Can one eat Chinese food when on a low-carb diet?
Because much of Chinese cuisine contains a high starch and sugar content, health-conscious eaters might have a hard time finding low-carb dishes at their local Chinese restaurant. There are, however, plenty of Chinese food options that are lower in sugars that can accommodate a low-carb diet.
In general, your safest choices are steamed dishes, such as whole steamed fish, steamed vegetables with tofu, or steamed crab. Stick to soups that are clear and more broth-like in consistency, such as egg-drop soup. The same rule applies to sauces; choose stir-fried meat and vegetable dishes that have savory sauces with a thinner consistency. Stay away from thick, starchy or sweet gravies like plum sauce, hoisin sauce, duck sauce and oyster sauce. Dishes like sweet and sour pork or lemon chicken should be avoided.
Eat your meal without rice, noodles or wrappers and stock up instead on vegetables and non–fried or breaded proteins. Avoid dishes like chow mein, lo mein, fried rice, egg rolls or wontons.
One of the most popular questions asked by most Chinese food lovers is whether or not they can eat Chinese food when on a low carbohydrate diet. Well, the answer to this question is simple: You can definitely have Chinese food as a part of your low-carb diet, but you need to a bit more selective in choosing the type of Chinese food that would best suit your interests. As a matter of fact, a low carb diet does not take into account the number of calories present in a particular food group. It just restricts the content of carbohydrates in your meal so as to help you lose weight faster, stabilize your metabolism, and lower your blood sugar level. Many experts of the Oriental cuisine believe that low carb Chinese food does not exist as almost all the popular Chinese dishes contain starch and sugar. For instance, popular Chinese foods, such as buns with a spicy, aromatic soup and reviving stews, noodles served with thick sauces, and wontons, all are rich in carbohydrates and certainly cann