Asian Buffet

NatGalipeau

What are low calorie options at Asian buffet? Have a birthday to go to in a couple weeks.

toxikon

Steamed veggies should be a good bet. Take it easy on the rice/noodles and any deep-fried stuff or things with a creamy/sweet sauce.

laur357

It really depends on the buffet. Portion control is key, especially if the buffet is primarily typical American-Chinese cuisine, which usually contains a lot of oil.

I'd stick to grilled items like chicken or beef skewers (if there are any), fresh fruits or vegetables, soup (usually miso or hot and sour), steamed rice instead of fried, steamed dumplings or vegetables. Shrimp, scallops, or chicken generally have fewer calories than beef, but many preparations call for the shrimp and chicken to be dredged in egg and cornstarch then fried. If there is a made-to-order stir-fry station, you could have them make you something quite tasty with way less oil (or steamed or sauce on the side ) than a standard preparation.

Pickled or fermented items like kimchee, radishes, sprouts can add a ton of flavor and spice.

If they have decent sushi, lower calorie rolls or sashimi could be a smart option. I'd pay attention to how frequently fresh items are brought out and if they're kept very cold if you're going raw.

ritzvin

For the most part, avoid the particularly oily/breaded items (& the stuff that is both- those evil, evil, tempting donuts). Don't take a massive pile of starchy stuff (rice & noodle are very calorie dense - so keep to small portions). And be mindful of cream sauces.

http://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/meal-ideas/5-low-calorie-chinese-dishes-and-5-skip

cross2bear

A lot of Chinese American food is loaded with sugar (and so calories) - sauces are big calorie bombs. Even something as simpole as chop suey can have a ton of sugar (and sodium) in it. But if these are not issues around which you have any concerns, just moderate portions and stick to the non breaded, grilled or steamed stuff and enjoy it! I lovelovelovelove Chinese food, but recognize that its really high in calories, so I have only had it twice in the last 18 months or so. So I enjoy it when I get the opportunity.