A great beginning for an easy diet menu is to incorporate congee as the staple, breakfast food. Congee is easy to make, highly nutritious, and cheap! It is commonly served in Asian cultures to those with chronic illnesses that prevent them from eating anything else, as well as being a primary source of nutrition at schools for the martial arts. There are many benefits to eating congee and an infinite number of ways to make it.

Add Congee to the Easy Diet Menu!
There are many ways to make congee, but the basic recipe is a simple rice and bean porridge. The most nutritious grain, and the one used most often in the Orient, is short-grain brown rice. Adzuki beans make a great complement to the rice, and together they provide a complete protein.

For a single serving, use a quarter cup of rice with a small handful of beans. Place these in a crockpot with three quarters cup of water. The ratio is 1:3 for making more than one serving. Use the crock’s lowest setting, which should be a maximum of 185 degrees, and let it cook overnight.

Congee is a Great Addition to the Easy Diet Menu for any Meal!
It’s fun tailoring each bowl of congee to personal tastes, the weather, and your dietary needs. One of the most common ingredients to get added is ginger for digestive support. Fresh grated ginger is best, but a powdered ginger will also work.

Any whole grain can be substituted for rice, and the same goes for beans. A sweeter taste may call for honey, berries or fennel seed, and a savory meal can be made by adding herbs. Congee is not only a top breakfast for the easy diet menu, but it is a great base with limitless possibilities!