Hey guys! If you’re into Korean celebs, you’ve definitely heard of Hong Jin-kyung. She’s a legendary model, super funny TV personality, and basically goals when it comes to staying fit. Standing at 180cm (that’s almost 5’11”!), she’s famous for her self-discipline, and people are always curious about her diet tips. Well, she just dropped another gem on her YouTube channel, and this one is for all of us who crave Italian food but not the carbs.
A Surprise Discovery in Bali
So, in a recent video on her channel ‘Gongbuwang Jjinchangjae Hong Jin-kyung’, she took a spontaneous trip to Bali with a friend. While exploring a local market, they decided to pop into an Italian restaurant. When the first course came out, it looked exactly like a delicious, cheesy lasagna. But her friend revealed the secret: it was actually a dish called ‘Parmigiana,’ and it uses eggplant instead of pasta sheets! Hong Jin-kyung immediately lit up, saying, “Then there are no carbs in it!” The video even put up a caption calling it “a main dish for dieters.”
What Makes Parmigiana So Diet-Friendly?
Parmigiana is a classic Italian dish that layers sliced eggplant with cheese and tomato sauce, then bakes it. By swapping out the pasta, you get all the comforting, savory flavor of lasagna without the heavy carbohydrates. It’s seriously the perfect hack!
Eggplant itself is a fantastic food for dieting. It’s mostly water (over 90%!) and packed with fiber, which helps you feel full longer and stops you from overeating. Plus, it’s super low in calories—we’re talking only about 25 calories per 100 grams. The fiber in eggplant can also help reduce how much fat your body absorbs and even lower your cholesterol. It’s a total win-win!
The K-Celeb Way to Eat Healthy
Of course, how you cook it matters. The article that reported on this mentioned that if you deep-fry the eggplant, the calories can shoot way up since it soaks up oil. So, if you’re trying this at home, it’s best to bake or grill the eggplant slices to keep it light and healthy, just the way Hong Jin-kyung would!
It’s always so cool to see how Korean stars find healthy and delicious ways to enjoy their food, even while on vacation. So, next time you’re craving some cheesy Italian goodness, maybe give eggplant parmigiana a try. Let me know if you do!
