I know that Chinese food is usually not considered LC-friendly because of the cornstarch-based sauces. However, if the sauce is very liquid, like a broth, would it be ok? There's a new Chinese place near our house and after seeing some of the dishes that my DH brought home, I tried their beef and broccoli. I really like the fact that they pile on the veggies (I got two meals out of that order) and like I said, the sauce is so liquid that I was able to pour it off. What do you think? Are there other reasons to avoid Chinese food that I am not aware of? It would really be nice to have a place that I can get the occasional take-out dinner with a lot of veggies in it.

BTW, I don't eat the rice, eggrolls, etc. and avoid dishes that have meat that's fried with a coating.

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Esther

Hi Esther!
The only other thought I have about Chinese food is the sodium content and the soy sauce. It still blows my mind that one Tbsp of soy sauce has 1-2 carbs, and is off the richter scale with the sodium. But if you can pour off most of the sauce, and the dish has lots of LC veggies, I would say go for it, but just not that often, yanno? Then see what happens with your weight over the next few days.
That's kind of how I approach it. Our new Chinese place by our house offers a *steamed chicken and veggie* dish and I tell them sauce on the the side and it's good enough to cure the *crave* for Chinese food...LOL.

BTW...where in Denver is this Chinese restaurant?...I'll be in Denver in October

Shelley

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Shelley
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Visit Kassie's Korner



Life deserves a treat now and again, but life also deserves being healthy[with required disipline] to make it worth living!

Perhaps you can ask if they use cornstartch at all in the dish and tell them not to use any if they do. I've been without Chinese food for a while during lc but have to admit going to a place when I was off plan and pigging out on carbs from the sushi (they had all types of Asian food) and potstickers.

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Noël


Worry doesn't empty tomorrow of its sorrows, it empties today of its strengths.

I love and so does Lynae the Beef and Broccoli and the Chicken and Broccoli...and while I eat mostly just the broccoli and the chicken...or beef, DD eats her rice and mine too...since it is only served over rice...they won't serve it without...I do get some kernels of rice...but the broccoli fills me up pretty well...I also like the Sezchuan Chicken and vegetables...gotta eat the veggies though...hehehe!

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Lori

232/190/130
My other journal http://www.lowcarbeating.com/bb/showthread.php?t=1130

The main reason why I avoid Chinese restaurants is just this: I don't really know what is in the food sugar-wise. I mean, they could add sugar, even if the broth is thin.

If you must eat at a Chinese place, most of them have salad bars. Stick with the salad bar.

I love Chinese food but I've found that each time I eat Chinese, I end up with a bloat and weight gain. Instead, I cook Chinese at home and that way I know what I'm getting, since I'm the cook.

My two cents...

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April

The face of a child can say a lot -- especially the mouth part of the face.

My Blog

i sometimes use mock rice made with califlower for chineese food, but still consider it mostly an offplan choice because of all the stuff mentioned here, and the sodium content usually leads me to retain water as well. one of those infrequent things for me.

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I have to keep away from Chinese food unless I make it myself. Last time I went to the Chinese buffett I was soo careful, yet the next day I still woke up with brown skin staining all over my face, which for me happens when I have too much sugar, I nearly cried took me a week for them to fade.

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DANDR

Starting weight: 196 lbs
Current weight: 149 lbs
Goal weight: 130 lbs

I would say good advice so far, eat sparingly and definitely journal to see if you gain after eating or it causes a stall, if you are ok with the "occassional" Chinese splurge then go for it I think at least if you are going to splurge your choice is right meat and veggies

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Re-Started Low Carb 6/1/2005
257.5/220.5/160

Thanks for all the advice on this! I hadn't thought about the sodium content and that would cause me to bloat if there is enough in it. My DH usually picks up the orders and he says that they are very accomodating about modifying their dishes so I'm going to have him ask what they put in their sauce. LOL, he says that the lady at the counter is always telling him that he's "very good husband" because he's getting food and I don't have to cook. I do get a kick out of that.

Shelley, this place is in a little strip of shops at the corner of 6th Ave and Kalamath. They do have some tables and chairs but mostly they are take-out/delivery. October is a nice time of the year to be visiting Denver!

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Esther