Making Healthier Choices When Getting Takeout Food

Healthy Takeout Food by Cuisines

    2022-12-1012/10/22   
Nutrition  

We don't always have the option to prepare meals at home, whether it's due to being busy with life's other responsibilities, health conditions that cause fatigue, or situations that make packing a lunch unfeasible.

Takeout was made for these occasions, as well as times when you just want to try something other than your own cooking. No matter how many tries go into recreating a restaurant favorite at home, it rarely tastes quite the same.

If you're planning to get takeout but you're also trying to maintain a healthy diet, don't worry. Healthy takeout food exists, and there's no shame in treating yourself to something you enjoy. Follow along to learn more about how to eat healthy while ordering takeout from your favorite eatery.

Eating Healthy with Takeout

Takeout food is stereotyped as being fattening and unhealthy, and yet, despite being just as calorie-dense, sit-down restaurants don't often get the same judgment about the food they serve.

In most cases, healthy eating is possible whether you're getting takeout or eating at home. Though it might be more challenging to make smart choices when ordering takeout, researching menus and substituting fattening elements with vegetables or lean protein helps.

Maintaining a healthy diet involves how you eat just as much as what you eat, so in addition to providing healthy menu items and substitutions to try when you're eating out, we'll also provide you with a few healthy habits to adopt. This way, you can approach healthy eating on more than one front.

Options from the Most Popular Cuisines in America

Eating out in the US presents a vast array of options. Whether you're trying to pick smart lunch options during your work break or you're focusing on eating healthy as a family despite a busy schedule, there are calorie-smart entrees and sides available at practically any eatery.

Let's explore some of the most popular cuisine types in the US and present a few options for healthy takeout food from each restaurant type.

Italian

If you're getting pizza, try opting for more vegetable toppings than fatty meat toppings. It's also a good idea to try thin crust to cut down on the carbs. Gluten-free crust is worth considering if you have an inflammatory health condition, but if you're trying to reduce calories, avoid this option (gluten-free crusts are often more fattening to make them more palatable).

For pasta, use tomato-based sauces whenever possible, and to add protein to what you're eating, add either mushrooms, grilled fish/shellfish, or grilled chicken.

Italian restaurants also usually offer salads, so if you're adding a salad to your plate, limit the cheese toppings and try a non-creamy dressing (caesar or vinaigrette).

Chinese

Chinese takeout usually offers an array of vegetable dishes. Moo shu vegetables, chop suey, or moo goo gai pan are worth trying. Meat and vegetable combinations are also filling and can be relatively healthy options. For example, eggplant or broccoli with beef, shrimp, or chicken are decent choices.

Chinese restaurants often have healthy soup options as well, like egg drop or hot and sour. Steamed dumplings are also a decent dish to consider, as they can be made with either vegetables or meat filling.

Japanese

Many Japanese sushi or sashimi dishes are healthy, so if you like fish, look into a few different sushi dishes. California rolls contain cooked fish, as do several other options if you're hesitant about eating raw fish. Further, some sushi dishes are made with vegetables (mushrooms, avocado, cucumber) rather than fish.

Teriyaki dishes are a filling option, and you can choose either meat, tofu, or extra vegetables in your teriyaki noodle dish.

Thai

Salads aren't uncommon at Thai restaurants, and they're usually packed with an array of interesting tastes and textures. For a hand-held item, summer rolls are good to try. They're similar to spring rolls or egg rolls, but they're not fried. The vegetables inside are raw and the dish is incredible on a hot day.

Chicken satay is also a relatively low-fat eating option, and to reduce the fat and calories even further, ask the cook to go easy on the peanut sauce or serve it on the side.

Mediterranean

Mediterranean cuisine has been a popular choice for health-conscious diners for many years. Greek dishes are a common example of Mediterranean food, and there are several items you can try while eating Greek.

Mediterranean pizza is typically healthier than other pizza options. Not to mention, Greek restaurants also offer several salad options.

If you're a vegetarian, getting takeout from a Mediterranean restaurant might be one of the easiest options for you in terms of variety.

