Dining Out and Chinese Food Choices

The other day when I was teaching a nutrition class I was asked how healthy Asian food is when dining out. Authentic Asian food cooked in the home is probably traditionally healthier than American Asian food.  Asian foods tend to have more vegetables and in many dishes the protein is used more like a condiment rather than a huge slab of protein.

But when you dine out there are other things to consider. Chinese restaurants serve food family style and most people order at least two to four main dishes. Most restaurants whether they are special ethic foods or not tend to use a lot more oil/fat and sodium in food preparation. And if you choose fried items this brings the fat intake up even more. Then there's the sauce issue. A sauce can add more sugar and starch. Remember 15 grams of carbohydrates is equal to a moderate size piece of bread or about a half cup of cooked rice. A few tablespoons of many sauces could easily add up to this amount.

If you made your own ethnic foods you probably have much more control over the amount you eat, how much oil you use, how much sauce you consume and you can even prepare brown rice which has more fiber and other nutrients. It can also be healthier if leaner cuts of meat are used.   

So, Asian food can be healthier if eaten moderately if you make it at home yourself.  If you go out at least moderate the amounts that you consume and balance the rest of your day out with fat and carb intake. Before you dine out anywhere check your favorite foods out with the Custom Entry tool to see how many calories something really has and determine how it can fit into your food plan. Do it the day before so you can adequately plan for it.