Ever wondered how many Calories in Chinese Food and what are the best Chinese food calorie choices? Chinese dishes vary from healthy traditional chinese food to diet-ruining oily food. Choosing healthier options involves keeping an eye on ingredients and cooking method. A top tip to choose lower calorie chinese food is to focus on what comes with your meal and how it is prepared.

Chinese Menu Selections

In China, traditional Buddhism means most Chinese cooks make delicious vegetarian dishes. As this food is prepared of plenty of nutrient rich fresh ingredients with lighter sauces than the western chinese takeaway food it is lower in calories and healthier. Western chinese food tends to be higher in calories due to the artificial sauces with meat dishes featuring meat fried in batters being an obvious example. Vegetarian dishes are some of the healthiest and low calorie options at your local Chinese restaurant or takeaway.

As an accompaniment, choose brown rice over white rice and boiled over fired rice. Alternatively simply forgo the rice altogether and order a portion of bamboo shoots.

Chinese Cooking Styles

When choosing Chinese food, avoid dishes that involve deep fried or breaded meats of vegetables as these foods contain excess fat and calories. Steamed foods are the best options when it cpmes to chinese. Steaming avoids the addition of unhealthy oils and also helps keep nutrients deteriorating whilst being cooked.

Boiled ,barbecued, roasted and stir-fried foods can also be healthy, especially if the dish is a vegetable one.

Chinese food is known for being high in MSG which is not a good thing. Try asking the cook to prepare your dishes no MSG and low-sodium soy sauce.

Chinese Drinks and Condiments

In China, food is usually served with tea instead of soft drinks. Be careful when casually ordering a soft drink or alcoholic beverage such as beer with your chinese food as this will pump up the calories and fat. Ask the waiter for some tea and drink it black. If you tea isn’t your thing just ask for water instead.
Be wary of heavy dipping sauces. Duck sauce is an offender as it is often full of added sugar and salt. Soy sauce is very high in sodium, so there is no need to add extra to your food. Ask for dark rice vinegar as a dipping option. This is what the Chinese traditionally use and is a healthier option.

How to eat Chinese Food

The traditional Buddhist way means eating your meals slowly and peacefully. Instead of gulping down chinese food watching TV, sit down calmly and concentrate on your meal. Savour the flavor, smell and texture of each chinese dish as you eat and eat smaller forkfuls more slowly.
Eating with chopsticks is a good way to slow down yor food intake and forces you to eat smaller bites.

Recommended Chinese cooking book

Chinese Food Made Easy 

Ching-He Huang is one of the top UK stars in modern Chinese cooking. In her new BBC2 series she re-invents the UK’s favourite Chinese dishes with fresh, easy to buy ingredients, offering practical tips and techniques. These are consolidated in this beautiful book to accompany the series. Drawing on experience of chefs, family and friends, Ching introduces easy Chinese food Some tantalising dihes include familiar Chinese takeaway menu food- Sweet & Sour Prawns, Chicken with Cashew Nuts, Chop Suey and Cantonese Vegetable Stir Fry. Also included are spicy Szechuan food: Noodles, Dumplings and Dim sum; Fast Food ; Desserts and banquet dishes.
Calories chart for calories in chinese food. A list of popular chinese food takeaway meals and their calorie content

Advertisements


Useful links
Home
Photo credits

What Diet: How many Calories in Chinese Food