Chinese restaurant food unhealthy, study says

[crikey]

Study reveals nutritional pitfalls of Chinese food. Menus loaded with sodium, saturated fat and calories — even the veggies.

Still yummy, IMO.

[leadingsimon]

I always thought it was more of a common fact among us. All we can really do is to balance your meals and fitness procedures.

[thegazelle]

Study reveals nutritional pitfalls of Chinese food. Menus loaded with sodium, saturated fat and calories — even the veggies.

Still yummy, IMO.

Can't say I'm surprised. I would say that in general, Chinese restaurant food (and in particular, the food court take out food) tends it be very greasy, fried in oil, etc. There's also the MSG that is in some of it, as well as how the meats are prepared (ie. baking soda to tenderize meat, etc.)

I agree, however, that even food court take out Chinese food is healthier (in general) than MCDonald's or KFC. Even if the veggies are fried with your noodles or rice, at least there are veggies in it, and ample amounts.

There are alternatives, however. I am far from a health nut, but having a wife who works for Weight Watchers part-time has obviously had some impact on me. I used to eat ZERO vegetables until I was about 31. Now, going on 34, I do have a fair amount of STEAMED veggies (I can't stand salad with dressing) and fruits. Even when I do eat at a, say, Harvey's, I will insist on a garden salad, even though I don't like salad) - I have totally changed in that I do not like French fries anymore. You can actually order some healthier Chinese dishes that use more steaming rather than frying. One of the dishes I like uses tofu, veggies and pork in a sauteed style sauce. It's not overly greasy like fried noodles with beef.

You can also order a simple garlic brocolli dish - there's still a sauce with it (white garlicy sauce), but it's not very oily. And it's not laced with soy sauce either, which I imagine is from where much of the sodium comes.

All that being said, the old adage is correct - you get what you pay for. Can a Chinese food takeout dish for $3.99 be that much more healthier for you than a McDonald's meal for $3.99? Perhaps, but again, in order to deliver large portions at low cost, something has to give. I suspect the meat (lower grade, poorer quality overly tenderized) is where the most common scrimping point is.

One thing I would also add is that the portions are pretty unbalanced. A take out dish can be eaten by one person, but it's way too much food. After eating Chinese takeout for years, I found that I could do crazy stuff like eat an entire large pizza with 3 toppings all by myself. That's pretty gross, if you think of it, and my co-workers did not find it funny or impressive. Since I've eaten more at home in the last couple of years, I am unable to eat 3/4 of a pizza now, which I think is a good thing. My definition of what a porition is more in line with what Health Canada believes to be healthy. I know that eating a take out container of fried noodles that weighs 6 pounds, all by myself, is probably not great, health-wise.

I probably imagine that the healthiest meals are still the ones that you make fresh at home - at least you know what's going into it.

[duckdown]

does this come as a surprise to you?

EVERYTHING is fried, loaded with salt & msg, and topped with some kind of sweet stuff

No real surprise here

Oh, lets not forget how bloody oily it always is. After you eat at TREMENDOUS the grease practically comes out of your pores

[infinite.chaoz]

these restaurants give chinese food a bad name

[crikey]

does this come as a surprise to you?

EVERYTHING is fried, loaded with salt & msg, and topped with some kind of sweet stuff

No real surprise here

Oh, lets not forget how bloody oily it always is. After you eat at TREMENDOUS the grease practically comes out of your pores

What I'm surprised about is that some organization actually made a study about it, not that Chinese food is unhealthy.

[JAGpilot]

I have never seen an overweight person that is 100% Asian. Thank god for my fast metabolism!

(a funny thing is my iTunes switched to "Fitter Happier" by Radiohead when I opened this thread.)

[hightechfan]

Study reveals nutritional pitfalls of Chinese food. Menus loaded with sodium, saturated fat and calories — even the veggies.

Still yummy, IMO.

The same goes for any fast food joint.Do people stop going there no.

[MasterXan]

a lot of Chinese restaurants are moving away from salt and MSG but instead, they use chicken flavoring (ie. the stuff from knorr)

[df329]

I have never seen an overweight person that is 100% Asian. Thank god for my fast metabolism!

(a funny thing is my iTunes switched to "Fitter Happier" by Radiohead when I opened this thread.)

Asian people aren't skinny because they have fast metabolisms... they just don't eat as much food.

[afong56]

I have never seen an overweight person that is 100% Asian.

how about mao? or kim jong il? sumo wrestlers?

[gordholio]

If you eat at any fast-food place a lot it's unhealthy.
Just do it rarely and you'll be okay.

[x95zsk]

MSG!!!! that's the biggest source of sodium.

we don't use it at all at home, but the other sauces have them. I would be interested when MSG is not used.

[UrbanPoet]

yep...... i thought everyone knew this.
the non fattening chinese food doesnt taste that great....
except for steamed fish. But that is steamed in soy sauce! so its high in MSG...

[duckdown]

I have never seen an overweight person that is 100% Asian

good one, Beavis