Cebu City – Whenever you go to a Filipino party, there’s one dish you’ll always see. That is none other than Lumpia. Lumpia has been loved for so many years by Filipinos among all ages. It is sometimes offered as an appetizer or snack and is made of a thin crepe-like wrapper that is filled with a mixture of ground meat, vegetables, and spices and fried until golden.

Fried foods might be high in calories and fat. But you can make a lot of varieties of lumpia and make it a little healthier. The inclusion of vegetables high in fiber in lumpia’s filling is one of the dish's main health advantages. A good source of fiber is found in vegetables like carrots, onions, and cabbage, which aids in maintaining a healthy digestive system and preventing constipation. Additionally, fiber has been shown to reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

A lot of Filipino mothers make lumpia filled with vegetables that are chopped or minced thinly to make their kids eat vegetables. For instance, carrots are rich in beta-carotene, a substance the body transforms into Vitamin A, which is essential for the health of the skin and eyes. The ground meat filling serves as a source of protein, which is necessary for the body's tissue growth and repair.

Overall, fried foods aren’t really that bad if consumed in moderation and maximize any potential health advantages. You can also air-fry your favorite lumpia and skip the oil. Choosing healthier cooking techniques like baking or air frying will aid in lowering the amount of undesirable fats consumed. / ND II Franz Cassandra R. Ontina, RND