Healthy Chinese

If you're heading out to eat, you might think Chinese is a healthier choice than most ethnic foods. After all, there are lots of of vegetables in Chinese food, right? True. But, depending on your selection, your Chinese food might also have lots of sodium and/or sugar. And many foods at Chinese restaurants are deep-fried as well.

But with a savvy eye, you can select the healthiest of fare at your local Chinese restaurant and enjoy without guilt. Some tips:

• Opt for stir-fried foods, such as vegetables, shrimp or chicken.
• Skip the fried rice and choose steamed rice instead (brown rice if they have it).
• Avoid fried egg rolls, crab rangoon and deep fried beef, chicken or shrimp dishes.
• Go veggie. Choose dishes with a high vegetable content.
• Fill up on soup. Egg drop, won ton and hot and sour soups are all relatively low cal. Just don't top them off with the little fried crispy strips.
  
• Go Japanese. While sushi is a Japanese food, some Chinese restaurants have started offering some sushi options as well.
• Slow down on the soy sauce. Soy sauce is very high in sodium, so go lightly. In fact, most dishes will be flavorful enough without the addition of extra soy sauce.

Keep in mind that many restaurants will accommodate special orders. For example, you can ask that your stir fry be prepared with less oil and more vegetables than normal. Want to see how your favorite Chinese foods stack up? Try this fun interactive Chinese meal to total the calories, fat, sodium and other nutrition information.

Is Chinese not on the menu tonight? Check out these tips for eating healthfully at a Mexican restaurant.