Ethnic Food Choices

Eating out can often pose a great number of problems for your diet if you aren't careful. While there are some obvious food choices you should avoid, namely fast food hamburgers, French fries, and pasta's that are smothered in creamy sauces, often times it's not quite that easy to decipher what's going to be good for you and what's going to lead to trouble for your waistline.

When it comes to ethnic cuisine, this can be particularly troublesome. By taking the time to learn what the best selections are and what the dishes to avoid are, you can easily stick with your nutrition plan while eating out.

Here's what you need to know.

Chinese

If you're out for Chinese, there are lots of danger zones. Chinese food in particular is bad for deep frying when it comes to Westernized versions of the meals, which vastly increase the calorie and fat content of your meal.

The major dishes you should avoid and why include:

Egg foo young - This dish will likely be high in cholesterol and might have a very high level of trans fat

Spare ribs - Spare ribs are often dressed in a sauce that's full of sugar, adding up the simple carbohydrate count in your diet.

Egg rolls - Egg rolls are a big favorite among many, but unfortunately they're quite high in calories and contain a great deal of sodium. If you're watching your weight, it's best to avoid these.

Instead of those dishes choose:

Steamed dumplings - Usually anything steamed is a much safer bet since there will be no additional calories added during the cooking process.

Tofu dishes - This will help up your protein content, which can sometimes be lacking in the rice-based meals, as well as giving you a dish that's lower in saturated fat content.

Bamboo dishes - Finally, bamboo is a great choose because of the fiber and dietary protein it contains. Both of these in combination will ensure that you stay feeling full for good time to follow the meal.

Japanese

Next up, you have Japanese food. You'll find some similar staples when it comes to Japanese dining as Chinese dining, namely rice, broth based soups, and vegetable stir-fries.

In addition to that, these are the dishes to be aware of.

Sake and Plum Wine - While wine is typically a healthier alcoholic beverage, keep in mind that these beverages also contain a fair amount of sugar, adding to their calorie content.

Sukiyaki - Sukiyaki is definitely something you want to avoid because it's made with lard and sugar. This makes it both high in cholesterol, and also a dish that will wreak havoc on your insulin levels.

Gyoza - Finally, the third dish that you might want to think twice about is Gyoza. This dish is fried and full of fat - and not the good kind.

Now, what should you eat? Try one of these dishes instead.

Sushi and Nigiri - Sushi is made of lean fish, steamed rice, and might even come some very thinly chopped vegetables. It's the perfect dish that has a good balance of protein and carbohydrates, and if you happen to eat it with some avocado, you'll get a good dose of healthy fat as well.

Sashimi - Sashimi is another top choice as it offers many of the same benefits as that of sushi, only sans rice. For those on low-carb diets, this is the best option for you.

Won-ton soup - Finally, the last dish to give a try is Won-ton soup. While often the insides of the Won-ton's are made of pork, as long as you be sure not to eat too many, it can be a good source of protein, while being fairly low in fat, carbohydrates, and calories.

So, next time you're out for a culturally based meal, consider these choices. Eating out doesn't have to mean gaining weight so long as you take the appropriate measures with the selection process.