Chinese Food; Healthy or No?

CookieMonster_214
CookieMonster_214 Posts: 13
in Food and Nutrition
When my older brother was diagnosed with diabetes, his nutritionist at the beginning advised him that he didn't have to give up Chinese food when he asked about it being healthy. He was told that Chinese food was actually quite healthy, contrary to popular belief. So tell me; Do you believe that Chinese food is healthy?

I, for one, do!

Replies

  • Mimoki
    Mimoki Posts: 115 Member
    real chinese food is healthy... Panda express, and your corner 'american chinesel place that serves fries, orange chicken and greasy pork ribs with plum sauce isn't.
  • surfteam1689
    surfteam1689 Posts: 73 Member
    Have him look into the Ideal Protein Protocal. He will lose body fat like crazy and no longer be diabetic. I started 70 days ago and have lost 38 pounds as of this morning. No drugs. No meds. But a new me! :-)
  • CookieMonster_214
    CookieMonster_214 Posts: 13
    real chinese food is healthy... Panda express, and your corner 'american chinesel place that serves fries, orange chicken and greasy pork ribs with plum sauce isn't.

    I don't eat Panda Express very much, but there's one place near my house that I love going to because it's true Chinese food (:
  • CookieMonster_214
    CookieMonster_214 Posts: 13
    Have him look into the Ideal Protein Protocal. He will lose body fat like crazy and no longer be diabetic. I started 70 days ago and have lost 38 pounds as of this morning. No drugs. No meds. But a new me! :-)

    Oh wow that sounds awesome! I'll have to let him know (: Thank you!
  • Mimoki
    Mimoki Posts: 115 Member
    real chinese food is healthy... Panda express, and your corner 'american chinesel place that serves fries, orange chicken and greasy pork ribs with plum sauce isn't.

    I don't eat Panda Express very much, but there's one place near my house that I love going to because it's true Chinese food (:


    If they offer a menu in mandarin or cantonese, they ain't messing around lol.
  • CookieMonster_214
    CookieMonster_214 Posts: 13
    real chinese food is healthy... Panda express, and your corner 'american chinesel place that serves fries, orange chicken and greasy pork ribs with plum sauce isn't.

    I don't eat Panda Express very much, but there's one place near my house that I love going to because it's true Chinese food (:


    If they offer a menu in mandarin or cantonese, they ain't messing around lol.

    Hahaha they have the English name and under that is the Chinese writing for it (:
  • blleadon
    blleadon Posts: 187 Member
    I eat panda express quite frequently, but I usually get brown rice or steamed rice and certain items. It is a matter of picking certain things and staying within your calories/macros.
  • starbucksbuzz
    starbucksbuzz Posts: 466 Member
    Like anywhere else depends what you get. You can't go in and think "IT'S ALL HEALTHY!!" haha. If I want healthy chinese I usually get steamed chicken and veggies. Stay away from the stuff with lots of sauces or anything fried.
  • krizz5u6
    krizz5u6 Posts: 64
    it is, but you have to watch out for salt and also they use a lot of fatty meats and that can be bad too. everything in moderation!
  • caseythirteen
    caseythirteen Posts: 956 Member
    I certainly don't think my Sesame Chicken is healthy but it IS delicious so I will continue to have it now and then! It's a local place that's consistently voted the best and it's around the corner - yea me! That being said, I have stopped telling them "no brocolli" when ordering so I tend to eat a bit less than I used to since I'm eating the brocolli too.
  • britkip
    britkip Posts: 49
    I say noway to Chinese food most of it is super high in sodium. The only thing I would say is safe to get from there is steamed veggies and chicken, or shrimp, nothing fried I stay away from it all together.
  • LittleMissDover
    LittleMissDover Posts: 820 Member
    Chinese food is healthy. Westernised Chinese food is not.
  • nvpixie
    nvpixie Posts: 483 Member
    It CAN be healthy, but some of the breaded and fried items (like sweet and sour chicken--my fave) are super high in calories, sodium, etc. You also have to watch the sauces they use--sodium and unhealthy fats.
  • wllwsmmr
    wllwsmmr Posts: 391 Member
    Your best bet for Chinese food is to cook it yourself!! Restaurant fare tend to go overboard with the salt and sauces and oils... Your sodium and calorie count would be off the charts! Chinese food is still healthy because it's usually with some veg!

    Google chinese food and cook them yourself! Real easy, start with stir fry dishes! All you need is some garlic/onion/ginger, soy sauce, olive oil (or oil of your choice) and your favorite veg! Oyster sauce, sesame oil, mirin, salt in moderation to spice things up! A little stock powder/five spice powder/seasoning... Cooking yourself is good because you know what goes into your food!
  • Toddahlie
    Toddahlie Posts: 116 Member
    real chinese food is healthy... Panda express, and your corner 'american chinesel place that serves fries, orange chicken and greasy pork ribs with plum sauce isn't.

    Right!

