Chinese Food

purebredpolly · January 2015

Yes, that's my fear. The boring factor, whole the rest of my family is happily munching on heavily breaded, sweet sauced fare. Afraid my resolve would break unless I ate in the bedroom away from my family.

It's funny you mentioned the egg roll, and pint of soup. That is what I used to eat in my lean years when I first was on my own. I didn't have money for more than that, but it was satisfying, and I was not struggling with my weight. Hmmm.... an increase in my financial picture through the years has exponentially increased my waist size.

she_lived_wholly_forevermore · January 2015

I also get steamed chicken with mixed vegetables and add lots of mushrooms. No rice though, sadly.

purebredpolly · January 2015

gothchiq wrote: »

Oh wow. Tread carefully with that stuff. I like the chicken/broccoli no sauce idea. Everything steamed, nothing fried, no breading etc. Noodles are high cal. I haven't gotten anywhere near Chinese food since I started this process last March. I've given up Chinese, Italian, Mexican.... sigh. If I'm forced to go out to eat, I get a grilled chicken salad with the dressing on the side and I pick out anything high cal like cheese, croutons, etc. I try to get out of it altogether though because it's way too expensive to go out these days.

I am positive that you are 100% right that when you go to Chinese, Mexican, and Italian restaurants you are faced with ridiculously high calorie fare. However, I'm just as certain you can find lower calorie options at all of those kinds of restaurants. Maybe a bit of research of the menus of restaurants in your area, and you'll find there are some lower calorie options that you'll find suitable. I can't imagine never eating at those restaurants again. I can't even imagine doing it for as long as you have. That honestly is really impressive. I wish you the very best on your journey.

SashleyA · January 2015

I'm a big fan of soup and then whatever I get, I eat about a 3rd to half of it and save the rest for later. I'm a big fan of getting spicy tofu dishes, they're filling and the spicy factor really helps me not over eat (because I slow down to eat it).

Sabine_Stroehm · January 2015

purebredpolly wrote: »

Yes, that's my fear. The boring factor, whole the rest of my family is happily munching on heavily breaded, sweet sauced fare. Afraid my resolve would break unless I ate in the bedroom away from my family.

It's funny you mentioned the egg roll, and pint of soup. That is what I used to eat in my lean years when I first was on my own. I didn't have money for more than that, but it was satisfying, and I was not struggling with my weight. Hmmm.... an increase in my financial picture through the years has exponentially increased my waist size.

Just remind yourself most of it isn't really chinese food anyway.

Swiftlet66 · January 2015

I like honey walnut shrimp but it's not exactly the best option.

purebredpolly · January 2015

So true!

[/quote]
Just remind yourself most of it isn't really chinese food anyway.

[/quote]

purebredpolly · January 2015

Mmmmmmm...honey walnut shrimp!

socalkay · January 2015

Cashew Shrimp!!! Side of cream cheese won ton. Heavenly!

purebredpolly · January 2015

SashleyA wrote: »

I'm a big fan of soup and then whatever I get, I eat about a 3rd to half of it and save the rest for later. I'm a big fan of getting spicy tofu dishes, they're filling and the spicy factor really helps me not over eat (because I slow down to eat it).

I love tofu!!! It however does not love me back. I'll tell you that tofu makes some of the best low calorie desserts I've ever eaten. If your someone who can eat tofu, I say use it often in as many dishes as possible.

Spicy!

mwbulechek · January 2015

Beef and Broccoli, skip the rice and ask for chopped cabbage instead.

purebredpolly · January 2015

newmeadow wrote: »

purebredpolly wrote: »

I'd like to avoid the pitfalls. What are good entrees to order?

I don't know if you can stay in a lower caloric range with a plate of Chinese Food, but if you can fit it or you can get away with it, I'd say try everything.

Have you tried Roast Duck from a good joint in a big city Chinatown?

Not the soggy, sauce soaked kind you get in Americanized Chinese restaurants though.

It's just marinated in whatever they marinate it in and roasted so that the skin is browned and slightly crispy. Caloricly, it's wicked high though. It's served with plain white rice, some Chinese greens and a side of duck stock mixed with soy sauce for discretionary use.

