Cheat day

Sugar Man (17)

Baek Woo-jin asked for a question he would never get right, and it seems the idea was inspired by an old episode of “White Rice Debate.”

In truth, this guy has so much random knowledge that I thought it wouldn’t be easy to come up with a question, even as I requested it.

However, I couldn’t help but think he was underestimating Baek Woo-jin.

No way he wouldn’t know this.

The focus of this question isn’t what food is suitable for a blind date, but rather which food raises blood sugar levels.

Despite his usual nonsense, he at least knows what the question requires.

The writers likely prepared this question to check whether the Sugar Men have the correct knowledge and to inform viewers who may not.

In that sense, it’s a very important topic.

Tteokbokki (option 2) and Jajangmyeon (option 3) are well-known foods that raise blood sugar, and the general public is aware of that.

However, the blood sugar index (GI) of pasta (option 1) can vary greatly depending on the type.

The flour used in pasta is usually durum wheat, which has a very high protein content.

This flour is different from the one used in baking; for making bread, extremely fine particles are necessary, while for pasta, larger particles are acceptable.

In other words, pasta flour is less digested due to its larger particles, meaning it has a lower blood sugar index.

If I remember correctly, the blood sugar index of white bread is around 70, while pasta is around 40.

Foods with a GI below 55 are considered low-GI, and those above 70 are high-GI, so pasta is better for diabetics than bread or white rice.

However, just as mixing brown rice with a lot of sugary gochujang (red chili paste) is pointless, the impact of pasta also varies greatly depending on what it’s eaten with.

Pasta dishes based on oil, like Aglio e Olio, Anchovy, or Vongole, or tomato sauce pasta without added sugars, have a very low GI and are healthy options.

But if the sauce is rich in carbohydrates and sugars, like in Rosé or Tuwumba, it’s no different from tteokbokki, jajangmyeon, or japchae.

The pasta shown in the example photo is Aglio e Olio, making pasta the answer to this question.

While it’s unlikely anyone would choose tteokbokki or jajangmyeon, someone might opt for steak (option 4).

However, looking at the example photo, it shows potato mousse and sauce as garnishes.

Since the potatoes are mashed for easier digestion, blood sugar will rise significantly, and steak sauces almost invariably contain sugars.

If one eats meat, it should be seasoned only with salt or consumed without sauce to be suitable for blood sugar management.

“Please raise your whiteboards above your heads.”

As the time limit expired, Woo Wang-seon asked the Sugar Men to reveal their answers.

All the Sugar Men confidently held their whiteboards up.

As Jwa Wang-taek walked around checking the answers, he stopped in front of Baek Woo-jin.

“Woo-jin, what did you write?”

“Tteokbokki.”

It felt like I had been hit on the head.

“Among the 90 Sugar Men, you’re the only one who wrote tteokbokki. What’s your reason?”

“Really?”

Baek Woo-jin looked around.

“Ah. What do I do? Am I the only one who got it right? Should we go again?”

It was ridiculous.

The other Sugar Men seemed just as dumbfounded, with some of them laughing.

“Wait, so if the answer is tteokbokki, does that mean only Woo-jin stays and everyone else is eliminated?”

“Yeah.”

Baek Woo-jin looked at Choi Yang-jun with a regretful expression.

“Hyung, I’m sorry. I’ll make sure to get all the answers right for you.”

Dong Dong-guri, Choi Yang-jun, could only open his mouth slightly, furrowing his brows, unable to say anything.

“What’s the reason? What’s your reason?”

Jwa Wang-taek asked again.

“I talked about this on my personal YouTube channel. It’s really important to create a natural atmosphere on a first date. Tteokbokki is a food we enjoyed during our happiest times in school. When you smell tteokbokki, it brings back fond memories and nostalgia. That feeling can transfer to your date, making the atmosphere naturally better.”

Jwa Wang-taek, momentarily flustered, quickly continued like a professional host.

“Aren’t you concerned about blood sugar?”

“Blood sugar?”

“Blood sugar.”

