than Ramen Noodles?
I don’t know how you got this far in life without realizing that there is no such thing as “something other than ramen noodles.” It’s like asking what color the sky is when it’s blue you’re just going to end up disappointed if you keep asking questions like that.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.