What is a low calorie Thai Food dish?

[Poppy39]

What is a low calorie Thai Food dish?

I am eating dinner over a friends house tonight and she wants to do take out. I have been eating really healthy and do not want to spoil it. I normal get chicken pad thai, but i would assume that is not low in calories.

[gamini]

som tam - papaya salad

[xen]

larb - specify what you want in it . Yum is also good .

[irishsmile]

Boiled or steamed rice, skinless chicken.

[Jingthing]

White rice converts quickly into sugar in the body.

CLEAR tom yum is good.

Pad Thai ... chocolate cake probably has fewer calories.

Edited October 29, 2014 by Jingthing

[AyG]

Also:

kaeng cheut or any of the clear, bland soups

nam phrik served with a selection of raw and semiraw vegetables

kaeng som, kaeng leuang, kaeng paa and other clear curries - the ones with prawns and fish will be lower calorie than ones with meat.

[craigt3365]

Low calories aren't the only thing you should be worried about. Thai food is laced with fish sauce (sodium), sugar and MSG. I've gotten my wife off rice...we only eat a small amount now, and it's brown rice, not white rice. Still working on her mom who eats plate fulls of it every day....

Prawns and squid are things I try to avoid and only eat occasionally. Shrimp is a bit high in sodium and cholesterol. But in moderation, are fine.

[jacko45k]

Nam-prik-ong, throw away the pork!

As I tell the wife.

[wernerkl]

hard boiled eggs

[robertthebruce]

Don't get me started on Healthy Thai food, it's impossible...

Everything is ladened with Salt and Sugar, or Syrup....

brown rice is a good start for a healthy meal......

[AyG]

Low calories aren't the only thing you should be worried about. Thai food is laced with fish sauce (sodium), sugar and MSG. I've gotten my wife off rice...we only eat a small amount now, and it's brown rice, not white rice. Still working on her mom who eats plate fulls of it every day....

Prawns and squid are things I try to avoid and only eat occasionally. Shrimp is a bit high in sodium and cholesterol. But in moderation, are fine.

There's no evidence that either sodium* or MSG has any negative impact on human health in the amounts consumed in food.

A lot of Thai dishes contain no sugar whatsoever. In fact, with the dishes I listed in my previous posting, not one of them contains sugar.

As for eating cholesterol, for the large majority of people it's not an issue. The human body produces far more cholesterol itself than is eaten. Total intake of fats and oils is much more significant.

* This claim is probably controversial. However, see for example http://hyper.ahajournals.org/content/36/5/890.full which argues that whilst high levels of sodium intake are associated with elevated blood pressure, there's been no conclusive evidence that it results in early death.

[BudRight]

ไกผัดกระเทียม is great

Seriously though, what is healthy to you? A lot of posters seem to subscribe to the bar bullshit school of nutritional science.

Edited October 30, 2014 by BudRight

[dotpoom]

After watching a Norwegian programme about fish farms and the chemicals used in order to produce cheap fish that supply most of the world's markets, I will never eat fish again. They were the equivalent of the "Elephant Man" in fish terms.

[craigt3365]

Low calories aren't the only thing you should be worried about. Thai food is laced with fish sauce (sodium), sugar and MSG. I've gotten my wife off rice...we only eat a small amount now, and it's brown rice, not white rice. Still working on her mom who eats plate fulls of it every day....

Prawns and squid are things I try to avoid and only eat occasionally. Shrimp is a bit high in sodium and cholesterol. But in moderation, are fine.

There's no evidence that either sodium* or MSG has any negative impact on human health in the amounts consumed in food.

A lot of Thai dishes contain no sugar whatsoever. In fact, with the dishes I listed in my previous posting, not one of them contains sugar.

As for eating cholesterol, for the large majority of people it's not an issue. The human body produces far more cholesterol itself than is eaten. Total intake of fats and oils is much more significant.

* This claim is probably controversial. However, see for example http://hyper.ahajournals.org/content/36/5/890.full which argues that whilst high levels of sodium intake are associated with elevated blood pressure, there's been no conclusive evidence that it results in early death.

Sorry, don't want to argue with you, but lots of research on the impact of MSG and high sodium in your diet. It's controversial, but some are allergic to MSG:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/monosodium-glutamate/faq-20058196

http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/food-nutrition/facts/the-dangers-of-monosodium-glutamate.htm

As you know, sodium creeps into your diet from a variety of sources. Mayo Clinic has some excellent research on this:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/sodium/art-20045479

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/NutritionCenter/HealthyDietGoals/The-Effects-of-Excess-Sodium-on-Your-Health-and-Appearance_UCM_454387_Article.jsp

Interesting report on Thais high consumption of sugar:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/595228-thais-growing-increasingly-fond-of-sugar/

[Estrada]

som tam - papaya salad

Som Tam is a high calorie Thai food, although there are plenty of web sites telling us that it is a low calorie food. Have you seen Thai's making Som Tam? They shovel sugar in like there is no tomorrow?