Sorry, I'm off on a bit of a tangent here, maybe not answering your question. Chinese is my most favorite food in the world and I love to talk about it. But if you can ever eat real Chinese roasted duck, you should!

Here's some menu excerpts from my local Chinatown restaurant

Duck

Duck Webs w. Oyster Sauce
Duck Webs w. Black Mushroom
Yellow Chive w. Boneless Duck Web
Yellow Chive w. Shredded Duck
Black Bean Sauce w. Duck Tongue
XO Sauce w. Duck Tongue Spicy
Braised Duck w. Vegetable
Steamed Duck w. Eight Delights
Steamed Duck w. Assorted Veggie
Steamed Duck w. Black Mushroom
Roasted Duck

Casserole Specialties

Sauteed Chicken w. BLack Mushroom (with bone)
Stuffed Bean Curd w. Shrimp and Pork in Soup
Deep Fried Stuffed Bean Curd w. Shrimp and Pork in Oyster Sauce
Eight Delights Bean Curd
Bean Curd w. Salted Fish & Chicken
Braised Beef with Turnip
Beef w. Ginger and Scallion
Sauteed Chicken w. Ginger and Scallion ( with bone )
Beef w. Chinese Vermicelli in Satay Sauce
Short Ribs w. Black Pepper Sauce Spicy
Short Ribs w. Satay Sauce
Salted Fish w. Eggplant ( with Pork )
Duck Webs w. Black Mushroom
Braised Lamb w. Bean Curd Sheet
Seafood w. Bean Curd
Braised Fish Head
Yellow Eel w. Vermicelli Seasonal
B.B.Q. Pork w. Oyster
Jumbo Shrimp w. Vermicelli
Sauteed Frog w. Garlic Seasonal
Lobster w. Vermicelli Seasonal
Crab w. Vermicelli in Curry Sauce

Noodles

Choice of Foon, Rice Stick, Lai Foon, or Egg Noodle (Udon or Yee Mein Extra )
Beef w. Scallion & Onion ( Dry Fried )
Chicken w. Scallion & Onion (Dry Fried)
Shredded Chicken and Vegetables
Shredded Pork and Vegetables
Chunks of Chicken and Vegetables
Roast Pork and Vegetables
Beef w. Green Pepper and Onions
Beef & Chinese Broccoli
Bean Curd and Mixed Vegetables
Spareribs and Vegetables
Braised Beef and Vegetables
Shredded Chicken, Pork and Vegetables
Shredded Chicken, Pork, Roast Pork w. Bean Sprouts
Various Seasonal Vegetables
Beef with Satay Sauce
Beef w. Malachan Sauce ( Malaysian Style ) Spicy
Pork Chop with Black Pepper Sauce Spicy
Beef w. Tomato
Beef w. Scramble Egg
Short Ribs with Black Pepper Sauce Spicy
Seafood & Vegetable
Eight Delights
Shrimp w. Scramble Egg
Jumbo Shrimp & Vegetables
House Special ( Shrimp, Chicken and Beef )

Soups

Egg Drop Soup
Sliced of Pork with Watercress
Mustard Green with Pork
Seaweed with Pork and Shrimp
Minced Beef with Chinese Parsley
Szechuan Pickled with Bean Curd Spicy
Szechuan Hot & Sour Soup Spicy
Fillet of Sole with Preserved Egg & Chinese Parsley
Fillet of Sole with Watercress
Seafood Hot & Sour Soup Spicy
Mix Seafood with Bean Curd
Eight Delights with Bean Curd
Sweet Corn with Minced Chicken
Sweet Corn & Minced Chicken & Crab Meat
Shredded duck & Pork with Bamboo Shoots & Mushroom
Fish Maw with Black Mushroom
Shredded Duck & Bean Curd
Dry Scallop with Shredded Duck & Fish Maw
House Special Seafood Soup
House Special Daily Soup

You've succeeded in making me very hungry. LOL

purebredpolly · January 2015

mwbulechek wrote: »

Beef and Broccoli, skip the rice and ask for chopped cabbage instead.