Mexican

When getting takeout from Mexican restaurants, there are a few different ways to make your food a little healthier. First, if the eatery offers brown rice, ask for brown rice instead of white. Additionally, swap flour tortillas out for a bowl option.

Black beans might be a better choice than refried pinto beans depending on how they're prepared, and if you want to stick to eating a low-carb diet, fajitas are an option to consider.

Indian

Eating takeout from Indian restaurants is usually versatile, and this cuisine type is often easier for vegetarians. Several Indian curries are rich in protein and low in fat, as are masala dishes and daal.

Tandoori chicken is also a good option if you'd like something meaty when you order takeout. If you want bread, go with roti and pair it with hummus.

Cooked vegetable dishes, like aloo gobi, are also relatively healthy and they're quite filling.

American

Soups with a broth base are usually decent options for individuals who are trying to eat better. Additionally, salads are often a big part of American eatery menus. If you're getting a meat entree, ask for it grilled rather than fried or cooked with a lot of oil.

For sides, cooked vegetables can be tasty. If you want a dish that's carb-based, see if whole wheat options are available.

Fast Food

Fast food restaurants are posted all over the US, so if you're going to eat at one of the many popular fast food chains, here are a few of the healthier options you might want to try.

  • Starbucks: Teas, Oatmeal, Spinach Feta Egg Wrap
  • Chipotle: Steak Salad, Bean Bowl
  • Panera: Ancient Grain Salad (w/ Chicken)
  • Subway: Rotisserie Chicken Sandwich, Veggie Delite Sandwich
  • Burger King: Grilled Chicken Sandwich
  • Dunkin Donuts: Veggie Egg Sandwich (on English Muffin)
  • Wendy's: Grilled Chicken Wrap, Egg & Cheese Sandwich
  • Panda Express: Broccoli Beef, Super Greens, Mushroom Chicken

Healthy Practices

On top of seeking out healthier food options as a whole, adopting healthier eating practices will also help ensure that you're making smart choices even while eating out.

Portion Control

Limiting the amount of food you eat in a single sitting is a good idea for healthy eating in general. If you get takeout, serve yourself a portion of the full serving on a different plate/bowl. Put the rest away, then work on eating the portion in front of you. Part of the benefit of takeout is the fact that you can save leftovers for later.

Eat Mindfully

Listening to your body is also imperative when it comes to healthy eating. Controlling your portion size is one thing, but don't treat this practice as law. If you have too much in front of you, only eat until you're comfortably full. If you're still hungry after finishing your portion, have a bit more to eat.

Also, avoid waiting until you feel like you're starving before you get something to eat. Being moderately hungry is enough of a cue that you need food. Waiting until you're famished makes it easier to overeat because your body's fullness signals might not trigger until you've become painfully full.

If you have a schedule you're following, maybe a small snack will help satiate your hunger until mealtime.

Smart Beverage Choices

If you get something to drink from a takeout restaurant, keep an eye on the calories. Instead of getting a sugar-packed soda, try tea or just water with lemon. Most restaurants list the calorie content of each item on their menu, drinks included, so scan the menu to find healthier options.

Caution with Sauces

We often forget to include sauces and condiments when we think about healthy eating, but we should. Sauces can add hundreds of calories to an otherwise reasonably healthy dish. If you're eating takeout, try to limit how much sauce you use, forego it entirely, or swap it out for a more calorie-friendly option.

Cooking Methods Matter

Keep an eye on how your food is prepared because often, the method of cooking can add or subtract calories. For example, food that is deep fried is going to be more fattening than grilled, baked, or steamed food. Altering the cooking method can allow you to eat what you want without all the added calories.

Eating healthy doesn't have to be unpleasant. You don't have to stick to celery sticks and bland protein bars to maintain your diet, and you shouldn't. Instead of cutting takeout from your eating plan, choose nutritious menu options and eat mindfully and you can enjoy the best of both worlds.

headshot of Jay Todtenbier 2018
Author

Jay Todtenbier is an original founder of SupplementRelief.com in 2010 and has operated the business ever since. He is also a tennis instructor and gospel musician. Formerly he spent 25 years in business development, technology and marketing with startups and major corporations having gone through the tech boom in Silicon Valley in the 90s. He became passionate about, and began studying and practicing Wellness as a Lifestyle after experiencing chronic, personal health challenges including depression, auto-immune disorders, and being overweight that impacted his ability to live a healthy, vibrant life. Since then, he has been an advocate for healthier living encouraging others to live better through making small, gradual changes to lifestyle behaviors relating to whole-foods nutrition, stress management, reasonable exercise, proper sleep, and the use of targeted, high-quality supplements.

