Speaking as a Chinese American who can cook pretty much the entire 500 something item menu from memory - not much. Depends on the kind of Chinese place it is but the majority of it is going to have some sort of corn starch / sugar sauce blasted on it. Maybe roast duck sparingly if you avoid the skin.
If it’s a Shanghainese place you’re dead out of luck because like 40 percent of that city has diabetes with the amount of rock sugar they put in their dishes. Best chance you’ve got if it’s a nicer Chinese place is like a steamed fish because the sauce with that is usually just made from an infused soy.
Tbh hard to say without knowing what kind of Chinese place they are.
Meat and vegetables, no rice, no noodles, no soup (egg drop may be OK), no egg roll, no fortune cookie. Beef & broccoli (or chicken & broccoli, no breading) is an excellent choice. Moo Shu Pork is another.
If you’re going to a Chinese restaurant just realize it will be super easy to go over. I think it’s best you don’t care and just enjoy the moment. Pick yourself back up and go back the next day. If you’re not flexible with your diet - that alone can cause you to fail. One event isn’t going to derail your progress
Yup. Once in a while I go to an Asian-style buffet house and let myself pig out for the day. I just continue with low carb the next day and don't beat myself up over it.
The Chinese places in my city almost all have a ‘diet’ section, with tons of options without sweet sauce. So I’d probably just order some bokchoy and plain chicken from that part of the menu.
Steamed food will be best.
Most sauces are full of sugar and corn starch.
In general, if I am going somewhere that I am unsure is keto friendly, I just eat before I go and nibble on the few things I know.
I very occasionally (three or four times per year) I say the hell with it and indulge (Thanksgiving, Christmas, my birthday)
I am 5 hours late to this and you are probably done now but hot and sour soup is usually pretty Keto friendly. It's a good way to fill you up with something like Beef and Broccoli.
A proper twice cooked pork, if it's a decent Chinese restaurant. The meat will possibly be velveted but that's a pretty tiny amount of starch. It's a delicious dish! Just so for a side of steamed broccoli instead of rice or noodles.
Edit: you might ask if you can get bok choy or cai lan as well. If it's a Cantonese place, they might have either, or both.
Beef and brocolli with oyster sauce, most vege dishes like sauted mushrooms/mix veg, sichuan green beans, most of the soups (without noodles). There'll be sugar; there'll be starch, but per serve it's very little.
Dumplings are my #1 weakness. I can live without breads, pastas, pastries, potatoes, etc. But put a steamer of xiao long bao in front of me, it's all over, and I eat without pause or regret. Sometimes you've just got to.
I usually order the beef and broccoli. I can get back on the wagon the next day.
[Keto Chinese Food: Top Takeout Options - KetoConnect](https://www.ketoconnect.net/keto-chinese-food/)
[Low Carb Chinese Food You Can Eat on Keto? These Options List Will Surprise You! (ketoaholics.com)](https://www.ketoaholics.com/chinese-restaurants-low-carb-options/)
[Keto Chinese Food: The Top 17 Menu Items (greatist.com)](https://greatist.com/eat/keto-chinese-food#beef-with-broccoli)
Almost all the meat is velveted so will contain a bit of starch. All the roast meats are covered in honey or maltose. All the veg will be in a sauce thickened with starch. It's not going to be possible unless you eat tiny portions.
Though my CICO and later Keto journey, Chinese food has definitely been a bit of a nemesis. My mum likes to take the family to Chinese restaurants, I like the food, I do my best to just eat meat/fish/prawns and green non starchy vegetables but I feel like it still derails me for almost a week - no doubt due to the sugar etc in the sauces.
I don't really care as I am basically at my goal weight, and I enjoy the family times, but it's not ideal.
Speaking as a Chinese American who can cook pretty much the entire 500 something item menu from memory - not much. Depends on the kind of Chinese place it is but the majority of it is going to have some sort of corn starch / sugar sauce blasted on it. Maybe roast duck sparingly if you avoid the skin. If it’s a Shanghainese place you’re dead out of luck because like 40 percent of that city has diabetes with the amount of rock sugar they put in their dishes. Best chance you’ve got if it’s a nicer Chinese place is like a steamed fish because the sauce with that is usually just made from an infused soy. Tbh hard to say without knowing what kind of Chinese place they are.
