Okay fans, time for a faceoff! Lets look at Top Ramen vs. Yumbini Curried Turmeric and Rice. Both are vegetarian and about the same number of ounces and calories. But what about the details?
Round 1 - Packaging:
Results: Almost identical. Both products are in lightweight plastic film pouches.
ROUND #1 WINNER: TIE
Round 2 - Ingredients:
Yumbini Curried Lentils and Rice:
INGREDIENTS: PRECOOKED DRIED LENTILS, PRECOOKED ENRICHED LONG GRAIN RICE (RICE, NIACIN, IRON, THIAMIN, FOLIC ACID), SUNFLOWER OIL, SPICES (INCLUDING TURMERIC), DRIED RED BELL PEPPER, SALT, DRIED SPINACH, ONION POWDER, GARLIC POWDER, CITRIC ACID.
Top Ramen Soy Sauce Flavor:
INGREDIENTS: ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), VEGETABLE OIL (PALM OIL, RICE BRAN OIL), SALT, DEHYDRATED SOY SAUCE ( MALTODEXTRIN, SALT, WHEAT, SOYBEAN), CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF CARAMEL COLOR, CITRIC ACID, DISODIUM GUANYLATE, DISODIUM INOSONATE, DISODIUM SUCCINATE, DRIED LEEK FLAKE, GARLIC POWDER, HYDROLYSED CORN PROTEIN, MALTODEXTRIN, ONION POWDER, POTASSIUM CARBONATE, SPICE, SUGAR, TBHQ (PRESERVATIVE).
CONTAINS WHEAT AND SOYBEAN
CONTAINS BIOENGINEERED FOOD INGREDIENTS
MANUFACTURED IN A FACILITY THAT ALSO PROCESSES EGG, MILK, PEANUT, TREE NTS, SESAME, CRUSTACEAN SHELLFISH, AND FISH PRODUCTS
Results: Neither product uses MSG, though Top Ramen substitutes the similar ingredients disodium guanylate, inosinate, and succinate. Kudos to Top Ramen for clearly labeling “bioengineered food ingredients”, though Yumbini does not contain any. Top Ramen also contains a preservative, TBHQ, while Yumbini does not. We can’t help but notice salt is the third ingredient in Top Ramen. And if you have any food allergies, you would definitely want to be careful of the Top Ramen!
ROUND #2 WINNER: YUMBINI
Round 3 - NUTRITION FACTS:
Yumbini Curried Lentils and Rice
Top Ramen Soy Sauce
Results: Per serving, both products have about the same number of calories, total fat and carbohydrate. Both are free from cholesterol and trans fat. But Top Ramen has considerably more unhealthy saturated fat: 32% of your daily value, compared to 4% for Yumbini. And Top Ramen is completely off the charts in terms of sodium with a whopping 70% daily value per serving compared to 21% for Yumbini.
On the other hand, Yumbini is higher than Top Ramen in fiber (7g vs. 2g), protein (15g vs. 9g), and iron (40% DV vs. 20% DV). In other words, Yumbini has more of the good stuff and less of the bad.
ROUND #3 WINNER: YUMBINI
Round 4 - flavor
Okay, it is a little like apples and oranges comparing the flavor of Beans and Rice to Instant Ramen. They both have their high points but here goes:
Yumbini Curried Lentils and Rice:
Hearty combination of brown lentils and turmeric-colored yellow rice with red bell peppers, spinach flakes and a complex spice blend inspired by the legendary curries of India. Just enough heat to get your attention and not too much salt. Shockingly delicious for a packaged dry mix. Soft and easy to eat; stays on your spoon and goes down easy!
Top Ramen Soy Sauce
Classic chewy, slightly unwieldy, noodles known and loved around the world. Almost devoid of vegetables but, even as a vegetarian option, a satisfyingly hearty broth. Go easy with the seasoning packet to cut down on the intense salty taste. And watch out not to spill the broth anywhere (like on your keyboard!).
