"The best and most efficient pharmacy is within your own system"
-Robert C. Peale
Website:http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/recipes/drinks/healthy-choices/the-8-healthiest-drinks/?sssdmh=dm17.459654&esrc=nwfitdailytip073110&email=2686729334 If you are going to drink something, might as well make it something good for you!!
Typically, Asian culture has a very healthy style of eating. They load up on their veggies and meat is used to be a side. Leave it to us Americans to take something great and load it down with fat and calories!
Asian food can be very healthy or can be a complete nutritional disaster. An order of General Tso Chicken can have 1500 calories and 40% more sodium than an entire daily allowance...and that is before you add the fried rice and egg roll!!
If you take away one thing from this post it is to READ THE MENU CAREFULLY! Many unhealthy selections are disguised on the menu. Some Asian vegetables can have over 600 calories (yes, vegetables)...they manage to take something nutritious, fry it, and top it off with salt and soy sauce. This completely overpowers the nutrition you get from the vegetables. Read, read, read! Who knew that Asian menus are complete with hypertension, high blood pressure and a growing waist line. Know what you are ordering and stay away from selections that are fried or battered. If you have to, ask the waiter how the entree is prepared. They may roll their eyes, but at least you can feel comfortable with what you decide on.
I am not saying you have to deprive yourself of the good stuff, just be conscious! No one wants to be stuck eating raw vegetables while friends are chowing down on the good stuff. So take a look at some ways to do Chinese the healthy way while still loving every bite!
Whatever meal you chose, select BROWN RICE and you will automatically save yourself both starch and calories. Many places will automatically heap white rice on your plate without asking so be sure to specify when you order.
I sound like a broken record by now, but make leftovers your friend. Chinese food keeps well and makes a tasty lunch on day 2. Don't scarf it all down...you will be eating 2-3 portions and mega-calories! A lot of nutritionist suggest using the chop sticks (no matter how hard I try I can't figure those things out) in order to slow down your eating. Chop sticks are not as efficient and cause you to eat slower. This allows your body to digest the food and signals when you are full.
STIR-FRIED over DEEP-FRIED...while they both have the word 'fried' they are not equal! This goes for meats, vegetables, tofu, and fish. Stir-fried foods mean less sodium and lower fat. The word steamed signifies is was cooked with water and not fatty-oil so it is also a great choice.
Watch out for the sauce, they can kill the diet! Ask if they offer a low-sodium soy sauce, all they can do is tell you no. Whichever meal you chose, you can opt to have the sauce on the side. The chef uses way more sauce than anyone needs, but by having it on the side you can enjoy the taste without overloading.
Keep an eye on what is in your salad. We have talked many times that salad does not always mean healthy. We all love those Asian salads complete with crunchy noodles and lots of fat but this defeats the purpose of getting a salad! Those crunchy pleasures are fried and extremely high in caloric content. Be careful that your salad has tasty and nutritious fruits and vegetables, and not fried treats.
Vegetables, vegetables, vegetables! Eat like a true Asian culture and enjoy the vegetables. Chinese food typically has many unique vegetables that add great flavor to the meal. Look for raw vegetables, not ones that have been doused in sauce and fried. Start with these vegetables in order to keep you full.
Start the meal out with a great, authentic broth-based soup. Not only are they good, they will help keep your appetite in check when the main course is served.
Meals to Avoid:
-Egg rolls
-Tempura
-Dishes that are battered or deep-fried
-Sweet and sour pork
-General Tso Chicken
-Deep Fried Tofu
-Coconut Milk, Sweet and Sour sauce, Soy Sauce
-Fried Rice
-Salads with fried/crispy noodles
Meals to Enjoy:
-Egg drop, wonton, miso, hot and sour soup
-Entrees that have been steamed, broiled, stir-fry, or roasted
-Shrimp Chow Mein
-Chop Suey
-Steamed or baked Tofu
-Rice-Wine Vinegar, ginger, low-sodium soy sauce, wasabi, or ponzu sauce
-Steamed brown rice
-Stir fry veggies
-Edmame
-Cucumber Salad
幸福吃晚餐 (Happy Dining) :)
Megan
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