Chinese Food: The Good and The Bad

You either love Chinese food or you hate it. Well, I am speaking of the Americanized Chinese food we eat in the United States.

Many Chinese foods are high in fat and sodium, taking its toll on our waistlines and our hearts. Chinese food is hard to eat on a diet, but it is not completely impossible to eat while sticking to your weight loss or maintenance plan. Making your own stir-fry or buying takeout from a local Chinese restaurant should be done carefully.

Knowing which foods are fried allow us to limit dishes with liberal fat. Breaded meats, then covered in sauces should not fool you. Orange chicken, sweet and sour chicken, strawberry chicken, etc. are fried before the sauce is added. Egg rolls are also deep fried and should be limited. Fried rice has little nutrients but liberal amounts of fat added.

Some of your best choices at a Chinese restaurant are those foods that are "steamed" or a stir-fry with plenty of vegetables. Soups before an entree are a good idea to fill you up without adding a lot of calories to your meal.  Any dish can be made to your liking so do not be afraid to ask them to go light on the oils and heavy on the vegetables.