You train hard, and occasionally you like to reward yourself with Chinese takeout. (We said occasionally.) But you don’t want to abandon all discipline and end up feeling like the love child of Jabba the Hutt and Fat Bastard. So what’s the healthier order, fried rice or lo mein? Short answer: lo mein. Yes, both dishes usually come slathered in sauce, but the rice offers the unfortunate double-whammy of being fried in oil first. “You can’t make fried rice better unless you make it on your own,” says Jennifer Agustines, a Tampa-based registered dietitian. “If you want rice at a restaurant, your best bet is to get an entrée like chicken and broccoli and steamed rice on the side.”
Lo mein, meanwhile, is typically made with egg noodles, which are a better option than traditional white pasta thanks to an extra protein boost from the yolk. Its downside is the sky-high sodium from the soy sauce that the noodles are swimming in, but that’s an easy problem to solve. “Ask for the sauce on the side so you control the amount you put on,” advises Agustines, who also suggests getting a version laced with a protein like shrimp or chicken and asking for extra veggies thrown in. “Customizing it is always a smart move.”
Short answer: lo mein. Yes, both dishes usually come slathered in sauce, but the rice offers the unfortunate double-whammy of being fried in oil first. “You can't make fried rice better unless you make it on your own,” says Jennifer Agustines, a Tampa-based registered dietitian.
Lo Mein is a healthier option than Fried Rice for a variety of reasons. For starters, it can be a good source of protein, especially when combined with lean proteins like chicken, beef, shrimp, or tofu. Protein is necessary for muscle building and repair, as well as for keeping you full for longer periods of time.
Typical side dishes like fried rice, lo mein noodles, crab rangoon, and egg rolls are high in calories — and fat. Healthier choices include steamed brown rice, sautéed or steamed vegetables, spring rolls, or soups like egg drop soup or hot and sour soup.
Generally, fried white rice will not help you lose weight, especially the calorie-filled, soy sauce covered take-out varieties! However, if you're eating a dish similar to our recipe, it's much lower in calories and fat with a decent amount of filling fiber, helping you eat less food during the day.
The main differences between refined (white) pasta and white rice are in the amount of calories, fiber, and protein in each. Pasta contains more calories, more fiber, and more protein than rice. However, many healthier varieties of pasta and rice are available that are more nutritious than their refined counterparts.
“Looking for foods that aren't breaded is a good start. And you can usually find lots of vegetables, like broccoli, carrots and sugar snap peas at Chinese takeout places, too.” Other dishes on the healthier side include: Moo goo gai pan, stir-fried lean chicken, mushrooms, water chestnuts, broccoli and carrots.
Named after a Chinese war hero, this fat-laden dish won't help you win any weight loss battles. The breaded, fried chicken is smothered in a sugary sauce. One order clocks in at around 1,500 calories and 88 grams of fat, and it delivers more sodium than you should get in a day.
Vermicelli noodles, also known as rice vermicelli or rice sticks, are generally considered a healthier noodle option compared to many other types of noodles. Vermicelli noodles are typically made from rice flour, making them naturally gluten-free.
Traditional fried rice, as commonly prepared, may not be considered the healthiest option due to its high calorie and sodium content. This is primarily because it is often cooked with a generous amount of oil and can include high-sodium sauces like soy sauce or oyster sauce.
Eating whole grains like brown rice has been found to be really good for weight loss, with one study finding that people who regularly ate high-carbohydrate whole grains such as brown or coloured rice had a higher resting metabolism and didn't absorb as many calories during digestion [9].
Informed athletes and bodybuilders recognize the high glycemic value of white rice to provide quick fuel for hard workouts and facilitate muscle recovery.
And, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, both potatoes and rice can be helpful when you're trying to lose weight. Both have practically little to no fat, contain nutritional value and are relatively similar in calories.
Fried rice: An order adds more than 1,200 calories. Lo mein and chow mein: Each pack in about 1,000 high-fat, high-carb calories per plate. Stir-fried eggplant: Can have 500 to 1,000 calories per order, depending on the amount of oil used.
Vermicelli noodles, also known as rice vermicelli or rice sticks, are generally considered a healthier noodle option compared to many other types of noodles. Vermicelli noodles are typically made from rice flour, making them naturally gluten-free.
Chinese takeout can be a lifesaver on busy weeknights, but choose carefully to sidestep cholesterol and sodium. Hot-and-sour soup, steamed dumplings, and entrees that are steamed or lightly stir-fried are better choices than fatty egg-drop soup, egg rolls, or deep-fried specialties.
Fried rice is undeniably bad for you, setting you back 450 calories and 14 grams of fat. Brown rise is better, with only 215 calories and a generous 3.5 grams of fiber per cup. But even though it's trendy to avoid white rice because it's a high-glycemic carb, it's not so bad.
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