Som Tam is made with around a tablespoon of sugar or palm sugar per serving. In addition there is sugar contained in the fish sauce. Then there are calories in the peanuts and dried prawns. Total calories in a serving of Som Tam can be 400-500 Calories!

Best to make your own without sugar and/or palm sugar, if it is not too sour for your taste.

Edited October 30, 2014 by Estrada

[jij]

SALAD

[curtklay]

I wish they would put some of that sugar into their cakes, donuts, and cookies. Most of their sweets taste like wood pulp.

[AyG]

Low calories aren't the only thing you should be worried about. Thai food is laced with fish sauce (sodium), sugar and MSG. I've gotten my wife off rice...we only eat a small amount now, and it's brown rice, not white rice. Still working on her mom who eats plate fulls of it every day....

Prawns and squid are things I try to avoid and only eat occasionally. Shrimp is a bit high in sodium and cholesterol. But in moderation, are fine.

There's no evidence that either sodium* or MSG has any negative impact on human health in the amounts consumed in food.

A lot of Thai dishes contain no sugar whatsoever. In fact, with the dishes I listed in my previous posting, not one of them contains sugar.

As for eating cholesterol, for the large majority of people it's not an issue. The human body produces far more cholesterol itself than is eaten. Total intake of fats and oils is much more significant.

* This claim is probably controversial. However, see for example http://hyper.ahajournals.org/content/36/5/890.full which argues that whilst high levels of sodium intake are associated with elevated blood pressure, there's been no conclusive evidence that it results in early death.

Sorry, don't want to argue with you, but lots of research on the impact of MSG and high sodium in your diet. It's controversial, but some are allergic to MSG:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/monosodium-glutamate/faq-20058196

http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/food-nutrition/facts/the-dangers-of-monosodium-glutamate.htm

As you know, sodium creeps into your diet from a variety of sources. Mayo Clinic has some excellent research on this:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/sodium/art-20045479

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/NutritionCenter/HealthyDietGoals/The-Effects-of-Excess-Sodium-on-Your-Health-and-Appearance_UCM_454387_Article.jsp

Interesting report on Thais high consumption of sugar:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/595228-thais-growing-increasingly-fond-of-sugar/

Looking at double blind studies on MSG:

"'Chinese Restaurant Syndrome' is an anecdote applied to a variety of postprandial illnesses; rigorous and realistic scientific evidence linking the syndrome to MSG could not be found." http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8282275

"The results suggest that large doses of MSG given without food may elicit more symptoms than a placebo in individuals who believe that they react adversely to MSG. However, the frequency of the responses was low and the responses reported were inconsistent and were not reproducible. The responses were not observed when MSG was given with food." http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10736382 (Italics mine.)

Absolutely no scientific evidence of allergy to MSG. All the evidence is anecdotal or based upon badly designed experiments (e.g. the subjects could taste the MSG in what they were given to eat/drink). In fact, allergy wouldn't make sense because it also occurs naturally in foods such as cheese and tomatoes.

The links about sodium are simply saying "eat less sodium because it makes blood pressure go up". It does - fractionally. However, as my previous link explained, the blood pressure elevation is slight and there is no evidence that it increases mortality. Low sodium intake comes with its own hazards (altered personality, lethargy and confusion, seizures, coma, death). The mg/day limits are not based on any hard scientific evidence - they're more of a hunch.

[Mot Dang]

Also:

kaeng cheut or any of the clear, bland soups

nam phrik served with a selection of raw and semiraw vegetables

kaeng som, kaeng leuang, kaeng paa and other clear curries - the ones with prawns and fish will be lower calorie than ones with meat.

Your right on target there.

In central Thailand there are some nam phriks that are almost like a salsa. You can make them to you own taste. The Issan nam phriks my wife makes would kill a junk yard dog, but a great if you can handle them. A yum nua is ok if very lean beef is used sparingly. Instead of rice or egg noodles in soup use bean curd noodles. Like in kaeng cheut (my mainstay breakfast).

Eat plenty of Thai vegetables. Morning glory steamed of stir fried is full of antioxidants and vitamins. Keeps your immune system in shape.

