The fast pace of modern life leaves little room to savor meals. Most young people, busy with work, lack the energy to prepare proper meals for themselves. They often skip meals due to overtime or irregular eating schedules, while others resort to extreme dieting for weight loss. These factors contribute to increasingly poor digestive health among today's youth.When it comes to nurturing the stomach, congee and soups are the best choices. During hot summers when appetites wane, congee is especially suitable. Which congees can strengthen the spleen and nourish the stomach?
1. Shenqu and Dried Tangerine Peel Congee
Ingredients: Shenqu (fermented malt), dried tangerine peel, rice.
Method: Grind Shenqu and dried tangerine peel into a fine powder. Place in a pot, add water, and soak for ten minutes. Bring to a boil to extract the medicinal liquid. Strain out the residue, then cook with rice into porridge.
Benefits: Strengthens the spleen and aids digestion. Relieves indigestion and helps break down undigested food.
2. Barley Beef Porridge
Ingredients:Barley kernels, cooked beef, flour, seasonings.
Method: Cut beef into chunks. Rinse barley kernels. Mix flour with water to form a thin paste. Boil barley kernels in water until they bloom. Add flour paste and bring to a boil. Stir in beef, scallions, ginger, garlic, salt, oil, MSG, pepper, chili, vinegar, sesame oil, and other seasonings. Simmer until done.
Benefits: Harmonizes the stomach, aids digestion, boosts energy, and strengthens muscles. Suitable for those with chronic gastritis.
3. Hawthorn and Radish Seed Porridge
Ingredients: Hawthorn berries, radish seeds, japonica rice.
Method: Rinse ingredients, combine in a pot with water, and simmer until porridge thickens.
Benefits: Strengthens the spleen and stomach, replenishes qi, and alleviates indigestion. Relieves digestive discomfort after heavy meals, stimulates appetite, and eases upper abdominal bloating and loss of appetite.
4. Broad Bean, Yam, and Lotus Seed Porridge
Ingredients: White broad beans, yam, lotus seeds, japonica rice.
Method: Wash ingredients, place in pot, and simmer into porridge.
Benefits: Tonifies spleen and lungs, boosts qi and generates fluids, strengthens spleen and transforms dampness.
5. Lotus Seed and Euryale Seed Porridge
Ingredients: Lotus seeds, euryale seeds, rice.
Method: Rinse ingredients, add water, bring to a boil, then simmer over low heat until porridge forms.
Benefits: Strengthens spleen and stomach, boosts qi and calms mind, nourishes kidneys and secures essence.
6. Chestnut and Walnut Porridge
Ingredients: Chestnut kernels, walnut kernels, rice.
Method: Chop chestnut and walnut kernels into small pieces. Rinse rice. First, boil rice in water for about ten minutes. Then transfer rice and its cooking liquid to a clay pot. Simmer over low heat until rice grains bloom. Finally, add chestnuts and walnuts. Cook for another twenty minutes. Season with salt before serving.
Benefits: Strengthens the spleen and kidneys.
7. Yam, Red Date, and Glutinous Rice Porridge
Ingredients: Yam, red dates, glutinous rice.
Method: Peel and dice the yam. Rinse the glutinous rice and red dates. Place all ingredients in a pot with water, cook into porridge, then season to taste.
Benefits: Strengthens the spleen and replenishes qi, nourishes the stomach and harmonizes the middle burner. Suitable for regular consumption.
8. Pumpkin and Carrot Millet Porridge
Ingredients: Pumpkin, carrot, millet.
Method: Peel and dice the pumpkin. Wash and dice the carrot. Rinse the millet. Bring water to a boil in a pot, then add all ingredients and simmer until porridge-like. Serve.
Benefits: Strengthens the spleen and nourishes the stomach.
The above introduces several porridges that nourish the stomach and strengthen the spleen. During the sweltering summer when appetite wanes, consider preparing some porridge. It not only encourages eating but also fortifies the spleen and stomach.