There’s a widespread misunderstanding that Chinese food is unhealthy because it’s high in fat. If your only experience with Asian Cuisine is deep-fried spring rolls or sweet and sour chicken with a thick, sweet sauce, prepare to be surprised. What about the Chinese people? Do they only eat deep-fried food?
The answer is a definite no. There are numerous ways to prepare Chinese food. A look at a few of them is in order now.
Let’s begin by taking a look at some of the traditional Chinese cooking methods. Short and sweet, it’s easy to remember the seven basic Chinese cooking methods: stir-frying, sautéing, deep-frying, steaming, and simmering (Jian Chao peng zheng zhu dun). Traditional Chinese cooking consists of 28 different techniques, and these seven are simplified versions of those seven techniques.
Yin and Yang are important concepts in Chinese culture, which extend to the kitchen. For lack of a better term, it all comes down to balance.
A Chinese meal must contain the right proportions of protein, vegetables, carbs, and healthy fats to be considered balanced. For this reason, Chinese Cuisine is some of the healthiest available.
# Is Chinese food fattening?
In actuality, the introduction of western Cuisine is to blame for the rise in obesity. The core premise of Chinese Cuisine lends itself authenticity. Here are several key points.
Balance is sometimes described as “yin and yang” in Chinese philosophy. This includes food consumption—a yin-yang diet balances (dry and crisp). Yang foods like red meat, spicy food, and alcohol cool the body while calming it. Carbs are Yang, while protein is Yang. Meals should include a variety of dishes shared by all.
Chilies help digestion and clear the respiratory system of colds, while garlic helps the body eliminate toxins. It is vital to have a healthy flow of energy.
# A meal in itself or a key component of meals in Chinese Cuisine. Chinese Cuisine avoids raw salad. It is simultaneously increasing nutritional bioavailability while maintaining raw vitamin concentration. A low glycemic index means no empty calories.
As nutritious as white rice but more expensive. However, brown rice requires more energy to break down than white rice. Both brown and white rice can be used in Chinese Cuisine, but only in small amounts.
# General Tso’s chicken
If you are trying to lose weight or improve your nutrition, you may not find healthy Chinese restaurants near you. Some of China’s most popular foods are rich in fat and sodium. Fried rice is one of the worst offenders.
A single order of General Tso’s chicken may meet your dietary needs due to the battered, deep-fried, and salty sauce. This sweet-and-sour fried chicken meal has 1,580 calories. There are also protein and fat grams. There are also sodium games (535 g).
While the caloric count varies per restaurant, one serving of General Tso’s may be sufficient for weight loss.
It’s important to know how many calories are in your favorite appetizer, like crab Rangoon. These three portions are high in carbs (26 g), protein (9 g), and fat (8 g) but low in sodium (390 mg).
# Chinese Cuisine that isn’t Boring
We get bloated from the sodium, sugar, and deep-fried delicacies in our favorite Chinese restaurant’s sesame chicken. We promise to stop urges, yet they return weeks later.
Our takeaway addiction may never go away entirely, but healthy improvements are welcome. We asked dietician Katie Boyd for tasty Chinese recipes without steamed broccoli and snow peas. We had more options than expected.
According to Boyd, “Americans misunderstand Chinese food.” “Most of the takeout food we get is Chinese festival food.” Intentionally ordered Chinese food can be high in protein and fiber. She claims it’s a healthy alternative to other fast foods (like burgers and fries).
Tofu, stir-fried chicken, water chestnuts, and bamboo shoots in a light soy sauce, sesame oil, and chicken broth sauce. The recipe includes bok choy, snow peas, water chestnuts, and bamboo shoots. Americanized Chinese cuisine has plenty of syrupy, sugary sauces that can spike blood sugar, says Boyd. This option prevents an insulin spike after eating protein- and fiber-rich veggies.
Shrimp is inherently low in calories, making it a good choice for this Chinese takeout favorite. Flap steak is used to make the beef version. Boyd recommends garlic sauce over sweet-and-sour, sesame, or General Tso’s for these dishes. Serve it with a plate of steaming brown rice for a complete dinner. This is almost as excellent as General Tso’s.
# Buddha’s Delight (Luóhàn Zhai)
Buddha’s joy (Luóhàn Zhai) is genuine. The initial consumers were vegetarian Buddhist monks, but it has since expanded globally. Vegetarians may be dismayed by the absence of meatless options on the menu of an American Chinese restaurant. Boyd says this dish is often made with vegetables, tofu, and a thin sauce. If you’re concerned about the caloric content of other Chinese takeaway foods, inquire about egg or dairy before ordering.
# Northern Chinese cuisine Moo Shu Thing
This Northern Chinese Cuisine can be cooked with pork, chicken, veggies, beef, shrimp, or tofu. Traditional Chinese dishes include scallions, mushrooms, and scrambled eggs with ginger, garlic, and rice wine (served with thin pancakes). Boyd proposes omitting the pancakes and hoisin sauce from this dish to lower the carb count. Instead, consume it as is, he suggests. “It’s a pretty filling, low-carb, low-fat supper,” she explains. “Order a mild sauce and nothing else.”
# Anything That Can Be Put On a Stitchery
skewered foods are good, like beef or chicken on a pupu plate for a high-protein supper. “While other eateries use sweet marinades on the meat,” ordering teriyaki skewers have a higher protein level. To prevent missing out on deep-fried goodies like egg rolls and fried wontons, she recommends ordering a side of stir-fried mixed vegetables (with sauce on the side, of course).
Most people still don’t know what the healthiest takeaway dish is. The menu may not include your favorite meals, but there are lots of healthy Chinese food options, such as:
· Steamed dumplings
· Wonton soup
· Shrimp and vegetable stir-fry
· Chicken and vegetable stir-fry
· Steamed dishes
· Steamed rice
Many Chinese eateries serve nutritious meals. These meals often include steamed veggies and lean proteins like fish, shrimp, or chicken. If you’re watching your calorie and salt intake, ask for the sauce separately. Instead of pouring the sauce on top of steaming food, drizzle it with your chopsticks.