Takeout and delivery food don’t exactly have the best reputation when it come to healthy eating. But the fact of the matter is that there are more than enough healthy options out there for any cuisine. You just have to know where to look. Welcome to the first installment of Healthy Matters, a new periodic feature from our healthy eating connoisseur, Brooke:
Unlike some trendier Asian foods like edamame (Japanese) or spring rolls (Vietnamese), most Chinese food delivery meals aren’t exactly popular among more health-conscious restaurant goers. This is understandable, considering that some of the most popular Chinese menu items include General Tso’s chicken (popular on SW as well), egg rolls, and sweet and sour pork, which are battered, deep-fried foods full of oily fats. But since there are more Chinese restaurants than McDonalds, Wendy’s and Burger King combined in the U.S. (including hundreds on SW), it’s high time Americans (and SeamlessWebbers) got familiar with the healthier side of Chinese menus.
Now doesn't that look appealing?
As it turns out, the most popular Chinese dishes discussed above are a far cry from many authentic Chinese meals, which consist of steamed vegetables and rice, soy-based tofu and light, fruit-based desserts. Those healthy roots give an idea of what you might be missing, so here are some tips for how to enjoy Chinese cuisine without the guilt:
- Alter your order. Using the SeamlessWeb Special Instructions box on any item, you can request that your dish include more vegetables than meat, substitute white rice for fiber-rich brown rice, or ask for your entrée to be prepared in minimal oil or with sauce on the side.
- Sip away. Just like drinking a few glasses of water before your meal helps curb your appetite, eating a bowl of soup will also help fill you up. Luckily, Chinese soups are some of the lowest-calorie and tastiest items on the menu. Popular soups like hot and sour or egg drop are light and filling ways to start a meal.
- Avoid the fried entrées. Deep-fried pork, chicken and beef dishes are obviously less healthy options, but even the seemingly healthier selections like fried rice are packed with calories, so make things easier on yourself and skip out on items that are battered and fried.
- Look for vegetables and non-battered, lean protein. Dishes that contain more vegetables than meat are lower in calories and higher in nutrients. Stick with chicken or fish if you are looking to cut back on calories and still enjoy healthier proteins.
- If you’re inexperienced with chopsticks, use those fumbling fingers to your advantage. The slow pace at which you consume your meal will allow you to digest and feel full sooner, so you consume fewer calories (and look more cultured while you’re at it).
I think that those tips should put you on the right track, but if you still think you might be fooled by a misleading Chinese menu, here are some assuredly healthy items you can feel good about ordering the next time that your Chinese food craving hits (and some examples of SeamlessWeb restaurants that you can order from):
- Steamed Vegetarian Dumplings (try out Asia Culture from Heavenly Bamboo)
- Tofu with Mixed Vegetables (try out Mee Noodle Shop)
- Hot Braised String Beans with Spicy Sauce (try out Mandarin Kitchen)
- Steamed Chicken with Broccoli (try out Mr. Chen’s Organic Chinese)
A final word of encouragement: when dining Chinese-style, dessert is one of the lowest-calorie options. The average fortune cookie contains 30 calories, which takes about five minutes of walking to burn off. So feel free to crack open that cookie, enjoy the enlightening message inside, and burn it off all in your next jaunt to the subway station.