One Thai ingredient that should be avoided or limited is coconut milk, it contains the fats you don't want Go easy.

[slipperylobster]

Most of it is low calorie. Vegetables and meat. Keep it basic. Plain rice, some vegetables and light on the pork/chicken/fish.

Unlike our super high fat/calorie western diet of gravy, butter, fatty red meat, biscuits, pies, etc !!!!

Look up a western meatloaf dinner with gravy and potato (smothered in butter) and slices of bread, compared to a light meal of fish, rice, fresh vegetables.

not rocket science.

[MediaWatcher]

On a light note, you should find another country, to live in, here, if you remain on your diet, you will starve to death or suffer from malnutrition.

[MediaWatcher]

slipperylobster, on 30 Oct 2014 - 12:24, said:

Most of it is low calorie. Vegetables and meat. Keep it basic. Plain rice, some vegetables and light on the pork/chicken/fish.

Unlike our super high fat/calorie western diet of gravy, butter, fatty red meat, biscuits, pies, etc !!!!

Look up a western meatloaf dinner with gravy and potato (smothered in butter) and slices of bread, compared to a light meal of fish, rice, fresh vegetables.

not rocket science.

All that "bad" western food, yet we still, on average, live longer that Thais... go figure. Makes you wonder just how "bad" that western diet is.

[slipperylobster]

slipperylobster, on 30 Oct 2014 - 12:24, said:

Most of it is low calorie. Vegetables and meat. Keep it basic. Plain rice, some vegetables and light on the pork/chicken/fish.

Unlike our super high fat/calorie western diet of gravy, butter, fatty red meat, biscuits, pies, etc !!!!

Look up a western meatloaf dinner with gravy and potato (smothered in butter) and slices of bread, compared to a light meal of fish, rice, fresh vegetables.

not rocket science.

All that "bad" western food, yet we still, on average, live longer that Thais... go figure. Makes you wonder just how "bad" that western diet is.

Never sad "bad". Simply a matter of counting calories at the restaurant...as well as fat.

They have us beat....hands down. The OP was asking what foods should he order...simple.

[curtklay]

Most of it is low calorie. Vegetables and meat. Keep it basic. Plain rice, some vegetables and light on the pork/chicken/fish.

Unlike our super high fat/calorie western diet of gravy, butter, fatty red meat, biscuits, pies, etc !!!!

Look up a western meatloaf dinner with gravy and potato (smothered in butter) and slices of bread, compared to a light meal of fish, rice, fresh vegetables.

not rocket science.

It's low calorie if you eat it raw. Once they start deep frying in motor oil and shoveling the sugar and salt in, you might as well hit McDonalds.

Edited October 30, 2014 by curtklay

[Suradit69]

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Don't get me started on Healthy Thai food, it's impossible...

Everything is ladened with Salt and Sugar, or Syrup....

brown rice is a good start for a healthy meal......

I know the O/P is planing on ordering out, but in the normal course of events, you could always cook at home and adjust recipes to reduce things you don't want to consume. Easy to eliminate the MSG & sugar, use low sodium soy sauce or reduce the amount of fish sauce and cook with a better quality cooking oil & less fatty cuts of meat.

larb - specify what you want in it . Yum is also good .

Something like larb moo is probably 200 to 300 calories for a very small portion, contains a lot of fat and, if consumed with rice, would be worse. I love larb moo, but don't think I'd regard it as low-cal.

[scubascuba3]

Thais are very slim compared to westerners, so the food can't be that bad

[Jingthing]

The trouble with larb gai (and chicken orders in general) is a lot of cheap and even moderate price Thai restaurants these days use that horrible dry processed chicken. It's bad enough in curries, its DISGUSTING minced in larb!

Edited October 30, 2014 by Jingthing

[KhnomKhnom]

Thai peasant food, like that among Eskomos, Italians, and so on, is often high in calories and direct and converted sugar. This is because peasants eat little and need all the calories they can get and all the energy, too.

However, load on a FULL meal and watch peasants get fat, like American Indians located near plentiful game and Thai locals now pigging out at McDonalds.

Almost all of Thai peasant food--not pejorative, just factual--is not healthy to your heart nor, in quantity, not to your whole body. There is a very funny myth about great Thai food............. where and what????

[Smurkster]

Isan food probably some of the healthiest...Kaeng Nomai (bamboo shoots) or Kaeng Key Lek

[EnglishJohn]

Food as spicy as you can eat : slows you down and once your mouth goes beyond the limit, you can't eat any more.