Chinese Food Nutrition Facts

Chinese people incorporate the philosophy of Yin and Yang in their food. The philosophy helps them to maintain the balance in the food texture, color and flavor of the ancient Chinese food. Low carb variety of ancient Chinese food is also available these days. You don't need to give up eating Chinese food, if you are diet conscious. Instead, you should look for low fat, low calorie Chinese food.

The characteristic way of eating Chinese food with the help of chopsticks, makes everyone curious about the food and the aroma of the food drives people crazy. Taking into consideration the Chinese food nutrition facts, you should think before ordering your favorite Chinese dishes.

Chinese Food Nutrition Facts

You must have noticed that Chinese food does not include cheese. Lots of vegetables, sea food and lean poultry are the main ingredients used in Chinese food. So, it is actually healthy food. The vegetable oil used in Chinese food has enough unsaturated fat and it balances the cholesterol-raising properties of the saturated fat it contains. Though Chinese food is popular all over the world, you don't get the authentic Chinese dishes everywhere. Whatever you get are the localized versions of these dishes which may be higher in calories, saturated fat and especially sodium. So Chinese food is considered to be more harmful than pizza or burger.

Tips for Eating Chinese Food

• The healthy steamed vegetables and lean meat may turn unhealthy when they sit in a warm pool of sticky sauce all day. You can ask the sauce to be placed on the side. There is no need of dumping the sauce over your food. First, dip your chopsticks in sauce and then pick up the vegetables or meat. You will easily get the sauce's flavor and at the same time, you will be able to avoid ingesting huge amounts of fat and sodium.
• If you request, then you can get reduced-sodium soy sauce in the restaurants too. Though it has the same flavor, there is notable difference in sodium content. Do you know that hoisin sauce has sky-high levels of sodium?The sauces which are high in sugar are sweet and sour sauce, duck sauce and plum sauce.
• You should watch the quantity of the Chinese food too. If you look at the food quantity, it can be very well judged that you will be able to eat half of the meal only. You can take away the remaining half home, for the next day!
• Blood pressure raising sodium and cholesterol raising saturated fat, are the hidden unhealthy ingredients present in the sauce. If you carefully order your food, you can get low salt, low sodium food.
• Soups are fine for weight loss but they may affect your blood pressure levels as hot and sour, egg drop, wanton soups, etc., are all low in fat but high in sodium.
• You may enjoy flavorings like rice-wine vinegar, wasabi and ginger.
• Small quantities of hot mustard are fine. You just have to be cautious as each packet has a substantial helping of sodium inside.
• You don't need to eat the crispy chow noodles that often come free with your meal as they are very high in fat.
• Steamed dumplings are healthier than deep or pan fried dumplings.
• Spring rolls are healthier than egg rolls.
• Instead of pork, you can choose vegetable filling, so as to halve your saturated fat intake.
• Eating with chop sticks, prevents you from picking up too much of sauce.
• Avoid creamy dressings or crispy noodles in the salads.
• Avoid eating crab rangoons or barbecued spare ribs as starters.
• You can order plain steamed brown rice which is healthier.
• Chicken/shrimp/pork fried rice are worse in saturated fat, calories and sodium.
• Steamed vegetables without sauce would be a healthier option.

Read more on healthy Chinese food options.

Calories in Chinese Food

It is very important to take into consideration, the source and preparation methods when choosing food from a nutrition guide for Chinese food, since deep frying, heavy sauces and dishes loaded with meat can turn an otherwise healthy plate of food into a caloric and nutritional nightmare. Following table will inform you about the calories in Chinese food wherein you will find simplified Chinese food nutrition facts.

Name of the Chinese Food Item	Total Calories
1 Dim Sim Fried(Appetizer)	100
3 Large Prawn Crackers(Appetizer)	45
Wantons, Medium, Fried(Appetizers)	110
1 Small Spring Roll Deep-Fried	115
1 Cup Chow Beef	320
1 Cup Beef: Braised w. Chinese Vegetables	250
1 Cup Crispy Skin Chicken	410
1 Cup Barbecued Pork	545
1 Cup Fried Rice	365
1 Medium Bowl Wanton Soup	240
1 Medium Bowl Chicken And Corn Soup	160

I hope the above article provides sufficient information about the Chinese food nutrition facts and if this Chinese fare has tickled your taste buds, simply pick up those chopsticks and indulge in some delicious, lip-smacking Chinese cuisine.