[SBD Sass]

Help!!!! I don't have to go to work tomorrow and tonight I'm relaxing before I go workout. I have Chinese on the brain and it's really bugging me. I've been eating clean for a month now and I don't want to blow it all on shrimp and broccoli drenched in garlic sauce. Eeeeeeeeeeeeek!

Talk me out of it!

[cottagebythesea]

Can you have them make it without the cornstarch and MSG? Most Chinese restaurants near me will make a lot entrees "weight-watcher style." There is probably still a lot of sodium, but it's only a temporary gain and can be flushed away with plenty of water.

[jenne1017]

Make it yourself!

The szechuan sauce I use has only 1g of sugar in it and I only use it once or twice a month for this very thing. Serve it over a bed of cabbage instead of rice.

Or, order from their "Diet" or "Health" menu. Better yet, go to the restaurant and get what you want, portion it out (usually I can get 3 servings from one container and get brown rice) and enjoy it if you really want it. Sometimes, I will go on a bad downward spiral if I don't get what I want.

But I would make it myself first and see if that satiates it!

[grneyedmustang]

I say make it yourself too....here's a good recipe...

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Jumbo-S...us/Detail.aspx

Just substitute splenda for the sugar, broccoli for the asparagus, and use canola oil instead. Hopefully that will help the craving!

[moncheree]

yummm that does sound good! Isn't it strange how chinese food has such healthy ingredients that they flood with bad junk like msg, cornstarch, and SUGAR?!!! How annoying.. I mean who would think that moo goo gai pan or mushi chicken would NOT be good for you? TOns of veggies...and lean meat.. but loaded with JUNK. Chinese is one of my fav.'s. I totally feel your pain. You can try to do your best at making something yourself. I have found this womans blog to be my bible... its http://kalynskitchen.blogspot.com/
She is a south beach dieter and an awesome CHEF!! Every recipe I have used of hers is absolutely AMAZING. Check it out and add it to your fav.'s.
here are a couple more links of her chinese south beach friendly recipes...
http://kalynskitchen.blogspot.com/20...t-chinese.html
http://kalynskitchen.blogspot.com/20...-broccoli.html
http://kalynskitchen.blogspot.com/20...g-24-napa.html
http://kalynskitchen.blogspot.com/20...cipe-with.html

ENJOY and good luck satisfying your chinese craving south beach style!!

[SBD Sass]

Thanks so much ladies! I was able to locate my WOK ha! and I made some fried brown rice...I added egg whites in it as the protein and it was delish! I also put in green onions, bean sprouts, onions and some a little soy sauce. Delish!

I am not a good cook so I didn't attempt to do anything with my broccoli so I just steamed that and mixed it into my rice.

I was satisfied. I didn't break down. I DIDN'T BREAK DOWN!!!

[lauralyn]

I broke down for you. I had take out Chinese on Saturday and I was so bloated on Mothers day and even still today. *sigh* I need to learn to control myself!

[beachgal]

SBD, I echo the "make it yourself" mantra. But if you do go out, I high recommend getting the green beans. At every place I've been over the last four years, I've been able to get fresh green beans (even at a buffet) cooked with oil and garlic. They're delicious! I don't know if it's an option near you, but we have one place near us that has a "Manchurian Wok" station. You pick out the veggies and meat you want along with sauces (I usually just get soy sauce) and then they cook it all for you right there. Yummy and OP!

BTW, I can't tell you all how THRILLED I was last week! I went to Wegman's for lunch and their Chinese buffet had steamed brown rice! They had a really yummy chicken and veggies in curry sauce dish that I adore and I was able to have it with the rice (my tastebuds were thankful as it's quite spicy!).

[moncheree]

AWESOME!!! Good for you that you didn't break down! YOU ROCK!!!!!