How to Eat Healthy at a Chinese Restaurant

Mmmm! You love Chinese food but want to eat more healthy. You've probably read the latest studies showing Chinese food in most restaurants is more unhealthy than most of us thought. But, there's good news! You can eat at a Chinese restaurant and still eat healthy if you follow a few simple guidelines:

1. Avoid fhe fried foods such as fried wontons at Chinese restaurants. These are notoriously high in oils and fat. One of these tasty little appetizers can really wreck havoc with your healthy diet plans. Try the steamed dumplings instead.

2. Start your meal with a soup and salad. Some Chinese restaurants offer a seaweed salad which is both tasty and healthy. Pair this with a bowl of egg drop or wonton soup and you'll feel less hungry when you order your main course. Plus, you won't be adding alot of calories

3. Go for the vegetable dishes. If you order a meat based entree, make sure it's combined with vegetables such as Chicken with Brocolli. Ask the chef to prepare your dish with half the amount of meat and twice as many vegetables.

4. Ask for the sauce on the side. Most people don't realize they can have their entree prepared with the sauce in a separate dish.. One of the man sources of hidden calories in Chinese food is the sauce .If its placed on the side, you can dip it lightly as you eat and save a significant number of calories and
reduce your fat intake by at least a third.

5. Ask if you can substitue brown rice for the standard Chinese white rice. Brown rice is much healthier in terms of vitamins and fiber and won't have the
same negative impact on your blood sugar as white rice will.

6. Go light on the soy sauce. Soy sauce is extremely high in salt which can adversely affect your blood pressure and cause fluid retention.

7. Use your chopsticks. Studies have shown you'll eat more slowly and, ultimately, eat less if you dine with chopsticks.

8. Consider ordering Cantonese cuisine which tends to emphasize vegetables and be lower in fat and calories.

9. Be careful at Chinese buffets! You may want to avoid them altogether. It's very difficult to control your fat and calorie intake at a buffet and Chinese buffet
food is often saturated with high fat sauces. Stick with the salad bar and soup section. Many Chinese buffets offer fresh fruit and steamed shrimp with vegetables in a light sauce. These are excellent choices for the health conscious diner.

10. Consider replacing meat entrees with tofu. Many Chinese restaurants offer dishes with bean curd or tofu. This can be a low fat, low calorie protein
alternative to meat. Plus, if prepared well, they taste delicious!

11. Drink green tea with your meal. This is a healthy alternative to the standard soft drinks and alcoholic beverages many people drink with their meal.
Consider the additional health benefits offered by the green tea. Plus, it's thought to have a stimulatory effect on your metabolism allowing you to
burn off those calories faster!

It's reassuring to know you don't have to give up your favorite Chinese restaurants to be healthy! If you follow these simple guidelines, you'll find that Chinese food can be quite healthy and satisfying. Enjoy your next trip to a Chinese restaurant!