Is Thai Food Healthy? – The 10 Healthiest Thai Food Orders

“My number one piece of advice for dining in a Thai restaurant is, to begin with, a fresh salad,” Gorin adds. “Since so many Thai dishes—think fried pork with sauced noodles—is delectable yet filling, it’s a good idea to stock up on fresh vegetables.”

“My go-to is a papaya salad with a side of dressing,” she continues. “Typically, shredded green papaya, string beans, and tomatoes are used.”

Gorin likes to order the salad as an appetizer, but it readily converts into a light dinner when paired with grilled meats.

While we’re on the subject of grilled meat, here’s another protein-packed appetizer for you. If you’re in the desire for red meat but want to watch your saturated fat intake or portion sizes, Gorin thinks this dish is a perfect option.

Vegetables are mixed in a citrusy dressing and topped with a tiny amount of grilled meat in the majority of spicy beef salads.

Steamed proteins are an excellent choice if you’re trying to stay on the healthier side of the menu, Gorin adds because they often do not include any oil and are generally lower in calories.

Fish is frequently cooked with aromatics (such as ginger, lemongrass, and kaffir lime leaves) and served with a sweet-salty-spicy sauce at Thai restaurants. Gorin suggests getting your sauce on the side to ensure that you just use what you need (and avoid going overboard on salt in the process).

The majority of Thai curries are created with a coconut milk sauce that contains spices, herbs, salty fish or soy sauce, and (yes, sugar). Although the sauce is creamy and rather high in fat and calories, a small amount goes a long way.

If you enjoy Thai curry (and who doesn’t? ), know that you don’t have to avoid it in order to maintain a healthy fat and calorie intake, Gorin adds. Simply supplement your curry with more veggies and a lean protein such as chicken or tofu to complete the meal. If you choose rice, choose brown rice to obtain additional vitamins and minerals.

Once you’ve eaten your fill, containerize the leftovers for lunch or dinner the following day.

“This is another go-to recipe for me, and I enjoy it because of the flavor and variety of vegetables,” Gorin adds. “Fried tofu is delectable, but if I’m watching my calories, I’ll request that the tofu not be fried.”

Increase the nutritional value of your meal by ordering additional veggies and, as usual, go for brown rice.

“Fresh summer rolls are an excellent way to get more vegetables into your dinner, and opting for them instead of fried spring rolls save both calories and saturated fat,” Gorin explains.

If you’re looking for a protein boost, opt for tofu or shrimp summer rolls. Keep it simple with straight-up vegetable rolls for a quick appetizer.