There is no doubt that eating out can often be very unhealthy for you, whether the food comes from a fast-food restaurant or an exquisite restaurant. As with any other type of food, this also applies to Chinese food. Here, we will take a closer look at some of the things that you should be sure to consider the next time that you decide to order Chinese food, whether you eat it at a restaurant or opt for take-out. All of these tips will help you make the healthiest choices when you decide to order Chinese food.
Avoid Ordering Fried Rice
Fried rice may seem very healthy to you, but in reality, it is not. Think about the name: fried rice. That is exactly what this type of rice is. Although it may be very delicious, fried rice is very high in calories and fat. It is even worse when you opt for pork, beef or chicken fried rice. Vegetable fried rice is the healthiest way to go. When you do make the decision to order fried rice, the best thing that you can do is serve yourself smaller portions in order to reduce your caloric intake.
Skip the Deep-fried Egg Roll
Egg rolls are deep-fried, unfortunately. For this reason, they are extremely high in calories, fat and trans fat. Majority of the time, egg rolls are often very high in sodium. If you really want to eat healthy when you decide to eat Chinese food, you will probably want to skip the egg roll. For some, egg rolls are a favorite, but it is important for you to consider if they are really worth all of the calories and fat when you are trying to opt for healthy Chinese food options.
Avoid Deep-fried Chinese Dishes
There are a number of deep-fried Chinese dishes that you will want to avoid if you are trying to make the healthiest choices when you eat Chinese food. Unfortunately, many of these Chinese food dishes are popular favorites. Some of these include General Tso’s Chicken, Kung Pao Chicken and Mu Shu Pork. While you may enjoy these Chinese dishes, they are really not the healthiest Chinese food options.
Choose Vegetable-Based Dishes
Most Chinese food restaurants offer some wonderful dishes which are vegetable-based. What this means is that they are ultimately higher in fiber than Chinese dishes which are deep-fried or include loads of meat. You will often be able to find a vegetarian menu, which will include dishes such as sautéed mixed vegetables. Some options that you may want to consider when choose vegetable-based dishes that also include meat are chicken or beef with broccoli and shrimp or chicken with mixed vegetables, to name a few. Ultimately, vegetable-based dishes tend to be the healthiest Chinese food options.
Fill Up On Carbohydrates
Steamed rice is a great option when you decide to eat Chinese food. You often hear of people complaining that Chinese food does not fill them. This is because many often skip steamed rice, which tends to be very filling when it is eaten in combination with vegetables and meats. One of the things that many people do not know about steamed rice is the fact that it is low in calories, making it a much more appealing and healthier Chinese food option than Chinese fried rice.
Consider Egg Drop Soup
Egg drop soup often gets a bad rap because it is known to be very high in cholesterol, due to the fact that it does contain egg yolks. However, it is important to keep in mind that egg drop soup is another great way for you to fill yourself up. When you eat it before your Chinese food entrée, there is a good chance that you will become full much quicker.
These are just some of the many things that you can do to make Chinese food a healthier option for yourself. However, it is important to keep in mind that you should allow yourself to “cheat” sometimes. If you do not eat Chinese food on a regular basis, then it would not necessarily be a bad thing for you to eat an egg roll or your favorite deep-fried Chinese food dish. Everything in moderation is acceptable. If you eat Chinese food on a regular basis, then there is a good chance that these tips for choose healthier Chinese food options will come in handy for you.