Learn more about Jay Todtenbier.

  Related Content

We encourage you to take advantage of these FREE Wellness Resources on our website.


girl playing a brain puzzle

10 Best Foods to Boost Your Brain and Memory

Keeping your brain healthy involves a combination of a nutritious diet, regular exercise, and social interaction. Certains foods are a better choice than others. Here's some tasty and healthy options.


large pink lips on woman's face depicting healthy skin from collagen

12 Collagen-Rich Foods for a Healthier Body

You may have heard of collagen, but do you know what it does in our body? Keeping a healthier body means we need to include a focus on collagen-rich foods. Keep reading to find a guide for meeting your body's collagen needs.


collection of superfoods

Adding Superfoods to Your Diet

We have all heard of the term superfoods. But what does it mean? What are these foods that supposedly have numerous health benefits? How much of these foods should we be eating, and are they beneficial?


Assortment of Unhealthy Food including burgers, chips, sodas, pizza, donuts, etc. Unhealthy eating, junk food concept.

How to Improve Your Gut Health by Avoiding These 13 Toxic Foods

We've all heard the phrase "You are what you eat," but there's more truth to it than you can ever imagine! Being aware of what you eat and avoiding toxic foods will improve your gastrointestinal health. Keep reading to learn which foods to avoid for a healthier, happier gut.


an assortment of healthy functional foods for a balanced diet

What Are Functional Foods?

Have you ever wondered how you can enrich your diet further than getting the basic nutrients and energy you need? Then perhaps you should add some functional foods to your daily diet.


Woman Shopping with List in Grocery Store for Dairy Free Foods

What Can You Eat on a Dairy-Free Foods Diet?

The average American eats just under two cups of dairy products every day. But you're not the average American.

Instead, you've decided to forego dairy products. It could be that you're one of the 50 million people in the United States who is lactose intolerant. Or, you might just want to skip dairy for ethical or personal reasons.


healthy and unhealthy foods on four forks show a continuum from healthy to unhealthy depicting the standard American diet

What Is the Standard American Diet (SAD)?

How aware are you of what's going into your body? Are you eating to live or living to eat? In reality, we all have different nutritional needs, but the standard American diet (SAD) doesn't suit most of them (or most people, for that matter). Your diet might be making you sick, sluggish, and at-risk.

  • Blog Post

    If you're planning to get takeout but you're also trying to maintain a healthy diet, don't worry. Healthy takeout food exists, and there's no shame in treating yourself to something you enjoy. Follow along to learn more about how to eat healthy while ordering takeout from your favorite eatery.

    Eating Healthy with Takeout

    Takeout food is stereotyped as being fattening and unhealthy, and yet, despite being just as calorie-dense, sit-down restaurants don't often get the same judgment about the food they serve.

    In most cases, healthy eating is possible whether you're getting takeout or eating at home. Though it might be more challenging to make smart choices when ordering takeout, researching menus and substituting fattening elements with vegetables or lean protein helps.

    Maintaining a healthy diet involves how you eat just as much as what you eat, so in addition to providing healthy menu items and substitutions to try when you're eating out, we'll also provide you with a few healthy habits to adopt. This way, you can approach healthy eating on more than one front.

    Options from the Most Popular Cuisines in America

    Eating out in the US presents a vast array of options. Whether you're trying to pick smart lunch options during your work break or you're focusing on eating healthy as a family despite a busy schedule, there are calorie-smart entrees and sides available at practically any eatery.

    Let's explore some of the most popular cuisine types in the US and present a few options for healthy takeout food from each restaurant type.

