How to Order Wisely at a Chinese Restaurant

Whether it's eat in or take out, Chinese food is a comfort for many. However, between the large portions and endless fried options--it can be hard to know how to make healthy choices. On another note, Chinese food can also be healthy if ordered the correct way. Just follow these easy steps and make sure you always have a plan before you order.

Instructions

1. Soup is your friend. A small cup of soup is a great start. Egg drop, won ton or hot and sour are the classics. It is a high-volume food that will fill you up. Soups also tend to be a bit high in sodium, so stick to a cup, not a bowl.

2. The only appetizers you should even look at are steamed vegetable dumplings (just a few) or minced chicken in lettuce cups.

3. Stay away from brown sauce for the main course. Ordering steamed is boring, so don't do that. Anything in a white sauce is better, but most importantly, order something in which vegetables are the stars and the shrimp, chicken or scallops are the guest stars. Eat all of the vegetables first and have a few pieces of the protein.

4. Order brown rice if available, but don't eat a pint. Be satisfied with a spoonful, or don't do it at all. Mushu anything is OK if you ask for light sauce, and don't eat the pancake or brown sauce.

5. A fortune cookie never killed anyone, so find out your future with no guilt.

Tips & Warnings

• "Naturally Thin" Reminder: You've cancelled your membership to the clean plate club, so spoon a reasonable portion on your plate, eat a bit and move on.

• Eggplant in a Chinese restaurant is always delicious because it is fried to within an inch of its life, even though it seems sautéed. One or two bites, or you could have chocolate cake instead.

Resources

• Naturally Thin: Unleash Your SkinnyGirl and Free Yourself From a Lifetime of Dieting