| Is Chinese food really healthy? Well that all depends | | | | - If you must have that heavier corn starched based |
| on what you order. Many people have the | | | | sauce, see if the cook will skip the breading (e.g. |
| misconception that Chinese food = healthy eating. | | | | sweet sour pork or chicken). |
| This belief is only true if the restaurant is serving | | | | - Avoid double carbohydrate picks such as rice and |
| truly authentic Chinese food. There are quite a few | | | | noodles. Pick one or the other, not both. |
| menu choices found in Chinese carry out restaurants | | | | - Drop the fork, use the chop sticks. |
| that have become "westernized", making them high | | | | - Use Soy Sauce in modest amounts. This sauce is |
| in fat and sodium. Many of the dishes are fried and | | | | loaded with sodium. If dish is prepared at home you |
| surrounded by heavy sauces which render the food | | | | can purchase low sodium based soy sauces at the |
| unhealthy, and are really no better than eating fried | | | | grocery store. |
| fast food. | | | | - Go heavy on vegetables and light on meat (Beef |
| Here are a few tips to keep the in mind when dining | | | | with Broccoli) |
| out or calling in for carry out: | | | | Beverages and Dessert |
| Appetizers | | | | - Drink tea with meal instead of soda. If possible |
| - Swap out high fat and high calorie appetizers such | | | | order green tea which is highest in antioxidants. |
| as egg rolls and spare ribs for meal starters such as | | | | - For Dessert opt for the low calorie fortune cookie. |
| Won Ton Soup or Hot Sour Soup. | | | | - For Dessert opt for the low calorie fortune cookie. |
| - Pick the low cal and lower fat spring roll over egg | | | | Chinese food can be one of the healthiest ethnic |
| roll. | | | | foods to consume. I like to order Chinese food as |
| Meals | | | | well as prepare it at home using my wok. One of the |
| - Swap out fried rice for steamed rice. If offered by | | | | best attributes of Chinese dishes is the varieties and |
| the restaurant, order brown rice over white. | | | | quantity of vegetables that you can blend together in |
| - Avoid crispy noodles or pan fried noodles if possible. | | | | a stir fry. I like to incorporate such vegetables as bok |
| - Reduce food quantity. For some reason it is easy | | | | choy, spinach, carrot, shitake mushrooms, etc. I blend |
| to go wild and order four to five different items on a | | | | these dishes together using some great sauces such |
| Chinese menu. Keep it simple and order one dish/one | | | | as hoisin, soy, peanut, etc. I serve the finished |
| soup. | | | | product over brown rice and end up with a satisfying |
| - Choose items on the menu that will be preferably | | | | meal. Let me emphasize that I add these sauces |
| steamed rather than fried. | | | | sparingly. Cooking via stir fry or through steaming |
| - Split your meal into two meals. No need to finish it | | | | methods can have enormous health benefits and |
| all in one sitting. Most serving sizes sold are actually | | | | there is a great Chinese cookbook available that can |
| two servings. Take home the white box and have a | | | | offers several different ways to prepare this |
| second meal. This will cut down the calorie count. | | | | fantastic food. The cookbook is called Real and |
| - Many popular dishes range from 1300 to 1500 | | | | Healthy Chinese Cooking by Nicholas Zhou. Mr. Zhou's |
| calories per order (e.g. Lemon Chicken and General | | | | five hundred and forty three page cookbook cover |
| Tso). Pick a healthier alternative. Several can be | | | | Mandarin, Szechwan, Cantonese, and Hunan dishes. |
| found in Cantonese dishes (e.g. Moo Goo Gai Pan) | | | | These recipes are authentic Chinese and are healthy |
| - If offered pick shrimp or fish over meat. | | | | recipes that cater to most diets. |