“You asked what the most suitable food for a blind date is. Why would blood sugar come up?”

“Because this is the Sugar Man Project.”

“…Huh?”

I felt pathetic for worrying so much about whether that guy would win at one point.

“The answer will be provided by dietary instructor Ju Ji-seung.”

Woo Wang-seon called for Ju Ji-seung to announce the answer.

Ju Ji-seung, who had been covering his eyes with his right hand, took a deep breath and spoke.

“The correct answer is option 1, pasta.”

“Wow!”

Amid the cheers of 89 Sugar Men, only Baek Woo-jin stared wide-eyed.

“The blood sugar index of pasta is around 40, making it a low-GI food. Aglio e Olio uses salt, pepperoncino, garlic, olive oil, and cheese, which don’t significantly raise blood sugar levels. In contrast, jajang sauce, tteokbokki sauce, and steak sauce contain a lot of sugar and should be consumed with caution.”

“So, it was the sauce that was the problem.”

“Right. For reference, high-GI foods include glass noodles, rice cakes, and donburi, while low-GI foods include corn, ramen, and siru tteok.”

“Ramen and siru tteok are really surprising.”

“Siru tteok contains a lot of fiber and protein from red beans, which slows down blood sugar absorption.”

“Oh.”

“If ramen only has added protein, it’s actually quite a nutritious food. It’s best to reduce the broth and add a piece of chicken breast or a can of tuna.”

While Ju Ji-seung finished explaining, Baek Woo-jin was in a daze.

Eventually, he had to be dragged out by the staff.

“Wait! Something’s wrong here! You said it was suitable food for a blind date!”

I can’t tell if he’s a genius or just plain foolish.

***

“Excuse me?”

I received an unexpected proposal during a meeting with WK Books.

Baek Woo-jin and I wanted to document the history and culture of food in a content series called “Baek Ban Report” and publish it as an e-book for sale.

Editor Lee Chang-soo suggested that I publish an essay.

“You don’t need to overthink it. I believe many people will be interested in your story about the struggles you’ve faced and your journey to success.”

“I can talk about it, but I’m not good at writing.”

“Um… You’ve already talked about it a lot on your broadcasts, so I’m not sure how well it would sell.”

“There are aspects that would be hard to cover in a broadcast. Also, writing is different from speaking; it allows you to organize your thoughts more clearly.”

“Hmm.”

“I’ve heard you’ve been writing scripts for a long time. I would appreciate it if you could think positively about this.”

“Okay. I’ll think it over for now.”

“Great. Thank you.”

After we exchanged goodbyes, I left the office.

“What do you think?”

I asked Muk Eun-ji.

“Since you have a lot on your plate right now, it can’t be a priority even if you decide to do it.”

“That’s true.”

“However, I think leaving a record is a positive thing. When you’re busy running around, you rarely get the chance to reflect on yourself. You might have fragmented feelings, but they won’t be organized into sentences.”

“Exactly.”

“Once your schedule is organized, taking your time to write might not be a bad idea. If you write it like a diary, even if it doesn’t lead to publication, it will still have a positive impact.”

“What about you?”

I asked Muk Eun-ji, knowing she sometimes writes in a diary.

“Yes. Sometimes, when I look back, I can reminisce about the good things. I enjoy being able to feel exactly what it was like instead of just having vague memories. On the flip side, writing about upsetting events helps me sort through my feelings, so I recommend you give it a try as well.”

Hearing that made sense to me, and I nodded in agreement.

Good memories often leave only impressions, so it seems worthwhile to record them in photos, diaries, or videos.

“But seriously, how did you get those photos and videos?”

“What are you talking about?”

“The ones with Woo-jin. It was really a disaster, and hardly anyone watched.”

The view counts were dismal; it’s no wonder the channel was deleted.

There were only a few videos that reached triple digits, and at that time, both Baek Woo-jin and I were unknown, so there was no reason for anyone to save them.

“Oh.”

Muk Eun-ji rarely seemed to take my hint.

“Did Baek Woo-jin give them to you?”