17 Things Registered Dietitians Order When They Get Chinese Takeout (2024)

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5. Moo Shu Vegetables

Maxine C. Yeung, a registered dietitian, personal trainer, and wellness coach, and owner of The Wellness Whisk, likes to order this dish, which is typically served with hoisin sauce and thin pancakes for wrapping. "This dish is majority vegetables—a mix of diced egg and vegetables, such as cabbage, mushrooms, carrots, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, and sometimes cashews, flavored with scallions, ginger and garlic," she says, adding, "It's low in carbohydrates if you limit the number of pancakes or substitute with lettuces for wraps."

6. Moo Shu Chicken

Glassman goes for the chicken version for the lean protein it provides. "But make sure to ask for light sauce," she says. "It's most likely high in sodium and (unhealthy!) fat." Yeung also points out that the hoisin adds unnecessary sugar.

7. Steamed Anything

"I usually ask for my dish steamed with the sauce on the side," says Scritchfield. "Steamed helps to reduce the oil in the dish, making it lighter in calories and possibly a bit easier to digest. You can get most any dish steamed." This works for veggies, lean protein, rice, you name it.

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8. A Small Soup

Eating a broth-based soup first can help you eat less later on, explains Alissa Rumsey, R.D. She prefers hot and sour soup, while Bedwell goes for wonton. Keri Gans, R.D., always orders egg drop soup. "A one cup serving is only 66 calories, so even though your serving from a restaurant is larger, the calories are still in check. It also provides around 3 grams of protein and 1 gram of fiber per one cup serving." It's high in sodium, thought, which is something to keep in mind if you're trying to watch your intake.

9. Moo Goo Gai Pan

Entrees that come with plenty of veg are always good options, says Rumsey. "Moo Goo Gai Pan typically consists of stir-fried chicken with mushrooms and other vegetables, providing a balanced meal with just a light sauce. It comes with a lot of vegetables, so they are the main part of the meal, not just an afterthought." This is a favorite of Bedwell's, too: "It's flavorful and lean with chicken, mushrooms, and other mixed veggies and is not as high in sugars and fats as many other dishes."

10. Chinese Eggplant With Garlic Sauce

"I like Chinese eggplant in spicy garlic sauce because it's all vegetable! In addition to the eggplant, it usually comes with broccoli too," says Scritchfield.

17 Things Registered Dietitians Order When They Get Chinese Takeout (2024)

FAQs

17 Things Registered Dietitians Order When They Get Chinese Takeout? ›

Opt for steamed dumplings instead of ordering egg rolls and fried dumplings. Sidestep fried or breaded meat entrees. Instead, choose baked, broiled, grilled, sautéed protein sources-chicken, fish, shellfish, lean beef or pork.

What Chinese food is good for high cholesterol? ›

Opt for steamed dumplings instead of ordering egg rolls and fried dumplings. Sidestep fried or breaded meat entrees. Instead, choose baked, broiled, grilled, sautéed protein sources-chicken, fish, shellfish, lean beef or pork.

What is a typical Chinese diet? ›

A typical Chinese's meal usually consists of rice, soup and three to four side dishes. Dishes are made of seasonal vegetables, fresh seafood or bite-size portion of meat or poultry.

What is the most unhealthy Chinese food dish? ›

Worst: General Tso's Chicken

Named after a Chinese war hero, this fat-laden dish won't help you win any weight loss battles. The breaded, fried chicken is smothered in a sugary sauce. One order clocks in at around 1,500 calories and 88 grams of fat, and it delivers more sodium than you should get in a day.

What takeaway is lowest in calories? ›

Thai: Thai cuisine often tops the list of healthy takeaways. Unlike Chinese food, which is often high in sugar and salt, Thai cooking uses fresh herbs and spices to add flavour, while also maintaining a focus on fresh vegetables and good quality meat - meaning dishes are generally lower in calories and fat.

What takeaway can I eat with high cholesterol? ›

Healthier options: clear soups such as tom yum, salads, stir-fried meat, fish or vegetable dishes, steamed seafood dishes, such as fish or mussels.

What do Chinese have for breakfast? ›

Steamed buns (baozi), pancakes (jianbing), and fried dough sticks (youtiao) are popular. Soy milk (doujiang) is a common beverage. Southern China: Southern breakfasts are lighter and often include rice-based dishes due to the warmer climate and rice-growing regions.

How do Chinese actors lose weight? ›

According to Chinese media outlet Now News, Jia also ate whole wheat bread at the height of her weight-loss regimen and would occasionally snack on nuts. All that was part of the actress' broader attempt to lose and control her weight, which also included intermittent fasting.

What food do Chinese eat the most? ›

Although one of their most popular dishes is rice, Chinese cuisine also includes noodles, soups and an extensive variety of meats and vegetables. As for their sweets, the best known are fortune cookies, which entertain diners with their hidden proverbs.

What Chinese dish is least fattening? ›

Some specific dishes that are particularly low in calories in Chinese cuisine include steamed vegetables, steamed fish, Buddha's delight (a vegetarian stir-fry), and moo goo gai pan (chicken with mushrooms and vegetables). These dishes are typically prepared with minimal oil and are packed with nutritious ingredients.

Which Chinese food sauce is healthiest? ›

Thicker, stickier sauces like sweet and sour and sesame are going to be very calorie-dense, so limit those as much as possible. Stir fry sauce, however, is largely made up of soy sauce, making it a much lower-calorie option. Speaking of soy sauce, if you are adding some to a dish, choose the lower-sodium option.

Is chicken chow mein healthy for you? ›

Chinese food can be a healthy option if you know what to look for on the menu. Chow mein noodles prepared in light oil with lots of vegetables and lean protein is a great option that's low in calories and high in nutrients.

Is veg chow mein healthy? ›

Healthy and vegan, Veggie Chow Mein! Adding a monster amount of cabbage to this recipe is a sneaky deaky trick, because it's not only delicious, but it blends right into the noodles, meaning you are getting more nutritional bang for your noodle buck. Yes, bring on the veggies!

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