Article: Chinese Restaurant Food Draws Criticism

[antda 13]

Hi Everyone,

Good luck on your immigration journeys. I found this article online (and it was mentioned on TV too), about the health dangers of Chinese food. Lol...So yes, another reason why not to eat Chinese food (even though in my opinion Chinese food is gross and yes, one can get sick from eating it too. Yuck!). Happy reading, and happy eating...

Ant

Chinese Restaurant Food Draws Criticism

By LIBBY QUAID : AP Food and Farm Writer

Mar 21, 2007 : 11:04 pm ET

WASHINGTON -- The typical Chinese restaurant menu is a sea of nutritional no-nos, a consumer group has found. A plate of General Tso's chicken, for example, is loaded with about 40 percent more sodium and more than half the calories an average adult needs for an entire day.

The battered, fried chicken dish with vegetables has 1,300 calories, 3,200 milligrams of sodium and 11 grams of saturated fat.

That's before the rice (200 calories a cup). And after the egg rolls (200 calories and 400 milligrams of sodium).

"I don't want to put all the blame on Chinese food," said Bonnie Liebman, nutrition director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which did a report released Tuesday.

"Across the board, American restaurants need to cut back on calories and salt, and in the meantime, people should think of each meal as not one, but two, and bring home half for tomorrow," Liebman said.

The average adult needs around 2,000 calories a day and 2,300 milligrams of salt, which is about one teaspoon of salt, according to government guidelines.

In some ways, Liebman said, Italian and Mexican restaurants are worse for your health, because their food is higher in saturated fat, which can increase the risk of heart disease.

While Chinese restaurant food is bad for your waistline and blood pressure -- sodium contributes to hypertension -- it does offer vegetable-rich dishes and the kind of fat that's not bad for the heart.

However -- and this is a big however -- the veggies aren't off the hook. A plate of stir-fried greens has 900 calories and 2,200 milligrams of sodium. And eggplant in garlic sauce has 1,000 calories and 2,000 milligrams of sodium.

"We were shocked. We assumed the vegetables were all low in calories," Liebman said.

Also surprising were some appetizers: An order of six steamed pork dumplings has 500 calories, and there's not much difference, about 10 calories per dumpling, if they're pan-fried.

The group found that not much has changed since it examined Chinese food 15 years ago. That's not all bad, Liebman said.

“We were glad not to find anything different," she said. "Some restaurant food has gotten a lot worse. Companies seem to pile on. Instead of just cheesecake, you get coconut chocolate chip cheesecake with a layer of chocolate cake, and lasagna with meatballs."

The group says there is no safe harbor from sodium on the Chinese restaurant menu, but it offers several tips for making a meal healthier:

-Look for dishes that feature vegetables instead of meat or noodles. Ask for extra broccoli, snow peas or other veggies.

-Steer clear of deep-fried meat, seafood or tofu. Order it stir-fried or braised.

-Hold the sauce, and eat with a fork or chopsticks to leave more sauce behind.

-Avoid salt, which means steering clear of the duck sauce, hot mustard, hoisin sauce and soy sauce.

-Share your meal or take half home for later.

-Ask for brown rice instead of white rice.

Edited March 24, 2007 by AntandD

[Jenn! 918]

I'm surprised that there's anyone who would ever have considered American Chinese food 'healthy'. Can't you just feel your arteries hardening after eating some General Tso's???

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

This chinese takeout place near me makes the best wonton soup!

[GaryC 7]

Chinese food in America is very different than Chinese food in China. I was there 5 months and lost 55 lbs on a steady diet of that. It's much better food there than the "Chinese" food here.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I love Chinese food in India. It's still Chinese but exxxxxxtra hot!

[mybackpages 0]

Had some of the best Chinese food ever in Ghana!

