How to Eat Healthy at a Chinese Restaurant

By Kristie Leong M.D., published May 08, 2007
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Mmmm! You love Chinese food but want to eat more healthy. You've probably read the latest studies showing Chinese food in most restaurants is more unhealthy than most of us thought. But, there's good news! You can eat at a Chinese restaurant and still eat healthy if you follow a few simple guidelines:

1. Avoid fhe fried foods such as fried wontons at Chinese restaurants. These are notoriously high in oils and fat. One of these tasty little appetizers can really wreck havoc with your healthy diet plans. Try the steamed dumplings instead.

2. Start your meal with a soup and salad. Some Chinese restaurants offer a seaweed salad which is both tasty and healthy. Pair this with a bowl of egg drop or wonton soup and you'll feel less hungry when you order your main course. Plus, you won't be adding alot of calories

3. Go for the vegetable dishes. If you order a meat based entree, make sure it's combined with vegetables such as Chicken with Brocolli. Ask the chef to prepare your dish with half the amount of meat and twice as many vegetables.

4. Ask for the sauce on the side. Most people don't realize they can have their entree prepared with the sauce in a separate dish.. One of the man sources of hidden calories in Chinese food is the sauce .If its placed on the side, you can dip it lightly as you eat and save a significant number of calories and
reduce your fat intake by at least a third.

5. Ask if you can substitue brown rice for the standard Chinese white rice. Brown rice is much healthier in terms of vitamins and fiber and won't have the
same negative impact on your blood sugar as white rice will.

6. Go light on the soy sauce. Soy sauce is extremely high in salt which can adversely affect your blood pressure and cause fluid retention.

7. Use your chopsticks. Studies have shown you'll eat more slowly and, ultimately, eat less if you dine with chopsticks.

8. Consider ordering Cantonese cuisine which tends to emphasize vegetables and be lower in fat and calories.

Comments
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These are such good suggestions. I always opt for steamed rice and a vegetable dish at Chinese restaurants. I sometimes use chopsticks, but one time I used them, I ended up flinging the food across the restaurant. It was a bit embarrassing to say the least. Sophie

Posted on 08/11/2007 at 8:08:00 PM

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