8 Healthiest Chinese Food Takeout Options
Chinese food takeout is excellent, but some options, such as those offered by other kitchens, can be high in salt, sugar, oil, and processed chemicals.
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| Chinese Food |
And if you're craving Chinese food, there are some healthy alternatives out there. You can also request that this menu item be changed to your liking. Furthermore, if you read the menu, you will usually find a section with low-fat, low-sugar, and low-salt options.
"Here are 8 of the healthiest Chinese takeaway alternatives and their recommendations for appetizers, sides, and sauces"
1. Steamed Dumplings
- Chinese restaurant pies are dough pockets filled with marinated meat and vegetables, usually pork and cabbage.
- They are often fried, but you may steam them instead to reduce calories and fat. Only 40 calories in one medium steamed dumpling.
- Although soy sauce-based dipping sauce is low in calories, it is heavy in sodium, so be careful, especially if you are allergic to Salt.
2. Hot and Sour Soup or Egg Drop Soup
- In chicken broth, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, eggs and ginger make a hot and sour soup. It also contains vinegar and spices that give the meal its fiery and sour flavours.
- Chinese egg soup, on the other hand, which is chicken broth soup is made simply by egg strips cooked in chicken broth.
- Both soups are modest in calories (65-90 calories per 1 cup (240 ml) portion), and you can make them healthier by skipping the fried Le noodles that are frequently served as garnish.
3. Mu Goo Gai Pan
MU Gu Gai is one of the famous American - Chinese restaurant dishes, generally, it is a fried chicken and vegetable dish with mushrooms, broccoli, carrots, and water chestnuts that season gently.
It's a low-calorie dish because it's packed with vegetables and lean chicken. In addition, the chicken adds a large amount of protein, which makes this dish satisfying.
Only 160 calories and 15 grams of protein were found in one cup (216 grams).
You should ask if the sauce can be served on the side so you can limit the amount of food you eat because it can be rich in salt and sugar.
4. Chop Suey
Another fried meal is Chop suey, which is made with ham, eggs and thinly sliced vegetables in a light sauce. It is usually cooked with pork, although it may also be made with chicken, beef or tofu.
It is a healthier option than other French fries because it is made from a source of protein and vegetables. Pork chop Sui with no noodles includes 216 calories and 23 grams of protein per cup (220 grams).
It also contains approximately 9.5 grams of fat, with additional fat added during the stir-frying process in the restaurant version.
Choose a light sauce to reduce the amount of salt and sugar in your meal.
5. Chicken and Broccoli
Chicken and broccoli is a stir-fried chicken and broccoli dish with a light sauce, similar to beef and broccoli. It is, however, a leaner version of beef and broccoli which however packs a protein kick.
Per cup, there are 13 grams of protein and only 145 calories (153 grams). It also contains around 7 grams of fat.
Has the dish steamed if at all necessary? You'll eliminate the oil used to cook it, reducing the fat and calorie content and making it healthier.
6. Happy Family
Happy family, also known as triple pleasure, is a fried fry that includes vegetables, meat (chicken or pig), fish and vegetables.
It is often served with rice and brown sauce and is a very diluted veal broth. And although there is no specific nutritional information for a happy family, it is rich in protein due to the inclusion of meat and fish, as well as the addition of fibre from vegetables.
You can use a light sauce to reduce calories, fat, sugar, and salt in this stir-fry - a way to cook foods with a small amount of oil over high heat-just as you can with other French fries.
7. Shrimp With Lobster Sauce
Shrimp with lobster sauce, despite its name, does not the lobster recipe contain crayfish? Instead, it is cooked using fermented black bean sauce, which is commonly used to prepare crabs in Cantonese cuisine.
The meal usually includes peas, carrots, garlic, green onions, and fried shrimp. It's a low-calorie and protein-rich food compared to many other alternatives and ready meals, with 31 grams of protein and 279 calories in 1 cup (185 gram) portion. It also contains 14.5 grams of fat in it.
Ordering extra vegetables such as broccoli, mushrooms, or bell peppers can help you get more fibre, vitamins, and minerals.
- In this famous takeaway, vegetables take centre stage, with ingredients including fried pork, grated cabbage, mushrooms, carrots and onions.
- Although the exact nutritional value varies depending on the ingredients used, one cup (151 grams) usually contains about 230 calories and about 16 grams of protein. It also contains approximately 16 grams of fat, but the percentage of fat varies depending on the restaurant, as is the case with most stir-fried meals.
To get the most out of the health benefits, go for the sauce and give up the pie side dish.
Choosing a Healthy Entrée
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It is crucial to be aware of the cooking process used while ordering healthy Chinese food or any ready meals.
Many grilled Chinese foods are prepared by barbecue, are rich in added fat, starch and calories and should be avoided.
Others may be velvety with water or covered with cornstarch to give the meat in the French fries a soft, velvety texture.
Velvet water is a better alternative to deep-frying or deep Browning, but it still adds calories and starchy carbohydrates. The best options are baked, steamed, boiled or fried in a small amount of oil.
So you can maintain your weight and don't have to look for alternatives to lose weight.
The Healthiest Side Dishes
- Another factor to consider when ordering healthy Chinese cuisine takeaway is the side dish.
- Fried rice, lo mein noodles, crab rangoon, and egg rolls are typical side dishes that are heavy in calories and fat.
- Steamed brown rice, sautéed or steamed veggies, spring rolls, or soups like egg drop soup or hot and sour soup are also healthier options.
You may also try edamame, lettuce wraps, braised bamboo shoots, or cucumber salad, which are all vegetable-based dishes.
Healthiest Sauces
Another factor to consider when ordering takeaways for healthy Chinese cuisine is the side dish.
The majority of Chinese American foods are also served with sauce. Although there isn't much sauce, sauces can be a great source of calories, fat, sugar and salt in meals.
Medium-thick, sticky sauces, such as General Tso, have more sugar and calories, but thin sauces like thin cheese sauce, unless they are really fatty, have fewer calories.
To determine the amount of sauce added to your food, order your plate with a light sauce or sauce on the side.
A note About MSG
The substance "monosodium glutamate" is a controversial ingredient found in some Chinese meals in the United States. Other items include ready meals, canned soups, sauces and snacks.
It is a concentrated source of umami flavour, the so-called fifth taste or what is popularly referred to as "good taste," as its flavour resembles soy sauce.
MSG, on the other hand, has long been the subject of scientific debate. Some believe it causes headaches, asthma and weight gain, although there isn't much research to support these assertions.
According to a recent study, when consumed at reasonable levels, MSG poses no risk to most individuals.
If you're worried about monosodium glutamate in your meal, check with a Chinese restaurant in your area to see if they're using it. Some Chinese restaurants have chosen to stop using the chemical because of the controversies surrounding it.
The Bottom Line
Although some consider eating food in Chinese restaurants an unpopular option, there are other healthy alternatives in Chinese restaurants.
French fries are an excellent alternative because they include protein from meat or tofu, as well as fibre and minerals from vegetables.
You can also choose healthy alternatives and side dishes, and limit the amount of sauce and portion size in your kitchen.
It's easy to choose healthy alternatives at your favourite Chinese restaurant with this guidance.