Chinese Takeout

mommyshortlegs
mommyshortlegs Posts: 402 Member
in Food and Nutrition
What entrée do you typically order?
What Chinese takeout foods do you avoid?

Somebody smack me with a frying pan, per nutritional comparison it seems we've been ordering the worst possible entrée available from Hy-Vee's Chinese Express: Sesame Chicken, 424 cal./1 c. serving.

Can anyone recommend a "lighter" option from this list? Note: When it comes to Chinese takeout, I tend more toward sweet than savory, but am willing to branch out.

http://www.hy-vee.com/helpful-ideas/chinese-express-nutrition-information.aspx
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Replies

  • angelcurry130
    angelcurry130 Posts: 265 Member
    when my sister and i get Chinese food, we usually get something with light sauce or sauce on the side (it's mostly corn starch, salt, and msg anyway!) try to avoid the deep fried stuff, like eggrolls and wontons, or at least save those for very rare occasions. see if they have a vegetable option to some of their stir-fry...like instead of getting szechuan beef, check to see if they will leave the meat out and sub for something like broccoli (a lot of restaurants will cook their meats in oil in mass batches to save on cooking time.)
  • jmc0806
    jmc0806 Posts: 1,444 Member
    I always get General Tso, fried rice and crab rangoon and sometimes lo mein and egg fu yung...so yeah none of the healthy options
  • gonnamakeanewaccount
    gonnamakeanewaccount Posts: 642 Member
    I always get broccoli in garlic sauce with steamed white rice and crab rangoons.
  • dclem2012
    dclem2012 Posts: 60 Member
    I like the shrimp and brocolli. No batter. Get steamed rice. And throw about 3.4 of rice away. There are usually about 5-6 shrimp and the rest is brocolli. It does have a brown sauce. But not over abundant....and I ask for it spicy, so I don't want the extra soy
  • navywifeandmomof4
    navywifeandmomof4 Posts: 958 Member
    I always get General Tso, fried rice and crab rangoon and sometimes lo mein and egg fu yung...so yeah none of the healthy options

    this^
  • aikasm
    aikasm Posts: 63
    get beef with broccoli
  • j75j75
    j75j75 Posts: 854 Member
    I tend not to eat healthy at Chinese restaurants. It's an indulgance
  • markymarrkk
    markymarrkk Posts: 495 Member
    I can squeeze in under 500 cals. NO chow mein, NO rice whatsoever. instead the mixed steamed veggies and whatever 2 sides of protein heavy entrees.

    I avoid the orange chicken or anything deep fried or battered.
  • lrbassmom
    lrbassmom Posts: 123
    This... I just accept that I'm blowing the calories and healthy eating thing out of the water... and then try to make up for it the next day. OR if I know I'm doing chinese ahead of time I'll adjust diet and exercise before hand.
  • LaSutopia
    LaSutopia Posts: 1,164 Member
    LOL I usually get either of the following and then don't think to much about it.
    Chicken with Broccoli
    Chicken or shrimp Mei Fun
    Lo Mein
    Chicken on a stick
    fried shrimp with bell peppers...

    I try not to get anything that has that thick pasty crust on it like sesame anything, honey chicken, sweet and sour anything...etc

    OHH!! AND I LEARNED SOMETHING I DID NOT KNOW! Yall probably know this but I was waiting on my food when a lady came in and asked for those "Chinese donuts" with the powdered sugar....No lie, I watched the lady take a 5 ct pack of Pillsbury biscuits out the fridge, crack them open and drop then in the deep fryer....! LOL then they got the powdered sugar added
  • dclem2012
    dclem2012 Posts: 60 Member
    AND ALWAYS drink lots of water before and after to flush the excess sodium...
  • carolmargolis
    carolmargolis Posts: 1
    Ask for no MSG, additional salt and use low sodium soy sauce.
    Steamed shrimp or seafood and veggies is not too bad with a little rice.
    Usually you can ask for "white sauce" as it is less salt/sodium.

    We love Thai food and have several Thai restaurants close by.
    My favorite is spinach with Tofu with a peanut sauce (with a little rice).
    Not too oily, rice noodles and healthy veggies.
  • xinit0
    xinit0 Posts: 310 Member
    A) If you must have something with meat, or go with grilled chicken dish
    B) Ask if you can get a side of stir-fried bean sprouts - works in place of steamed rice
    C) Bok choy and garlic is awesome

    Most decent Chinese places will cook what you want, whether it's on the menu or not. If they don't have a grilled chicken and greens dish, ask for it anyway.
  • JHarr454
    JHarr454 Posts: 50 Member
    Proper Kung Pao Chicken is pretty healthy, but the sodium levels are still pretty high. I try to limit rice to keep the calories down.

