About Family: When Food Becomes a Language of Love

A special dish is catching attention in movies currently playing.

The film About Family (2024) has reached its 4th day of release, starring actors Kim Yun-seok and Lee Seung-gi.

According to the 15th report from the Korea Film Council, About Family has accumulated 150,000 viewers as of the previous day, which isn’t a huge box office success.

However, the audience rating is hovering around 8 points. One particular food keeps appearing frequently in this film: dumplings.

The movie revolves around the story of Moo-ok (played by Kim Yun-seok), the owner of a famous dumpling shop, and his son Moon-seok (played by Lee Seung-gi), who decides to become a monk, sparking a series of events.

◆ A Variety of Dumplings

In Korea, dumplings are typically made by wrapping a filling of minced meat, vegetables, tofu, and other ingredients in a flour dough, then steaming them.

When the dough is thick like bread, it is called "wangmandu" (king dumplings), and when steamed in a steamer, it is called "jjimmandu" (steamed dumplings). If boiled in water, they are "mulmandu" (water dumplings), and if pan-fried in oil, they are "gunmandu" (fried dumplings). There are also unique varieties like "napjakmandu" (flat dumplings) and "galbimandu" (rib dumplings).

The filling of the dumplings can vary in nutritional content depending on the cooking method and personal preferences. However, even if the meat content is increased, vegetables such as napa cabbage and chives, which are rich in moisture, play a crucial role as key ingredients in the dumpling filling. Therefore, the volume of the filling is inevitably larger compared to its nutritional content.

◆ How to Eat Dumplings Healthily Without Raising Blood Sugar

On the other hand, dumpling wrappers are made from flour dough, so they consist entirely of flour.

To maintain the chewy texture of dumplings and prevent them from bursting when steamed or boiled, a considerable amount of flour is used.

Flour is a typical refined carbohydrate that causes a spike in blood sugar levels. Dumpling wrappers are digested and absorbed quickly, causing a blood sugar spike. Additionally, they stress the pancreas, which secretes insulin, and the insulin receptors, reducing their function.

To enhance the chewiness of the wrapper, starch is sometimes added, which is a form of refined carbohydrate. Starch is quickly digested, making the glycemic index rise above 90, which is detrimental to blood sugar health.

If possible, dumplings should not be consumed as a main meal. To reduce carbohydrate intake, it is better to choose dumplings with thinner wrappers.

After eating dumplings, it is a good idea to do some light exercise immediately to use up the blood sugar as energy.