Understanding Proper Cooking Skills

The Healthiest Foods You Can Eat At A Chinese Restaurant

13 March 2015

Lois Young

Going out to eat or ordering in is dangerous territory when you are trying to stick to a healthy diet. It is even worse if you are trying to lose weight. Although Chinese food in some ways is one of the healthiest ethnic foods you can consume, there are still some drawbacks. If you want to eat at a Chinese restaurant, or if you just want to order Chinese in for the night, there are some very healthy menu options.

Eat Steamed, Not Fried

As delicious as all of that fried food is, the high fat content goes right to your abdomen and hips. Instead, try steamed vegetables, which are rich in nutrients and maintain their bright healthy colors. Also, choose chicken, shrimp, scallops or lobster instead of beef or pork as the meat to accompany your steamed vegetables. As for steamed dumplings, leave those off your plate because they are made with fatty meats and high starch wrappers.

Skip the Duck Sauce and Use Low Sodium Soy Sauce Instead

There are many Chinese sauces and condiments, which are very tasty, but not exactly healthy. Any sauce with an origin in fruit, such as plum sauce and duck sauce, you should avoid. The sugars, both natural and added, push your insulin levels through the roof, making you want to eat more, not less.

If you order steamed vegetables and meat, many Chinese restaurants will send a container of soy sauce on the side to season your meal as you like. If you request low sodium soy sauce instead, it makes the condiment drastically healthier. Oil-based sauces are heart-healthy and reasonable substitutes, too.

Avoid Rice and Noodles

Leave the rice at the restaurant because it is loaded with carbs and has virtually no health benefits. Noodles or pasta of any kind are not any better. If you absolutely cannot live without a little rice on your plate, request whole grain brown rice instead. Brown rice at least has a little fiber and more vitamins in it.

For Dessert

If you want that fortune cookie, go ahead. Fortune cookies are surprisingly low calorie, so long as they are not dipped in chocolate or coated with anything. As for the Chinese donuts and ice cream, you do not want to know the calorie load there.

For the Healthiest Meal

Cook at home. It is not the same as going to a good Chinese restaurant, but you can duplicate most of your favorites at home while substituting healthier ingredients and sauces for the less healthy ones in the restaurant. Plus, a good stir-fry makes several days' worth of meals, just like the orders you get when you ask for delivery or eat out.

To learn more, contact a company like Lilac Blossom Restaurant with any questions you have.

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