    Avoid the soy sauce (it has a lot of sodium), wantan or something fried.
  • richardheath
    richardheath Posts: 1,276 Member
    I'm prediabetic, and have basically had to give up on restaurant Chinese food. It pushes my post-prandial numbers up every time I've tried it, even if I don't eat most of the rice or noodles. Plus, sodium can be way up there!

    But I can cook a stir fry at home, with a small side of rice, and be OK.
  • CookieMonster_214
    CookieMonster_214 Posts: 13
    real chinese food is healthy... Panda express, and your corner 'american chinesel place that serves fries, orange chicken and greasy pork ribs with plum sauce isn't.

    Right!

    Avoid the soy sauce (it has a lot of sodium), wantan or something fried.

    Soy sauce is gross. It's just colored liquid salt. Yuck.
  • meeper123
    meeper123 Posts: 3,347 Member
    Depends what you get really home made stirfry is awesome and very healthy
  • JoRumbles
    JoRumbles Posts: 262 Member
    From my local Chinese takeaway? Absoultlry NOT. Everything is deep fried, us Scots love that.

    Homemade chinese food, on the other hand, is great. Full of veg and lean protein and super tasting. We ususally eat a stir fry at least once a week.

    I can also make a sweet and sour or lemon chicken with very little sugar in the sauce that tastes lovely.
  • MizTerry
    MizTerry Posts: 3,763 Member
    If you're doing a lot of the stir fry vegetables, it's better.

    I also like the hot and sour soup. :bigsmile:
  • CleaninOutMyCloset
    CleaninOutMyCloset Posts: 32 Member
    I can't stop eating my general tso's and brown rice, which has some saturated fat... which isn't the best for when you wanna burn fat off, but if you make healthy choices, I think you can manage it
  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    Moo Goo Gai Pan. Or Beef with Broccoli. Yum.
  • Natihilator
    Natihilator Posts: 1,778 Member
    I stay away from the fried stuff and usually get chicken and mixed veggies in garlic or oyster sauce. Still not the absolute healthiest, but I get it from a place that is MSG-free and doesn't soak everything in oil.

    If you have the right leftovers, making your own "fried" rice with brown rice and maybe a bit of sesame oil is sooooooo goood and you can keep it fairly healthy.
  • jlapey
    jlapey Posts: 1,850 Member
    Chinese food is not 'bad' for you. It however high in sodium, so keep that in mind when you step on the scale. However, If you order something that is not fried, avoid dipping sauces and go easy on the rice, you'll be fine.
  • ac7ss
    ac7ss Posts: 15
    Most takeout and buffet fare is not good; deep fried, starchy, salty, MSG (if you have a problem with that), and who knows what else.

    It is doable, but you have to watch what it is that you are getting.

    Stir Fry is great, if you do it yourself, as it uses little oil and does not overcook things.
  • PAnn1
    PAnn1 Posts: 530 Member
    Your best bet for Chinese food is to cook it yourself!! Restaurant fare tend to go overboard with the salt and sauces and oils... Your sodium and calorie count would be off the charts! Chinese food is still healthy because it's usually with some veg!

    Google chinese food and cook them yourself! Real easy, start with stir fry dishes! All you need is some garlic/onion/ginger, soy sauce, olive oil (or oil of your choice) and your favorite veg! Oyster sauce, sesame oil, mirin, salt in moderation to spice things up! A little stock powder/five spice powder/seasoning... Cooking yourself is good because you know what goes into your food!

    ^^^^^^^^THIS^^^^^^. I make mine at home. I want to know what's in my food and how it's prepared. I make oriental quite often with loads of veggies and a protein like lean chicken, pork or beef.
  • fayeonherway
    fayeonherway Posts: 204
    Real Chinese food is healthy. I learned from living near Chinatown and from my Chinese and foodie friends, that many Chinese restaurants have separate menus that cater for their Chinese customers. These food items are nothing like "American Chinese Fare" such as General Tso and Sweet and Sour Chicken. I spent some time in Beijing this past December. The food we ate was not what many Americans associate with Chinese food. Lots of steamed goodies, vegetables, nothing super oily, fried and battered. With that being said, many restaurants do offer non fried/non batter options. Steam chicken, shrimp, vegetables. You can always get the sauces on the side.

    Sodium is very much a staple in Chinese cuisine so just keep that in mind.
  • MtnGirl525
    MtnGirl525 Posts: 10
    I stay away from the fried stuff and usually get chicken and mixed veggies in garlic or oyster sauce. Still not the absolute healthiest, but I get it from a place that is MSG-free and doesn't soak everything in oil.

    If you have the right leftovers, making your own "fried" rice with brown rice and maybe a bit of sesame oil is sooooooo goood and you can keep it fairly healthy.

    Oyster sauce has a ton of sugar in it. I learned this the hard way when trying to pull together a quick dinner. Instead, try to punch up your flavor by using a combo of strong, or pungent flavors of which you only have to use a little.... toasted sesame oil, sambal (hot garlic chili paste), and low sodium soy sauce (in moderation). You can also boost the flavor of your dish with fresh flavors... fresh hot chilies, shiitake mushrooms, sliced green onions, and fresh garlic and ginger. All will add complexity without blowing your diet.

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