Indian food

Fish Vindaloo.

First off, most indian food is pretty healthy/low calorie, as it's very veggie & protein heavy. Avoid rice dishes, and you'll be fine.

Second, if you can't be bothered to look up a few options off a menu, how do you expect to maintain a healthy lifestyle? Empower yourself, keeley - look up the calorie contents of a few dishes you like, and either eat a reasonable portion, or order something else.

Since I never know what I'm really consuming if I don't make it myself, and I do want to enjoy myself, (especially with Indian restaurants, which where I live tend to be buffet or family style anyway), I try to just eat very light during the day so I have a bunch of calories saved in the bank for eating out later. It's easier for me than trying to cross my fingers and hope the item I pick from the menu isn't THAT bad. I do, however, try to control my portions at the restaurant. Eat a little of the things I love, so I can have a good time and participate, but not have regrets.

rand486 wrote: »

rf1170 wrote: »

mmmm... I've learned to love Indian food this past year or so! I haven't been to many restaurants, so I'm not sure how their preparations differ from the recipes I've made, but some things have more fat than you'd expect. they don't skimp on oil, even though they usually use vegetable oil, and some dishes (palak paneer, butter chicken, etc.) have quite a bit of cheese, cream, butter, or all three. anything described as vegan is probably low in fat, and any meat or fish preparation without an accompanying gravy is a good choice, too. the breads are amazing, but they're often served with butter already slathered over them. while to me that sounds like a piece of heaven on earth, I wouldn't describe is as low-fat either. enjoy your meal!

"Low-fat" doesn't mean it's healthier.

Yes, restaurant food has more oil and whatnot in it. That's true of all food - we all know home-cooked tends to be healthier.

As for pointing at the butter in the bread... that's misguided. Surely, you recognize that the majority of the calories come from the bread?

The OP didn't ask about healthier foods or low-calorie foods. S/he specifically inquired about low-fat.

In naan or chapati, the majority of the *fat* - which is what the OP asked about - does in fact come from the butter or oil.

First off, most indian food is pretty healthy/low calorie, as it's very veggie & protein heavy. Avoid rice dishes, and you'll be fine

Disagree with you there, too. Many Indian restaurant dishes are surprisingly high-calorie due to ghee, cream, and calorie-dense (but also nutrient-dense) legumes. It's not simply the rice dishes one might avoid if they want a lower calorie Indian meal.

Growing up in an Indian household (south Indian to be exact), I can assure you like many cuisines Indian food (especially at restaurants) cannot be always be panned as low in fat or "healthy" but the great thing is there different and exciting ways to eat your protein and veggies. There's usually a carb (rice or bread) that accompanies a curry dish. My take is, if you're going out to celebrate you can splurge a bit--try out half a cup of the jasmine rice and load on the veggies/protein. Good options are mutter paneer (peas + curd cheese in a sauce), saag paneer (spinach+cheese), an eggplant curry, chana masala (chickpeas), mutton (lamb), even a chicken dish (my fave is butter chicken--yeh, its just as rich as it sounds).

The meaty curries will have butter, oil, and sometimes even cream in them, but eat more of the meats and less of the sauce. Tandoori chicken is an option as it is marinated in yoghurt and baked in an oven. Avoid snacking on samosas, naan, and dishes with potatoes (aloo means potato)--they'll just make you bloated and full before you get to eat the real good stuff If you want breads, try out a half a naan or roti over a paratha which is covered in oil or puri (which is fried).

Also try things a bit spicy (try some mango pickle), they're super flavorful and hey, maybe can boast your metabolism! If this restaurant has a website, explore the menu and see what looks delicious (and nutritious) to you!

Pappadoms, tandoori chicken, plain rice rather than pilau