    I also like Egg Drop Soup. THat's actually super easy and I make it at home.
  • Deipneus
    Deipneus Posts: 1,861 Member
    What Chinese takeout foods do you avoid?
    All of it. I just don't like Chinese food. I never have.
  • Mexicanbigfoot
    Mexicanbigfoot Posts: 520 Member
    I had Chinese tonight and I opted for the chicken with broccoli. I try to avoid anything breaded or fried and I only ate about half my rice with very minimal soy sauce.
  • keem88
    keem88 Posts: 1,689 Member
    i dont do takeout much, but if i am at the chinese buffet i will fill half the plate with the steamed veggies (mmm broccoli and bok choy), get a few pieces of veg sushi, seaweed salad and some plain rice with the veggies mixed in. occassionally some veg lo mein. sorry im boring :/
  • jchenks
    jchenks Posts: 164 Member
    I would avoid ALL chinese take out. I don't understand why anyone would consider ordering chinese take out if they are trying to lose weight.
  • ElyseL1
    ElyseL1 Posts: 504 Member
    I tend to get green bean chicken and white rice. O and eggrolls, I refuse to give them up.
  • keem88
    keem88 Posts: 1,689 Member
    garlic chicken with veg from the list seems like it wouldnt be too bad an option? just try to avoid anything doused in sauce or fried. you can even ask for the sauce on the side prolly if you wanna get like chicken and broccoli. i usually get the broccoli and garlic sauce from takeaway (buffet as posted before i get different things) and will ask for the garlic sauce on the side so its not doused in it
  • 1two3four
    1two3four Posts: 413 Member
    I order almond chicken. It's apparently a local thing, fried chicken breast sauce and vegetables. It's completely unhealthy. LOL I avoid everything else. I have no idea if there's a healthy option for Chinese take out but I would be interested in finding out (this would also work since I can't get almond chicken away from home).
  • Beleren
    Beleren Posts: 142
    I would avoid ALL chinese take out. I don't understand why anyone would consider ordering chinese take out if they are trying to lose weight.
    You could lose weight eating complete junk if you were at the right calorie amount, many have done it. Doesn't mean it's healthy, but it's still losing weight.
  • ElyseL1
    ElyseL1 Posts: 504 Member
    I would avoid ALL chinese take out. I don't understand why anyone would consider ordering chinese take out if they are trying to lose weight.

    You can eat it occasionally. There's no point in cutting out your favorite foods for the rest of your life.
  • Graelwyn75
    Graelwyn75 Posts: 4,404 Member
    I tend not to eat healthy at Chinese restaurants. It's an indulgance

    Same here. I so rarely have chinese food, that when I do, I tend to have whatever I fancy, usually boiled rice, king prawns with cashews, beancurd with broccoli and some noodles, all shared with my mother.
  • Graelwyn75
    Graelwyn75 Posts: 4,404 Member
    I would avoid ALL chinese take out. I don't understand why anyone would consider ordering chinese take out if they are trying to lose weight.

    You might lose weight and feel all angelic like in avoiding chinese food, burgers, ice cream, chocolate, thai, indian and whatever else you deem unhealthy, but have fun maintaining that for life. A diet tends to fail because people decide they have to cut out so many foods to lose weight and it remains a diet, rather than a lifestyle change. Plenty on here have lost over 100Ibs, while still eating ice cream, chocolate, burgers and chinese, amidst their veggies, lean protein, fruits and whole foods. Maybe you need to broaden your view of weight loss a little.
  • jchenks
    jchenks Posts: 164 Member
    I would avoid ALL chinese take out. I don't understand why anyone would consider ordering chinese take out if they are trying to lose weight.
    You could lose weight eating complete junk if you were at the right calorie amount, many have done it. Doesn't mean it's healthy, but it's still losing weight.

    Fair enough. That is a valid point. I guess I just personally wouldn't eat it.
  • keem88
    keem88 Posts: 1,689 Member
    I tend not to eat healthy at Chinese restaurants. It's an indulgance

    Same here. I so rarely have chinese food, that when I do, I tend to have whatever I fancy, usually boiled rice, king prawns with cashews, beancurd with broccoli and some noodles, all shared with my mother.

    same. like mentioned previously, i rarely eat chinese takeout. i can count on one hand the amount of times a year i eat it. so when i do, i dont cringe too badly if i get an egg roll and something not so good for me. it is chinese food after all, i think thats the point of it :laugh:
    but many places do have a "diet" menu now, where you can ask for some steamed veggies, plain rice/brown rice and chicken or something. with a little sauce on the side it sounds like it would still be tasty
  • angelique_redhead
    angelique_redhead Posts: 782 Member
    I eat all sorts of Asian food. At the Chinese restaurant I usually get vegetable shrimp or chicken with brocolli, or vegetable tofu. I also get Vietnamese Pho or an appetizer. No noodles in the pho and lots of veggies. I get shrimp and eggplant curry at the Thai place. Again this has lots of veggies. I'm losing weight so I'm happy.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    I didn't like it much before, so if I REALLY had to... I guess I'd have some egg drop soup and some steamed wontons or something.
  • Graelwyn75
    Graelwyn75 Posts: 4,404 Member
    I tend not to eat healthy at Chinese restaurants. It's an indulgance

    Same here. I so rarely have chinese food, that when I do, I tend to have whatever I fancy, usually boiled rice, king prawns with cashews, beancurd with broccoli and some noodles, all shared with my mother.

    same. like mentioned previously, i rarely eat chinese takeout. i can count on one hand the amount of times a year i eat it. so when i do, i dont cringe too badly if i get an egg roll and something not so good for me. it is chinese food after all, i think thats the point of it :laugh:
    but many places do have a "diet" menu now, where you can ask for some steamed veggies, plain rice/brown rice and chicken or something. with a little sauce on the side it sounds like it would still be tasty

    Twice a year usually is the maximum for me, when I go to my mum's. I just never feel like getting it when in my own space. It would be less of a treat if I had it more often.

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