Chinese Food

Lots of sodium - white rice isn't the best option either... I'd say there are definately better foods than chinese to be eating, but if you must have it, a few times a month or so won't make a huge difference.

If it is steamed it would be healthy. Like the rice (not fried) with steamed vegetables and meat without sauce. Most places that that option available.

Well, the soups are actually not too bad...sodium is a bit high...there are some "healthiER" options....like beef or chicken with broccoli, steamed veggies, and other non-cream non sauced items...

Again....my view...moderation. If I want Chinese, I will have it...but not over do it.

Just my 2 cents for what it's worth!

If you order out its not but you can make some really good stuff if you make your own. They put alot of sodium and msg in there food and thats not good. I like to make my own. I use shrimp and turkey, pea pods and mushrooms. I go easy on the sauce and I also put some cut up squash into it too. My secret in the sauce is a little sweet baby rays hickry bbq sauce to sweetin it up. Make sure you track your portions and measure measure measure.

tons of sodium its crazy how much sodium is in it....makes sure u have time to drinks tons of water with that! lol

Chinese food is covered in MSG, apparently people who eat the same amount of calories but a lot of MSG weigh up to 30% more than people who don't

That depends - are you talking about the food that is cooked in an American Chinese restauant or the food that Chinese people cook for themselves? The two are not the same.

I think that the Chinese way of cooking can be very healthy if done correctly and with the right ingredients, which is true of just about any method of cooking (deep frying is probably the only one that would not be).

I would go with Sushi intead maybe a california roll with brown rice. or shashimi. Good alternatives

I think it depends on what you order. I had chicken and broccoli the other day with no rice and hot and sour soup. I think the sauce they covered it with was probably pretty high in calories. The Chinese restaurant I go to does have a diet menu with food that is steamed and has no corn starch, no salt, no sugar and no oil. It also has no flavor! They forgot to mention that part! I am down 7 pounds and still eating Chinese food. Personally, I just avoid the rice and the fried items like General Tso's and Sweet and Sour Chicken and the fried egg rolls and feel that I am ahead of the game. It has to be better than eating at McDonalds, right?
Good luck!

If he can convince me that chicken lo mein and sweet and sour pork is healthy...he will get my eternal respect.

I've lost almost 27 pounds and we have Chinese food as our treat almost every week. I exercise and eat properly throughout the week. I am addicted to Chinese food so I really need the treat to help me understand that a healthy lifestyle doesn't have to be restrictive.

Now I get 1 cup of white steamed rice and then beef teriyaki on skewers. It's not a million calories, but I can get it for about 700-800 calories. It's totally worth it for a cheat dinner. Also, sushi is a great option as long as you don't eat an entire boat to yourself, lol.

Worked in Chinese Restaurants, so I know Chinese food isn't really the best choices of diet. That being said, everyone can still make better chocie when come to any kind of food. When order Chinese food, make sure to let your waitperson know you want to leave out the MSG, low on salt and steamed dish instead fried. Sause (white or brown) on the side. White rice instead fried. Try not to eat any soup comes with your meal because those choices not the best. It loaded with MSG & butter (Yes, Chinese restaurants use butter to make the soup taste better). Best choice would be homemade Chinese food, you know exactly what's in your dish and how much calories.

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Let me tell you that I work in a chinese restaurant and have gained alot of weight because i would eat so much of the food from there. However! i would eat things like general tso's chicken and honey chicken and alot of the fat things. If you request to have things steamed and not stir fried it will cut out a ton of the calories. Also you have to get the sauces on the side and i recomment sauce like the white sauce or curry sauce or garlic sauce. They dont have very much sugar or salt and they usually consist of chicken stock, 1 tsp of sugar and 2 tsp's of salt. and depending on your restaurant 1 tsp of msg. thats for the clear or curry sauces. If you have the garlic or brown sauce it will have more sodium due to the soy sauce that is used to darken it. I would stay away from rice but i ocassionally have about 4 oz of rice and it fills me right up, If you look in my diary whenever i have steamed chicken and broccoli its from the chinese restaurant that i work at.

Just remember to stay away from super fried foods and the sweet foods they serve there and you should be fine. I usually take my food home and weigh out what i want to eat and then chow down. I am full, under my calories and i didnt have to cook cuz i got take out :-)