    Italian

    If you're getting pizza, try opting for more vegetable toppings than fatty meat toppings. It's also a good idea to try thin crust to cut down on the carbs. Gluten-free crust is worth considering if you have an inflammatory health condition, but if you're trying to reduce calories, avoid this option (gluten-free crusts are often more fattening to make them more palatable).

    For pasta, use tomato-based sauces whenever possible, and to add protein to what you're eating, add either mushrooms, grilled fish/shellfish, or grilled chicken.

    Italian restaurants also usually offer salads, so if you're adding a salad to your plate, limit the cheese toppings and try a non-creamy dressing (caesar or vinaigrette).

    Chinese

    Chinese takeout usually offers an array of vegetable dishes. Moo shu vegetables, chop suey, or moo goo gai pan are worth trying. Meat and vegetable combinations are also filling and can be relatively healthy options. For example, eggplant or broccoli with beef, shrimp, or chicken are decent choices.

    Chinese restaurants often have healthy soup options as well, like egg drop or hot and sour. Steamed dumplings are also a decent dish to consider, as they can be made with either vegetables or meat filling.

    Japanese

    Many Japanese sushi or sashimi dishes are healthy, so if you like fish, look into a few different sushi dishes. California rolls contain cooked fish, as do several other options if you're hesitant about eating raw fish. Further, some sushi dishes are made with vegetables (mushrooms, avocado, cucumber) rather than fish.

    Teriyaki dishes are a filling option, and you can choose either meat, tofu, or extra vegetables in your teriyaki noodle dish.

    Thai

    Salads aren't uncommon at Thai restaurants, and they're usually packed with an array of interesting tastes and textures. For a hand-held item, summer rolls are good to try. They're similar to spring rolls or egg rolls, but they're not fried. The vegetables inside are raw and the dish is incredible on a hot day.

    Chicken satay is also a relatively low-fat eating option, and to reduce the fat and calories even further, ask the cook to go easy on the peanut sauce or serve it on the side.

    Mediterranean

    Mediterranean cuisine has been a popular choice for health-conscious diners for many years. Greek dishes are a common example of Mediterranean food, and there are several items you can try while eating Greek.

    Mediterranean pizza is typically healthier than other pizza options. Not to mention, Greek restaurants also offer several salad options.

    If you're a vegetarian, getting takeout from a Mediterranean restaurant might be one of the easiest options for you in terms of variety.

    Mexican

    When getting takeout from Mexican restaurants, there are a few different ways to make your food a little healthier. First, if the eatery offers brown rice, ask for brown rice instead of white. Additionally, swap flour tortillas out for a bowl option.

    Black beans might be a better choice than refried pinto beans depending on how they're prepared, and if you want to stick to eating a low-carb diet, fajitas are an option to consider.

    Indian

    Eating takeout from Indian restaurants is usually versatile, and this cuisine type is often easier for vegetarians. Several Indian curries are rich in protein and low in fat, as are masala dishes and daal.

    Tandoori chicken is also a good option if you'd like something meaty when you order takeout. If you want bread, go with roti and pair it with hummus.

    Cooked vegetable dishes, like aloo gobi, are also relatively healthy and they're quite filling.

    American

    Soups with a broth base are usually decent options for individuals who are trying to eat better. Additionally, salads are often a big part of American eatery menus. If you're getting a meat entree, ask for it grilled rather than fried or cooked with a lot of oil.

    For sides, cooked vegetables can be tasty. If you want a dish that's carb-based, see if whole wheat options are available.

    Fast Food

    Fast food restaurants are posted all over the US, so if you're going to eat at one of the many popular fast food chains, here are a few of the healthier options you might want to try.

    • Starbucks: Teas, Oatmeal, Spinach Feta Egg Wrap
    • Chipotle: Steak Salad, Bean Bowl
    • Panera: Ancient Grain Salad (w/ Chicken)
    • Subway: Rotisserie Chicken Sandwich, Veggie Delite Sandwich
    • Burger King: Grilled Chicken Sandwich
    • Dunkin Donuts: Veggie Egg Sandwich (on English Muffin)
    • Wendy's: Grilled Chicken Wrap, Egg & Cheese Sandwich
    • Panda Express: Broccoli Beef, Super Greens, Mushroom Chicken

    Healthy Practices

    On top of seeking out healthier food options as a whole, adopting healthier eating practices will also help ensure that you're making smart choices even while eating out.

