Craft Instant Ramen: The Perfect Meal Approved by Kids and Parents!
+ an Interview with Kelly @nurturingbodyandmind
Are you on the hunt for some exciting (but relatively easy) new dinner ideas for your family? Look no further…
Cooking for kids can be a struggle at the best of times, and it’s probably safe to say that these aren’t exactly the best of times. Parents around the world are exploring (and improving upon) the classic dishes of their own childhood, like pizza, tacos, and more importantly… RAMEN NOODLES.
The beauty of ramen noodles is that while they’re simple and tasty enough to delight kids’ palates, they also give adults the ability to add (potentially much-needed) complexity to their meals by incorporating adult-oriented toppings. Marinated ramen eggs or shrimp, anyone?
When you hear “instant ramen,” be honest- your first thought probably had something to do with the flavorless, fried, overly-salty ramen you ate in college, right?
Well, ramen noodles have grown up with you, and Mike’s Mighty Good is on a mission to pioneer craft ramen for a new generation. The best part: your kids will enjoy it too!
In days gone by, you might have been hesitant to feed your kids packaged instant ramen, given the exorbitant amount of sodium, preservatives like TBHQ and a long list of other additives you can’t even pronounce.
That’s not something you have to worry about now- Mike’s Mighty Good craft ramen is made with simple ingredients and noodles that are made from scratch in California, and are steamed, never fried.
Parents and kids alike will absolutely love the taste, and the ingredients are something that everyone can be happy about. But you don’t have to take our word for it! We interviewed our friend Kelly over at @nurturingbodyandmind about her family and their love for our craft ramen.
She talked about her family/home life and even shared one of her favorite ramen recipes with us! Keep reading to learn about why Kelly loves giving her family ramen:
Tell us about your family- what are some of your favorite hobbies together?
“We are a family of five! We love to spend time at home (home is where the heart is) but we also like to be outdoors- going for hikes, walks around our neighborhood or playing in our backyard. The kids have mini dirt bikes that they love to ride. We also love spending time at the lake on our boat and swimming! I’m currently teaching the kids the basics of cooking, and they love to help with meals.”
What prompted you to start your Instagram page?
“I started @nurturingbodyandmind because I wanted to hold myself accountable with eating healthy after my son (now 7!) was born. Using simple ingredients to make healthy food more appealing became a passion of mine. Typically the stigma is that healthy food is boring, but I have proven to so many people that eating healthy does not have to be boring or tasteless!
“Less is more! Using herbs and seasonings can elevate your food to a whole new level. It’s also important to myself and my kids that they understand the meaning of balance. We eat very healthy, but we also don’t deprive ourselves of occasional treats.”
What do your family meals look like?
“When we eat together as a family, we like to talk about our day. Food brings people together and we make sure to get our kids involved all the way from preparing our food to cleaning up after.
“To make eating together work with how busy our life can be, we try to set aside enough time to be together before we move on to the next activity for the evening. We like to set aside a certain amount of time for family meals, and we make sure not to have any distractions- like the television- so we can give each other our undivided attention.”
Do you think that Mike’s Mighty Good is a great meal option for kids?
“My kids love Mike’s Mighty Good ramen so much. For lunch, it’s nice to switch-up their usual peanut-butter-and-jelly for a healthy bowl of ramen. I add spinach for extra nutrients and sometimes will add a boiled egg and avocado.
“On the nights when my husband works late and is gone for dinner, Mike’s Mighty Good comes in handy. It takes only minutes to make, and can be incredibly versatile with the unlimited options of different ramen toppings you can add.”
As a mom, do you feel confident feeding your kids Mike’s Mighty Good ramen?
“Yes! I feel very confident feeding my kids Mike’s Mighty Good ramen. I like that the noodles are made from scratch, steamed and never fried. I like the clean ingredients and I appreciate the lower sodium levels compared to some of the other brands available. Other company’s ingredients don’t even compare to Mike’s Mighty Good noodles, or how rich and tasty the broth is.”
How do you like to make your Mike’s Mighty Good ramen?
“I always add spinach, avocado and a boiled egg. That is my go to for all of us because it’s simple and I most often always have those ingredients on hand in my kitchen.”
What are your favorite ramen recipes? What are your favorite Mike’s Mighty Good ramen flavors?
“Ahhh I have so many! I would have to go would be the Pork Tonkotsu as my #1 favorite, but quite honestly they are all amazing. It’s so hard to choose!
“I have several photos on my Instagram feed @nurturingbodyandmind which show some of my most favorite creations, one of them including dumplings into my ramen. So delicious!”
“You know my love for @mikesmightygood is real, and this bowl here was insanely delicious! I used the pork tonkotsu flavor, and added chicken cilantro mini wontons, broccolini, spinach, toasted sesame seeds, avocado and spicy sesame oil.”
Here’s what you need to make Kelly’s favorite ramen recipe:
- 1 spicy pork tonkostu Mike's Mighty Good pillow pack
- ¼ cup sliced green onions
- 1 pasture raised egg
- half a lemon
- small bunch of cilantro
- 1 small garlic clove, pressed through garlic press
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- ½ tsp spicy sesame oil
- 1 tsp ginger
- quarter avocado, cubed or sliced
Directions:
- Boil a pot of water for your ramen noodles. While you’re waiting for it to boil, heat a separate cast iron pan on medium heat, and the spicy sesame oil.
- Once your pan is hot, crack the egg onto one side of the pan and the crushed garlic on the other side. Once the garlic is a golden brown and fragrant, add the green onions and ginger. Sauté together for just a few minutes and set aside. Let the egg cook until its white is set, or it’s cooked to your preference.
- Add the ramen noodles to boiling water. Cook according to package directions and add spice and oil packet.
- Pour the noodles into a bowl, and add your toppings. Carefully place your egg on top, and squeeze the lemon over everything. ENJOY!”
Here is another one of Kelly’s favorites!
Simply add:
- green onions
- teriyaki chicken
- avocado chunks
- lime
- toasted sesame seeds
- crushed red pepper
- spinach
- cilantro
- carrots
Directions:
Cook noodles according to package directions. add noodles to the bowl, pour rich broth into the bowl over the noodles. Add the spinach first so it has time to wilt and then add the rest of toppings. ENJOY!
Delegating different kitchen tasks between different members of the family is a surefire way to quickly pass the time, and bring everyone together in the process. The best part? You’ll have something delicious to chow down on afterward.
Do your kids love their Mike’s Mighty Good craft ramen? Make sure to tell us on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok!
