How much Chinese food is too much?

Question

I am truly addicted to Chinese food and eat it at least twice a week and sometimes as much as four times. Generally I eat something like Chicken with Garlic Sauce or Hunan Chicken, and I order it heavy on vegetables, light on chicken. I never order anything fried like egg rolls or General Tso's. Am I being relatively healthy by eating this, or am I killing myself slowly with delicious food?

Answer 1

I eat Chinese food everyday.
I don't think you are eating too much.

Answer 2

I think the only way you can say you have had too much - is when you "throw-up"! Keep eating - its great food,and healthy, just look at the Chinese - their skin - they never seem to age - you hardly ever see a "fat" Chinese child or even an adult. They have the lowest rate of heart attacks and the lowest rate of cancer. So I don't think you can eat too much Chinese food. I just LOVE IT - and go as often as I can afford. Especially to a chain, here in Canada called "The Mandarin" - all you can eat - over 600 hundred items! sometimes I have said to my family that they'd better call for the tow-truck - to lift me from the table. LOL - really I only weigh 115lbs, but can I eat Chinese.

Answer 3

CLARIFICATION:

For those who are citing the health of Chinese people as proof that a particular style of cooking is healthy, please stop. It's like saying eating French fries is healthy because the French have lower rate of heart disease.

For those who are citing your own weight as proof that eating Chinese everyday is healthy, please also stop. Low weight is not implicit of health, thin people with fast metabolisms will get cardiovascular disease if they eat poorly.

Chinese takeout is high in sodium and MSG, but not aspartame. Asparteme is a sugar substitute, and as far as I know, orange chicken sauce do use real sugar. That said, Chinese takeout is also high in calories from the high sugar and oil content.

It looks like the OP is making healthy choices by going heavy on veggies and light on chicken. The only thing that'll get you is the sauce & style of preparation---generally, things like "special brown sauce" will be heavy on starch, and "stir-fry" tend to be greasy. That's common sense. Everything else varies from cook to cook.

What I'd recommend (and not every place will have it) are spring rolls: not egg rolls, which are deep fried, but the veggie & shrimp (sometimes chicken or tofu) burrito-style wrapped in a thin rice sheet. Perfect balance of carbs, protein & fiber, with minimal fat (watch out for fried tofu & dipping sauce).

All fast food can be modified to be healthy, and Chinese is no exception. But while we're on the topic of delicious food---go for authentic Chinese once in a while! It's such a diverse cuisine, and the bastardized version we get in America is such a small part of it that evolved in the south...

Answer 4

I eat Chinese food everyday. My blood pressure and weight are ok. When you order Chinese food , you should avoid any deep fried dish. Heavy on vegetables is good. Try to order some fish, too.( steam)

Answer 5

Chinese takeout is usually nearly completely different from traditional Chinese food. Most chinese food you order from takout in the US is extremely unhealthy if eaten constantly. Just as if you were to eat at McDonalds everyday (heart attack!). But, you can find some healthier chinese dishes online if you are prepared to cook them yourself, and most of the things you can buy in a typical grocerie store. ^_^

Answer 6

I don't know. I think you have the right idea with "heavy on vegetables, light on chicken." Some people have monosodium glutamate sensitivity; if you have this and you eat that much Chinese food you would know it by now. :-) So, I think the main thing to think of regarding health would be having your blood pressure monitored more often than you would if you weren't eating all that monosodium glutamate.

Answer 7

Depends on how the veggies are cooked - if the dishes are stir fried they are no better than the deep fried stuff. If steamed, okay. As for your last comment, but what a way to go.......

Answer 8

It's never too much. I love eating Chinese food.
Be sure to ask them to not add MSG.

Answer 9

Thats kinda like the big question, "How many licks does it take to get the center of a tootsie-pop?" We may never know.

Answer 10

even a single meal of chinese fool is not good. it contains too much sodium and MSG for a day. hope u try to go for healthier food