Over-eating when you get a takeaway is common, so opt for a broth or soup starter while looking to steamed and stir-fried options for your main. Healthier options: Steamed/boiled rice, plain noodles, crab & sweetcorn soup, steamed dumplings, steamed fish, chicken chop suey, Szechuan prawns, vegetable stir-fry.
For soups, try hot and sour, egg drop, or wonton soup. When you're in the mood for dumplings, reach for steamed or pan-fried veggie, shrimp, beef, pork, or chicken ones. Decide on your main. For entrees, explore steamed lean proteins like chicken or shrimp with vegetables or egg foo young with chicken.
Go for steamed dishes
In general, steamed dishes such as dumplings, vegetables or seafood tend to be lower in salt than deep- or stir-fried foods, although be careful with any accompanying sauces: as above, chilli- or vinegar-based condiments are a better choice than salty soy.
Rice Alternatives
Skip the rice and ask for sauteed veggies instead. Some Chinese restaurants also make cauliflower rice, which is a great alternative to carb-loaded fried rice. The texture and flavor of cauliflower rice is similar to normal rice and it holds up well in soups and saucy dishes.
Your best bets for lower-glycemic Chinese meals are egg drop soup, tofu with vegetables, curry tofu or chicken, dim sum (chicken or fish with vegetables), barbequed pork with mustard and seeds, chicken or scallops with vegetables, stir-fried chicken, shrimp, or tofu with vegetables, Moo Goo Gai Pan, and shrimp and snow ...
Best: Soups
Wonton, egg drop, or hot and sour? Take your pick. Each typically has fewer than 100 calories per cup. Plus, the broth helps fill you up, so you won't eat as much of the heavier dishes.
Other healthy Chinese food orders the Nutrition Twins recommend include chicken dishes accompanied by a green vegetable, like chicken with broccoli, chicken with snow peas, or chicken with green beans. "All are good options for getting lean protein and nutrient-rich vegetables," they explain.
Battered and deep-fried dishes are a "no-no" when you're on a diet. Sesame or lemon chicken, sweet and sour pork and kung pao chicken fall into this category as well. Instead, order steamed chicken with broccoli and have the sauce on the side.
Boiled rice is generally lower in calories, fat, and sodium than fried rice. In terms of taste and texture, fried rice and boiled rice can also differ.
“Go for grilled dishes over fried; chicken and fish over fattier meats, like lamb; tomato or veggie sauces rather than creamy ones; and steamed rice over fried,” advises Laura. She also suggests avoiding sides and other add ons unless they're vegetables as well as eating mindfully and being aware of portion sizes.
Chinese Cuisine – Egg drop soup, hot and sour soup, egg foo young, mixed vegetables with tofu, chicken or shrimp, chicken and broccoli, chicken with snow peas, moo goo gai pan (chicken and vegetable stir fry), steamed vegetables.
Chicken Chow Mein – 516 calories per portion
You'll need to do an hour's front crawl at a relatively slow pace in order to burn off a portion of chow mein's chunky 516 calories.
The healthiest Indian curry options are low in calories and saturated fats, such as tandoori chicken curry, chana masala, palak paneer, and daal. By choosing these healthier options, you can enjoy the delicious flavors of Indian curry while also reaping the health benefits.
Any Indian curries that are tomato-based, like tandoori, madras, jalfrezi, rogan and bhuna, are the lowest in calories. They average around 200-300 calories. If you want an even healthier option, consider a sauce-free dish like fish tikka (which is only 180 calories).
Chinese takeout can be a lifesaver on busy weeknights, but choose carefully to sidestep cholesterol and sodium. Hot-and-sour soup, steamed dumplings, and entrees that are steamed or lightly stir-fried are better choices than fatty egg-drop soup, egg rolls, or deep-fried specialties.
Oolong is the best Chinese herbal tea for weight loss. Oolong tea weight loss benefit mainly comes from Tannin. It is the key for decomposing lipid.
Oriental Chinese Chicken Curry And Egg Fried Rice (1 pack) contains 63.5g total carbs, 54g net carbs, 22g fat, 31g protein, and 559 calories.
Low GI : Green vegetables, most fruits, raw carrots, kidney beans, chickpeas and lentils. Medium GI : Sweet corn, bananas, raw pineapple, raisins, cherries, oat breakfast cereals, and multigrain, whole-grain wheat or rye bread. High GI : White rice, white bread and potatoes.
“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.