    Portion Control

    Limiting the amount of food you eat in a single sitting is a good idea for healthy eating in general. If you get takeout, serve yourself a portion of the full serving on a different plate/bowl. Put the rest away, then work on eating the portion in front of you. Part of the benefit of takeout is the fact that you can save leftovers for later.

    Eat Mindfully

    Listening to your body is also imperative when it comes to healthy eating. Controlling your portion size is one thing, but don't treat this practice as law. If you have too much in front of you, only eat until you're comfortably full. If you're still hungry after finishing your portion, have a bit more to eat.

    Also, avoid waiting until you feel like you're starving before you get something to eat. Being moderately hungry is enough of a cue that you need food. Waiting until you're famished makes it easier to overeat because your body's fullness signals might not trigger until you've become painfully full.

    If you have a schedule you're following, maybe a small snack will help satiate your hunger until mealtime.

    Smart Beverage Choices

    If you get something to drink from a takeout restaurant, keep an eye on the calories. Instead of getting a sugar-packed soda, try tea or just water with lemon. Most restaurants list the calorie content of each item on their menu, drinks included, so scan the menu to find healthier options.

    Caution with Sauces

    We often forget to include sauces and condiments when we think about healthy eating, but we should. Sauces can add hundreds of calories to an otherwise reasonably healthy dish. If you're eating takeout, try to limit how much sauce you use, forego it entirely, or swap it out for a more calorie-friendly option.

    Cooking Methods Matter

    Keep an eye on how your food is prepared because often, the method of cooking can add or subtract calories. For example, food that is deep fried is going to be more fattening than grilled, baked, or steamed food. Altering the cooking method can allow you to eat what you want without all the added calories.

    Eating healthy doesn't have to be unpleasant. You don't have to stick to celery sticks and bland protein bars to maintain your diet, and you shouldn't. Instead of cutting takeout from your eating plan, choose nutritious menu options and eat mindfully and you can enjoy the best of both worlds.

    headshot of Jay Todtenbier 2018
    Author

    Jay Todtenbier is an original founder of SupplementRelief.com in 2010 and has operated the business ever since. He is also a tennis instructor and gospel musician. Formerly he spent 25 years in business development, technology and marketing with startups and major corporations having gone through the tech boom in Silicon Valley in the 90s. He became passionate about, and began studying and practicing Wellness as a Lifestyle after experiencing chronic, personal health challenges including depression, auto-immune disorders, and being overweight that impacted his ability to live a healthy, vibrant life. Since then, he has been an advocate for healthier living encouraging others to live better through making small, gradual changes to lifestyle behaviors relating to whole-foods nutrition, stress management, reasonable exercise, proper sleep, and the use of targeted, high-quality supplements.

    Learn more about Jay Todtenbier.

  • Related Content

      Related Content

    We encourage you to take advantage of these FREE Wellness Resources on our website.


    girl playing a brain puzzle

    10 Best Foods to Boost Your Brain and Memory

    Keeping your brain healthy involves a combination of a nutritious diet, regular exercise, and social interaction. Certains foods are a better choice than others. Here's some tasty and healthy options.


    large pink lips on woman's face depicting healthy skin from collagen

    12 Collagen-Rich Foods for a Healthier Body

    You may have heard of collagen, but do you know what it does in our body? Keeping a healthier body means we need to include a focus on collagen-rich foods. Keep reading to find a guide for meeting your body's collagen needs.


    collection of superfoods

    Adding Superfoods to Your Diet

    We have all heard of the term superfoods. But what does it mean? What are these foods that supposedly have numerous health benefits? How much of these foods should we be eating, and are they beneficial?


    Assortment of Unhealthy Food including burgers, chips, sodas, pizza, donuts, etc. Unhealthy eating, junk food concept.