I've never thought of substituting rice for cabbage. That is a great idea!

Oncebittentwiceshy38 · January 2015

Does your Chinese restaurant offer hibachi? Then at least you pick what goes into it completely. On the other hand I think an occasional treat, logged is ok. Just eat light the rest of the day or a couple of days.

Slacker16 · January 2015

mwbulechek wrote: »

Beef and Broccoli, skip the rice and ask for chopped cabbage instead.

$:\$

Chinese is my favourite take-out when I get drunk, have it at least once a week. I like cabbage, but chopped cabbage instead of rice... dafuq?

In a deficit I get a small order. Usually comes up to 800-1000 calories, which is a reasonable meal (and that's not steamed, and with rice). Another way to save some calories is to choose shrimp or to choose noodle dishes instead of meat+rice dishes.

In maintenance I get a real-sized order and deal with going over on calories for one day because small order are only a bittersweet pleasure. I still like shrimp and noodles though.

Gidzmo · January 2015

gothchiq wrote: »

Oh wow. Tread carefully with that stuff. I like the chicken/broccoli no sauce idea. Everything steamed, nothing fried, no breading etc. Noodles are high cal. I haven't gotten anywhere near Chinese food since I started this process last March. I've given up Chinese, Italian, Mexican.... sigh. If I'm forced to go out to eat, I get a grilled chicken salad with the dressing on the side and I pick out anything high cal like cheese, croutons, etc. I try to get out of it altogether though because it's way too expensive to go out these days.

Some places use steamed noodles (instead of crunchy noodles). There might also be a choice between steamed rice and fried rice (get the steamed rice).
Veggies are always a good choice, if they are steamed (not fried). Tempura is fried.

My fave: Cashew chicken (probably higher in calories because of the nuts).

The Oriental food place we liked (and is currently under reconstruction after a bad fire) served VERY generous portions, so we boxed up half the meal to take home.

Lasmartchika · January 2015

I order whatever I feel like eating that day... eat half one day, save the leftovers for the next day... personally, if I know I'm going to be eating out, I'll workout before... but if for some reason it just comes up, I still enjoy whatever I want, log it, and move on. I'm still losing weight, slowly but surely. I don't freak out about the water weight the next day. :flowerforyou:

Food is not bad, and it's not the devil either.

purebredpolly · January 2015

newmeadow wrote: »

purebredpolly wrote: »

newmeadow wrote: »

purebredpolly wrote: »

I'd like to avoid the pitfalls. What are good entrees to order?

I don't know if you can stay in a lower caloric range with a plate of Chinese Food, but if you can fit it or you can get away with it, I'd say try everything.

Have you tried Roast Duck from a good joint in a big city Chinatown?

Not the soggy, sauce soaked kind you get in Americanized Chinese restaurants though.

It's just marinated in whatever they marinate it in and roasted so that the skin is browned and slightly crispy. Caloricly, it's wicked high though. It's served with plain white rice, some Chinese greens and a side of duck stock mixed with soy sauce for discretionary use.

Sorry, I'm off on a bit of a tangent here, maybe not answering your question. Chinese is my most favorite food in the world and I love to talk about it. But if you can ever eat real Chinese roasted duck, you should!

Here's some menu excerpts from my local Chinatown restaurant

Duck

Duck Webs w. Oyster Sauce
Duck Webs w. Black Mushroom
Yellow Chive w. Boneless Duck Web
Yellow Chive w. Shredded Duck
Black Bean Sauce w. Duck Tongue
XO Sauce w. Duck Tongue Spicy
Braised Duck w. Vegetable
Steamed Duck w. Eight Delights
Steamed Duck w. Assorted Veggie
Steamed Duck w. Black Mushroom
Roasted Duck