[Scott & Lai 12]

Chinese food in America is very different than Chinese food in China. I was there 5 months and lost 55 lbs on a steady diet of that. It's much better food there than the "Chinese" food here.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Chinese food in America is very different than Chinese food in China. I was there 5 months and lost 55 lbs on a steady diet of that. It's much better food there than the "Chinese" food here.

Totally. Ben there myself. American Chinese food usually stinks in America.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Given that most of the food is deep-fried I'm not surprised. British Indian food is even worse for you than that as its cooked with Ghee oil.

[cbd2cai 0]

Chinese food in America is very different than Chinese food in China. I was there 5 months and lost 55 lbs on a steady diet of that. It's much better food there than the "Chinese" food here.

According to my co-workers when we went to Hong Kong, they have the worst Chinese food, LOL!!! But I think maybe it had something to do with the squid tentacles in everything. Some things I liked, some I didnt . . . that's all individual taste. Sweet and sour pork, which I don't eat in the States, was a bit different . . . mango not pineapple. This was specially made for me in a quite unique restaurant in Hong Kong . . . seems that it was in an old apartment bldg where you had to ask the doorman if you could go up. Tried those 1000-yr old eggs . . not my favorite thing. Well, I wasn't there long enough to lose weight, hehe, and I wish I could have ditched my co-workers because they kept wanting to go to the Western style restaurants.

Most Chinese restaurants in the States have adapted to what americans like and what is available for cooking . . . can't always get the same things they have in China. They certainly do like their noodles, which appears to be catching on more in this area . . . I just wish all those instant ones didn't have MSG . . . there's a long aisle of those at the Hong Kong market down the street from me, hehe!

[Scott & Lai 12]

Chinese food in America is very different than Chinese food in China. I was there 5 months and lost 55 lbs on a steady diet of that. It's much better food there than the "Chinese" food here.

Totally. Ben there myself. American Chinese food usually stinks in America.

We're actually rather fortunate where we are, since due to a growing Chinese population, the quality and authenticity of the Chinese food is getting much better

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Given that most of the food is deep-fried I'm not surprised. British Indian food is even worse for you than that as its cooked with Ghee oil.

My grandma in India used to make everything in Ghee. Ghee is yummy. But bad for you, now we use extra virgin fukcing olive oil. It's a goddamn travesty.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

According to my co-workers when we went to Hong Kong, they have the worst Chinese food, LOL!!! But I think maybe it had something to do with the squid tentacles in everything. Some things I liked, some I didnt . . . that's all individual taste. Sweet and sour pork, which I don't eat in the States, was a bit different . . . mango not pineapple. This was specially made for me in a quite unique restaurant in Hong Kong . . . seems that it was in an old apartment bldg where you had to ask the doorman if you could go up. Tried those 1000-yr old eggs . . not my favorite thing. Well, I wasn't there long enough to lose weight, hehe, and I wish I could have ditched my co-workers because they kept wanting to go to the Western style restaurants.

Most Chinese restaurants in the States have adapted to what americans like and what is available for cooking . . . can't always get the same things they have in China. They certainly do like their noodles, which appears to be catching on more in this area . . . I just wish all those instant ones didn't have MSG . . . there's a long aisle of those at the Hong Kong market down the street from me, hehe!

I did the same thing in Hong Kong. You need a guide to get to the unlicensed restaurant. I'm lovin' it!!!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Given that most of the food is deep-fried I'm not surprised. British Indian food is even worse for you than that as its cooked with Ghee oil.

My grandma in India used to make everything in Ghee. Ghee is yummy. But bad for you, now we use extra virgin fukcing olive oil. It's a goddamn travesty.

I hearing on the UK news once that Indian/Bangladeshi men were most at risk of developing coronary disease.

Ghee is good - but when you see the orange stuff floating at the top of your take-away you know it's not the best for you.

Worse than that are donner kebabs - if you leave the meat overnight, it forms a delightful covering of lard...

[Scott & Lai 12]

Worse than that are donner kebabs

"donner kebabs"? Not left overs from the Donner Party, I hope