    How to Improve Your Gut Health by Avoiding These 13 Toxic Foods

    We've all heard the phrase "You are what you eat," but there's more truth to it than you can ever imagine! Being aware of what you eat and avoiding toxic foods will improve your gastrointestinal health. Keep reading to learn which foods to avoid for a healthier, happier gut.


    an assortment of healthy functional foods for a balanced diet

    What Are Functional Foods?

    Have you ever wondered how you can enrich your diet further than getting the basic nutrients and energy you need? Then perhaps you should add some functional foods to your daily diet.


    Woman Shopping with List in Grocery Store for Dairy Free Foods

    What Can You Eat on a Dairy-Free Foods Diet?

    The average American eats just under two cups of dairy products every day. But you're not the average American.

    Instead, you've decided to forego dairy products. It could be that you're one of the 50 million people in the United States who is lactose intolerant. Or, you might just want to skip dairy for ethical or personal reasons.


    healthy and unhealthy foods on four forks show a continuum from healthy to unhealthy depicting the standard American diet

    What Is the Standard American Diet (SAD)?

    How aware are you of what's going into your body? Are you eating to live or living to eat? In reality, we all have different nutritional needs, but the standard American diet (SAD) doesn't suit most of them (or most people, for that matter). Your diet might be making you sick, sluggish, and at-risk.


The information, knowledge, and experience shared on this website is the opinion of SupplementRelief.com. This site and its content is intended to enhance your knowledge base as YOU MAKE YOUR OWN HEALTHCARE DECISIONS in partnership with your qualified health professional. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Any products referred to are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

comments for discussion forum
Discussion Forum

Ask questions. Share your thoughts.  Note that we cannot answer questions relating to specific medical conditions - please refer those to your qualified healthcare provider. Post a new Comment or Reply to an existing one.

Discussion Forum

Share your thoughts.  Post a new Comment or Reply to an existing one.

Post Comment
 Discussion Forum Help

Comments are displayed in order of the last one posted so the most recent Comment is at the top and older Comments are towards the bottom. Replies within a Comment are displayed in reverse order with the oldest Reply at the top and the most recent one at the bottom.

Each post identifies who made the post and the date and time the post was made.

Mouse over the icons for tooltips that explain what the data means.

If you see this icon you can attach an Audio file to your post.

If you see this icon you can attach a Document file to your post.

If you see this icon you can attach an Image file to your post.

If you see this icon you can attach a Video file to your post.

You will see the Ban icon (Report Post as SPAM) immediately following the Timestamp of the post. Click this icon if you feel strongly that the content posted is not appropriate and should be reviewed by the Forum Moderator. You will be provided with a confirmation dialog to be sure you wish to submit this post for review. If submitted, the Forum Moderator will be notified to review the post and will determine what type of action to take.

Click in the upper right corner of this Help modal or anywhere on the web page outside of the modal to exit Help.

×
Blog Post Page Help ×
  

* Disclaimer: This page is available exclusively for SupplementRelief.com clients. None of the information on this website is intended to replace your relationship with your healthcare provider(s). Nothing should be considered medical advice. The information, knowledge, and experience shared on this website is the opinion of SupplementRelief.com. This site and its content is intended to enhance your knowledge base as YOU MAKE YOUR OWN HEALTHCARE DECISIONS in partnership with your qualified health professional.

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products and services are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

* There is NO GUARANTEE OF SPECIFIC RESULTS for the products or services offered and the RESULTS CAN VARY for each individual.

FirstFitness Nutrition and NuMedica may be promoted and sold on the internet ONLY by Authorized Resellers who have been approved by, and have registered their website domain with these companies. They strictly prohibit, and actively monitor, the UNAUTHORIZED SALE or RESALE of their products in ALL online public shopping portals including Amazon, eBay, and others and into other countries. All products purchased in SupplementRelief.com are for PERSONAL USE ONLY and CANNOT BE RESOLD to others. Please report violations of Reseller Policy directly to FirstFitness Nutrition at 800.621.4348 and to NuMedica at 800.869.8100.

The content and photographs on this website are copyrighted or Licensed Material and may not be downloaded for other than personal use. Republication, retransmission, reproduction or any other use of the content or photographs is prohibited. ©2010-2023 SupplementRelief.com.