Chinese Food Doesn’t Need to be Off-Limits!

April 11, 2010

That’s right—if you’re trying to lose weight fast, you don’t need to cut out Chinese food, a cuisine which is often criticized for being high in fat, MSG, sodium, and bad for your health. There is a way to keep Chinese food in your life, and healthfully!

Here are some diet tips:
1.    Make your own! This is always good advice for people trying to lose weight. Generally what you make at home is considerably healthier than what you’d order in a restaurant, and this rings particularly true for Chinese food. You’ll use less oil in stir frying and probably skip the deep frying altogether simply because of the hassle.
2.    Always choose steamed dumplings over fried dumplings.
3.    Choose brown rice over white rice and NEVER order fried rice!
4.    Avoid deep fried dishes.
5.    Order white meat chicken dishes as opposed to dark meat chicken or beef.
6.    Choose steamed fish over fried fish or chicken.
7.    Ask for low-sodium soy sauce.
8.    Limit yourself to one fortune cookie.
9.    Order lychee nuts or pineapple for dessert, or just have a cup of tea.
10.    Avoid sweet and sour anything.
If you think about it, Chinese food can actually be extremely healthy if you make it yourself. In a wok over high heat, add just a little bit of peanut oil and stir fry up some onions, bok choy, water chestnuts, baby corn, bean sprouts, and then a lean protein like white meat chicken, pork, fish, or tofu. Eat with a side of steamed brown rice and you’ve got a meal loaded with veggies, lean protein, and a healthy, fiber-rich carbohydrate. Bok choy is extremely healthy, loaded with vitamins and minerals, and the other vegetables provide additional antioxidants and health benefits.
Last but not least, if you’re eating a sodium-filled meal, make sure you drink lots of water before, during, and after your meal.

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