Be Wary Of Fat Content When Eating Chinese Food

It’s 1995 to most of the world, but to the Chinese, this is the Year of the Pig. Even with such an obvious symbol of indulgence, you should avoid pigging out when you visit your favorite Chinese restaurant to celebrate.

As in other restaurants, Chinese menus may hide fat from the unwary. Follow the pointers below and you’ll be eating well all the way to the last crumb of your fortune cookie:

Suggest that your dining partners order entrees from different categories: beef, pork, lamb, shrimp, fish, chicken and egg. Include one or two meatless dishes in your selection. Then pass the dishes around the table.

Consider ordering fewer entrees than the number of people in your party. Because Chinese-style serving often means generous platters of food, you may have plenty with fewer dishes.

Read the menu descriptions for cooking methods. If the menu doesn’t give an explanation, ask your waiter. Steamed, broiled or grilled entrees will contain less fat than their fried counterparts. Even stir-fried dishes may contain more fat than you think, if the chef is too liberal with the cooking oil.

Steer clear of appetizers that are deep-fried, such as egg rolls or crab rangoon, or entrees that contain breaded, deep-fried meat, such as sweet ‘n’ sour chicken or twicecooked pork.

Seek dishes with lots of vegetables and carbohydrates, such as chow mein, chop suey, vegetable stir-fries, steamed rice or unfried noodles.

To control the amount of sodium in a dish, request that the chef reduce or eliminate any monosodium glutamate (MSG), soy sauce or salt used in cooking.

The good news? Fortune cookies are a super low-fat dessert. And, if you’ve eaten wisely, your fortune may foretell prospects of good health.