Casserole Specialties

Sauteed Chicken w. BLack Mushroom (with bone)
Stuffed Bean Curd w. Shrimp and Pork in Soup
Deep Fried Stuffed Bean Curd w. Shrimp and Pork in Oyster Sauce
Eight Delights Bean Curd
Bean Curd w. Salted Fish & Chicken
Braised Beef with Turnip
Beef w. Ginger and Scallion
Sauteed Chicken w. Ginger and Scallion ( with bone )
Beef w. Chinese Vermicelli in Satay Sauce
Short Ribs w. Black Pepper Sauce Spicy
Short Ribs w. Satay Sauce
Salted Fish w. Eggplant ( with Pork )
Duck Webs w. Black Mushroom
Braised Lamb w. Bean Curd Sheet
Seafood w. Bean Curd
Braised Fish Head
Yellow Eel w. Vermicelli Seasonal
B.B.Q. Pork w. Oyster
Jumbo Shrimp w. Vermicelli
Sauteed Frog w. Garlic Seasonal
Lobster w. Vermicelli Seasonal
Crab w. Vermicelli in Curry Sauce

Noodles

Choice of Foon, Rice Stick, Lai Foon, or Egg Noodle (Udon or Yee Mein Extra )
Beef w. Scallion & Onion ( Dry Fried )
Chicken w. Scallion & Onion (Dry Fried)
Shredded Chicken and Vegetables
Shredded Pork and Vegetables
Chunks of Chicken and Vegetables
Roast Pork and Vegetables
Beef w. Green Pepper and Onions
Beef & Chinese Broccoli
Bean Curd and Mixed Vegetables
Spareribs and Vegetables
Braised Beef and Vegetables
Shredded Chicken, Pork and Vegetables
Shredded Chicken, Pork, Roast Pork w. Bean Sprouts
Various Seasonal Vegetables
Beef with Satay Sauce
Beef w. Malachan Sauce ( Malaysian Style ) Spicy
Pork Chop with Black Pepper Sauce Spicy
Beef w. Tomato
Beef w. Scramble Egg
Short Ribs with Black Pepper Sauce Spicy
Seafood & Vegetable
Eight Delights
Shrimp w. Scramble Egg
Jumbo Shrimp & Vegetables
House Special ( Shrimp, Chicken and Beef )

Soups

Egg Drop Soup
Sliced of Pork with Watercress
Mustard Green with Pork
Seaweed with Pork and Shrimp
Minced Beef with Chinese Parsley
Szechuan Pickled with Bean Curd Spicy
Szechuan Hot & Sour Soup Spicy
Fillet of Sole with Preserved Egg & Chinese Parsley
Fillet of Sole with Watercress
Seafood Hot & Sour Soup Spicy
Mix Seafood with Bean Curd
Eight Delights with Bean Curd
Sweet Corn with Minced Chicken
Sweet Corn & Minced Chicken & Crab Meat
Shredded duck & Pork with Bamboo Shoots & Mushroom
Fish Maw with Black Mushroom
Shredded Duck & Bean Curd
Dry Scallop with Shredded Duck & Fish Maw
House Special Seafood Soup
House Special Daily Soup

You've succeeded in making me very hungry. LOL

If you ever come to the Northeast, call me. We'll chow down.

I am Northeast!

purebredpolly · January 2015

Oncebittentwiceshy38 wrote: »

Does your Chinese restaurant offer hibachi? Then at least you pick what goes into it completely. On the other hand I think an occasional treat, logged is ok. Just eat light the rest of the day or a couple of days.

Our one buffet does (y)

purebredpolly · January 2015

Slacker16 wrote: »

mwbulechek wrote: »

Beef and Broccoli, skip the rice and ask for chopped cabbage instead.

$:\$

Chinese is my favourite take-out when I get drunk, have it at least once a week. I like cabbage, but chopped cabbage instead of rice... dafuq?

In a deficit I get a small order. Usually comes up to 800-1000 calories, which is a reasonable meal (and that's not steamed, and with rice). Another way to save some calories is to choose shrimp or to choose noodle dishes instead of meat+rice dishes.

In maintenance I get a real-sized order and deal with going over on calories for one day because small order are only a bittersweet pleasure. I still like shrimp and noodles though.

Yes, thinking shrimp is the way to go.

Chinese Food

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