I know I won't get an answer fast enough to do me much good tonight, but maybe it'll help me later.

I've noticed a lot of "I know I shouldn't have, but I ate Chinese" in various posts....Why is Chinese so bad? Obviously, you don't want to get General Tso's Chicken or any of the pork or fried dishes...but what about dishes like chicken with broccoli or moo goo gi pan? Wouldn't they be rather healthy?

We did order tonight, and I got shrimp with snow peas off the "diet" menu, that is steamed and prepared without oil, salt or msg. We'll see how I like it. I really like it, but I guess Chinese is one type of cuisine I'm not up on the nutrition info for.

Can anyone enlighten me?

Lilion:

I think that part of the mystique of Chinese Food and why we all view it as a no-no is because what we WANT isn't what's good for us. The stuff that most people like is the fried, heavily sauced and sugared stuff...on a day when I am having cravings I'd sell a body part for an order of Crab Rangoon. I had chinese the other night..steamed chicken and veggies cooked without oil.

For some people, because they want what they WANT without having to think about modifications and options, chinese food is a big red flag. Clearly General Tsos, Sweet and Sour anything, orange chicken, lemon chicken, egg rols...those are not the best choices.

But stir frys made with little or no oil (esp if it is a good oil) are a great option, something steamed without rice, something without noodles (no chow mein or lo mein) etc can be great options. The same goes for Mongolian BBQ...where you chooese the meats, veggies and sauces...as well as the quantities...and they are cooked in front of you on a flat griddle type surface. If you ask them to cook it without oil and make wise choices in putting on the sauces...and be sure to use more veggies than emat...that is also a great alternative.

In general, PF Changs is a good options too..as they have a good range of healthier items, make dishes when they are ordered and are very amenable to diet modifications. Also, choosing tofu over meat also helps.

My big no-no is Italian food, since I don't love chinese food and I gt terrible MSG migraines. Italian food comes in such huge portions...and then there is the cheese. There is a place near my house that does serve whole wheat pasta, but their portions are ridiculous and I can't resist their meat sauce.

So..I hope that answers your question. It's great that we have these forums to answer each others questions like this. Part of what is keeping me sane is learning how to eat like a normal person (out of the house) and still make healthy choices.

Lilion - I agree with Julie. I never crave healthy chinese food...in fact I hate it. I gag at the thought of eating those bean sprouts or water chestnuts or (ugh) bamboo shoots. Ick. I love the general tso's chicken, the FRIED crab rangoon (like Julie) and the Pork Fried Rice...yum!
If I only ate the healthy stuff, seriously I'd never feel guilty about it.

Lilion -

Chinese food often is loaded with sodium causing big water retention. Plus the sauces can be killer with calories. Plus load in the rice and you've got a whopper of calories.

Thanks! My shrimp and snow peas and DH's chicken with broccoli, came steamed, without salt, suger or MSG and with rice and sauce both on the side! I feel much better about my choice now. Although I ate it about 3 hours ago...and now I'm hungry again!

Love it and Mexican, and Italian, and B-que, and.....lets just say everything