“When ordering Chinese, focus on dishes packed full of lean proteins and vegetables with limited rice and noodles,” advises Palinski-Wade, who suggests ordering steamed chicken and broccoli with the sauce on the side.
Watch out for sodium
Soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce, hoisin sauce, black bean sauce, shrimp paste, bouillon cubes ... These flavor enhancers undoubtedly make dishes taste more delectable.
If you're eating Chinese food, chances are there's going to be rice on your plate. And if that rice is white, be prepared for a major blood sugar spike. White rice is so troublesome that one study found that for each serving a person ate per day, their risk of developing type 2 diabetes jumped by 11%.
Chinese food takeout is delicious, but as with other cuisines offering takeout, some of the choices offered can be high in salt, sugar, oil, and processed additives. American-Chinese food, in particular, tends to be much sweeter and saltier than traditional Chinese cuisine and often features its own distinct flavors.
The classic stir-fry recipe is the perfect way to make a healthy, diabetes-friendly and low-carb meal from whatever you might have in the fridge or pantry. Heat up a little oil in a skillet (a wok is great, but any skillet will do), throw in some protein and vegetables, and stir.
Chinese: Steamed Chicken and Broccoli
“When ordering Chinese, focus on dishes packed full of lean proteins and vegetables with limited rice and noodles,” advises Palinski-Wade, who suggests ordering steamed chicken and broccoli with the sauce on the side.
Deep-fried egg rolls, fried rice, and a main dish dripping in oily sauce make this meal an unhealthy choice. The total sodium in this type of meal is more than most people with diabetes should have over 3 days. Beware the MSG (monosodium glutamate), a seasoning that sends the sodium content soaring.
Steamed vegetables
Popular examples include steamed dumplings and steamed greens. Try steaming greens like bok choy or Chinese broccoli — available at most Asian markets — with oil, salt, and pepper for a simple, low carb addition to your Chinese meal.
Your main goals should include staying away from unhealthy fats, liquid sugars, processed grains, and other foods that contain refined carbs. Avoiding foods that increase your blood sugar levels and drive insulin resistance can help keep you healthy and reduce your risk of future diabetes complications.
Fried Chicken Restaurants
In general, poultry is a smart choice while following a diabetes-friendly diet—except when it's breaded or dipped in flour and fried. This version adds not just carbs but saturated fat and calories as well to menu items at restaurants like KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) and Popeyes.
A nutritious, well-balanced diet is crucial for staying healthy, especially for people with diabetes. When striving for a well-balanced diet, people with diabetes may wonder whether carbohydrate foods, like white rice, are a good option to include in their eating patterns. The short answer is: yes!
Rice noodles:
Foods that contain unprocessed carbs can benefit people with diabetes, but eating large amounts in one sitting may raise blood sugar levels. People should spread their intake throughout the day.
In addition to being quick and easy, stir-frying is also healthy. It results in tender-crisp vegetables that retain more nutrients than if they were boiled. And since stir-frying requires only a small amount of oil, the fat content is low.
The lowest carb dishes would be the BBQ and roasted meat, such as pork, chicken and duck. Another great choice would be steamed or boiled chicken, such as Hainanese chicken.
Best: Kung Pao Chicken
Peanuts also give the dish a nutrient boost. They have heart-healthy fiber, unsaturated fat, and antioxidants. But, like many Chinese dishes, this one's high in sodium, so watch how much you have the rest of the day.
Of course white rice is much healthier. White rice is cooked with no oil, no other spices, just water.
Aside from breakfast - Yes, you can enjoy a genuine Subway sandwich if you have diabetes. You'll need to forego the white bread and instead pick the 9-grain wheat bread. Subway creates this delicious bread completely from whole wheat. If you pick a mini whole wheat sandwich, then you are looking at 27 carbs.
Unless you overturn the original Fish and Chips recipe, you can't reduce its fat and carbohydrate content. For this reason, Fish and Chips are not a dish typically suitable for those who have diabetes.
Make an open-faced sandwich, using thin sandwich bread to lower carbohydrate counts, or turn it into a wrap with low-carb tortillas or lettuce. Select lean, low-salt deli meats, such as roast turkey. Use low-fat mayonnaise, or replace it with other spreads, such as mustard, pesto, hummus, yogurt, or avocado.
Yes – if you choose wisely and in moderation. When choosing menu items at McDonald's for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, pay attention to nutritional values. Count those carbs and serving limits. Carbohydrates have the potential to affect your blood sugar levels faster than fats or proteins.