Chinese Food.

Okay, the Chinese food I'm talking about is the Americanized fast food version. I have absolutely no idea what to get there if I'm hungry and it's the nearest place to eat. I do have two rules: Must have broccoli and must not include rice.  So, today, I had broccoli and bean curd/tofu. Unfortunately, the tofu was fried and the broccoli seemed to be the same. It was in a brown sauce that I didn't finish, probably soy sauce (but it didn't taste as salty as soy sauce). Was this nutritious? How many calories did it probably have? (Pint sized.)

Also, what's the lowest calorie or most nutrient packed choice at a Chinese place if I go order something there again?

I wouldn't worry too much about the rice, rice (even white) isn't terrible if you're not living off it.  Plus having rice may stop you from overeating other things, that may be fried or salt coated, ie MUCH worse.

I don't know what the best thing is, but I would pick the most veggie packed dish I could find (chop suey is bean sprouts....I think?  It's usually totally vegged out), skip the breaded-fried lemon chicken/general tsao's chicken, egg rolls and SECONDS.  As long as you don't overeat and aren't eating out everyday, don't be too worried about one modest meal out.

i usually get steamed chicken w/ mixed vegetables w/ brown rice

I agree steamed chicken is probably your best bet. Next up would probably some seafood stirfry.

I can't find a chinese place that offers brown rice though!!!!! Do most places have brown rice when you ask for it, jenny?

I always wonder about the glaze/sauce..... its so shiny and gooey and thick. Now I know there must be a lot of oil in it..... but how much of it is oil? :S most of it? or is it mainly cornstarch or something....

Ive been having the same problem. There were some places by me that offered brown rice but for some reason everytime I ask  now they dont have any. But yea usually stick to chicken non breaded if you can no sauce and rice to fill you.

Skip Chinese and get Korean food. 

honestly,

I'd pack a lunch or snacks for your day. Americanized Chinese food is a sodium junkies heaven.  It's packed with so much sodium that it would be hard to find a good choice.

As with others, if they have brown rice I would go with that, if not, even the white is okay in moderation. It should help satisfy cravings too.

Good luck and try bringing leftovers with you. Keeps you heathlier and lighter and your walet fatter.

Original Post by alibsam:

Skip Chinese and get Korean food. 

You are making me hungry.  I looooooooove Korean food.  The quantity that I eat it in isn't exactly "diet friendly", though. 

I live in Korea but none of my Korean friends know how to cook so I can't get them to help me. I did, however, find a pretty good website. If you're interested, PM me and I'll send you the link. I hated Korean food when I first moved here. Now, after almost 2 years here, I can't imagine the day when I go back to the US and can't eat Korean food everyday.

And to people who say you shouldn't eat rice... I eat white rice almost daily and have lost 30lbs in 2 months. 

http://www.cspinet.org/nah/chinese.html

You should check it out. I'm not sure where I first found it, but I came across it a few years ago, and it has info on some of the worst offenders and some of the better choices in Chinese food.

Chinese is my favorite, and unfortunately, I love the worst ones, the General Tso's, Sesame Chicken, Lo Mein, mmmm... Anyway, the first two are both about 1500 calories, if I remember correctly, so I only have it occasionally, and when I do, I eat the all the rice, put a little more than half the meat and sauce off to the side to save for another day.

And, of course, I save room for an egg roll. My favorite food ever. It's only 200 cal, so if I've worked out that day and had a good day, it's not terrible--probably about 1000 cal total.

I get steames rice and broccoli beef from panda express. Its about half a days worth of sodium but really alot less fattening than say fried rice and orange chicken (which I used to eat ALL the time). Chineese food isnt the most healthy choice, but I would go for it before I hit up Mcdonalds or some other drive thru. Also, in moderation it is good to treat yourself so as long as you are not stopping by every day because it is the closest thing im sure treating yourself once a week wont hurt.

Check out dietfacts.com , they have three or four chineese food listings of nutrition fact