Chinese cuisine has become one of the most sought-after foods on campus; it’s nearly impossible to walk into a Chinese restaurant that’s not crowded. The most popular items include fried rice, orange chicken and dumplings. Americanized versions of Chinese dishes can be incredibly fattening and greasy, but there are numerous ways to save calories and fat. Here are a few tips to savor Chinese food without breaking your diet.
Tip #1
Eat steamed rice, not fried rice
Fried rice is extremely high in fat, calories, sodium, and carbohydrates and contains little protein and nutrients. Plain white rice is significantly healthier because it’s not drenched in soy sauce oil. It’s best to make fried rice an occasional treat.
Tip #2
Eat with chopsticks, not a fork
Eating with chopsticks is more challenging because you have to use chopsticks as tongs to pick up food. As a result, you’ll eat slower and consume less than usual. Also, you’ll get the full experience because you’ll be eating Chinese food in the way it was supposed to be eaten.
Tip #3
Use Siracha sauce, not soy sauce
Soy sauce is extremely salty, consisting of over 900mg of sodium per tablespoon. Sriracha sauce will add a spicy kick to your dish without overwhelming your taste buds.
Tip #4
Try vegetable dumplings, not fried pork dumplings
One vegetable dumpling only has 45 calories. That’s half the amount of a pork dumpling, which has 80-90 calories. To be even healthier, ask for you dumplings steamed instead of fried. Besides, you’ll be able to get some vitamins and minerals from those veggies. And, hey, you can even get dessert since you had a healthy meal!
Tip #5
Drink plain tea, not bubble tea
Bubble tea, a staple drink in Asia, is now a favorite for numerous students on campus. Despite containing mostly fruit, most of the calories in bubble tea derive from sugar, carbohydrates, and boba pearls. In comparison, herbal tea contains no fat, sugar, or calories. Also, many Chinese restaurants offer complimentary tea.