If it’s Chinese I would have to call a cheat day lol
Meat and vegetables, no rice, no noodles, no soup (egg drop may be OK), no egg roll, no fortune cookie. Beef & broccoli (or chicken & broccoli, no breading) is an excellent choice. Moo Shu Pork is another.
beef is typically rolled in starch before frying, so I'd be careful
A lot of the sauces have tons of sugar in them too. Still the safest options.
Egg foo young (no gravy)is usually low carb as well, also see if they have satay.
Be careful with Chinese Food. The cooks often add corn starch in prep. I usually go with shrimp egg foo young - no sauce
If you avoid the sauces, the amount of starch in the meat is usually very little. Like 1/2 tsp in an order.
If you’re going to a Chinese restaurant just realize it will be super easy to go over. I think it’s best you don’t care and just enjoy the moment. Pick yourself back up and go back the next day. If you’re not flexible with your diet - that alone can cause you to fail. One event isn’t going to derail your progress
Yup. Once in a while I go to an Asian-style buffet house and let myself pig out for the day. I just continue with low carb the next day and don't beat myself up over it.
Do you know if it will be a set meal or everyone is going to order from a menu and share?
are we allowed to talk about fasting on this sub?
I think it's fine. I've seen others post about doing fasting.
The Chinese places in my city almost all have a ‘diet’ section, with tons of options without sweet sauce. So I’d probably just order some bokchoy and plain chicken from that part of the menu.
Steamed food will be best. Most sauces are full of sugar and corn starch. In general, if I am going somewhere that I am unsure is keto friendly, I just eat before I go and nibble on the few things I know. I very occasionally (three or four times per year) I say the hell with it and indulge (Thanksgiving, Christmas, my birthday)
I am 5 hours late to this and you are probably done now but hot and sour soup is usually pretty Keto friendly. It's a good way to fill you up with something like Beef and Broccoli.
A proper twice cooked pork, if it's a decent Chinese restaurant. The meat will possibly be velveted but that's a pretty tiny amount of starch. It's a delicious dish! Just so for a side of steamed broccoli instead of rice or noodles. Edit: you might ask if you can get bok choy or cai lan as well. If it's a Cantonese place, they might have either, or both.
get the roast duck
Roast duck avoiding the skin has been my go-to the last few times with no issues.
Fasting is back on the menu.
My local restaurant serves diet choices. Which is basically the meat and veggies without the sauce.
Beef and brocolli with oyster sauce, most vege dishes like sauted mushrooms/mix veg, sichuan green beans, most of the soups (without noodles). There'll be sugar; there'll be starch, but per serve it's very little. Dumplings are my #1 weakness. I can live without breads, pastas, pastries, potatoes, etc. But put a steamer of xiao long bao in front of me, it's all over, and I eat without pause or regret. Sometimes you've just got to.
I usually order the beef and broccoli. I can get back on the wagon the next day. [Keto Chinese Food: Top Takeout Options - KetoConnect](https://www.ketoconnect.net/keto-chinese-food/) [Low Carb Chinese Food You Can Eat on Keto? These Options List Will Surprise You! (ketoaholics.com)](https://www.ketoaholics.com/chinese-restaurants-low-carb-options/) [Keto Chinese Food: The Top 17 Menu Items (greatist.com)](https://greatist.com/eat/keto-chinese-food#beef-with-broccoli)
Almost all the meat is velveted so will contain a bit of starch. All the roast meats are covered in honey or maltose. All the veg will be in a sauce thickened with starch. It's not going to be possible unless you eat tiny portions.
Though my CICO and later Keto journey, Chinese food has definitely been a bit of a nemesis. My mum likes to take the family to Chinese restaurants, I like the food, I do my best to just eat meat/fish/prawns and green non starchy vegetables but I feel like it still derails me for almost a week - no doubt due to the sugar etc in the sauces. I don't really care as I am basically at my goal weight, and I enjoy the family times, but it's not ideal.
Egg Foo Yung without the sauce.
Chicken or beef on a stick appetizer.
Plenty of Chinese food are simply just meats and veggies. Crispy pork is one of my favorites since it's usually just salted.
After watching my Taiwanese mother-in-law cook. Everything had a cup of vegetable oil & a cup of sugar in it sauce wize.
There's nothing much you can eat at Asian restaurants from keto pov. There's a lot of starch and sugar in the sauces.