What To Order At Chinese Takeout For Fat Loss (Men Over 40) - 158
YouTube The takeout menu has sixty items on it. You only need to get three decisions right: pick a protein and vegetable entree, control the sauce, and control the rice.
(Do you default to the same Chinese takeout order every time? Get a free guide covering gas stations, airports, and restaurants at go.brianparana.com/eatingonthego)
Most guys skip all three decisions and just order what they got last time. This episode gives you real numbers on five dishes you'll see on almost any menu and shows you exactly what to say at the counter. You'll learn that Kung Pao Chicken runs 779 calories and 2,428 milligrams of sodium in one order. By the end you'll have a shortcut list of five safe default orders and the exact wording to use.
Chapters:
- [00:00] Three decisions that control the whole meal
- [01:58] Why a protein and vegetable entree beats a fried one
- [05:52] Real numbers on five dishes: Moo Goo Gai Pan, Kung Pao Chicken, Chicken Chow Mein, General Tso's Chicken
- [09:14] The exact sentence to say when you order
- [10:02] How to handle real situations: ordering for family, saving half, when the restaurant won't customize
Key Takeaways:
- Three decisions control a Chinese takeout meal: protein and vegetable entree, sauce on the side, and rice separate.
- Kung Pao Chicken and General Tso's Chicken run 469 to 779 calories per order with 692 to 2,428 milligrams of sodium because of the fried coating and sauce.
- A steamed chicken with mixed vegetables, sauce on the side, and half to one cup of rice is a real meal you can order at almost any Chinese restaurant without special requests.
Resources Mentioned:
- Brian's Eating On-The-Go Guide
- USDA Restaurant Chinese nutrition data
- Smithsonian Magazine: A Brief History of General Tso's Chicken
Common questions from this episode:
- How many calories are in a typical Chinese takeout order?
It depends on what you order. Moo Goo Gai Pan runs 200 to 300 calories per cup. Kung Pao Chicken runs 779 calories. General Tso's Chicken runs 469 calories for 9 pieces, but a real restaurant order often comes with more.
- Is sauce on the side worth asking for?
Yes. Most of the sodium in a Chinese dish comes from the sauce itself, not the protein. Asking for it on the side cuts sodium more than almost anything else you can do at the counter.
- What should you order if the restaurant won't customize?
Order a steamed chicken or shrimp dish with vegetables and sauce on the side instead. That's usually already on the menu with no substitution required.
- How much rice should you eat?
Order rice separate from your entree and eat half to one cup instead of whatever fills the container. A quart container holds about 4 cups of food.
- Can you eat Chinese takeout regularly without gaining weight?
Yes, if you build your order around the three decisions: protein and vegetable entree, sauce you control, and a rice portion you decide on purpose.
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Want help applying this to your own health, weight, energy, or lab numbers?
Coach Brian Parana offers Health Hot Seat coaching segments for men who want a clear next step with nutrition, fitness, weight loss, blood pressure, cholesterol, A1C, or daily consistency.
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