How to Eat Low Carb at Pei Wei

Back in the day, Chinese food was one of my staples. In college, we ordered Chinese food often…maybe a few times a week. The food came fast, it was fairly inexpensive for the portions, it was quite filling, and back then, I didn’t care less about calories or carbs. And after my meal, there were two things I could always guarantee after each meal:

➖ It would feel quite bloated after eating it — leading me to almost want to take a nap

➖ A few hours later, I was hunger again for more Chinese food leftovers

After college, when I lived in the New York City area, I actually ate Chinese food more often. The tri-state area has some of the best Chinese restaurants in the Country. This time, however, I made a better attempt to eat healthier vs. my college meals, which consisted of General Tao’s Chicken, Lo Mein, Fried Rice, with apps of Sweet & Sour Chicken, Egg Roll, Boneless Spareribs, etc.

And although my meal was healthier than college, it was far from healthy. I would order Steamed Dumplings with White or Brown Rice (both low fat), and menu items like Chicken & Broccoli, assuming the combo of very lean chicken and a healthy veggie was a good choice. It wasn’t terrible, but again, little did I know much about the sugar content in those sauces and the huge spike in both blood sugar and insulin after consuming each meal. And that huge blood sugar spike and ultimate crash was the reason I felt bloated and tired after each meal BUT was hungry for more “food energy” a few hours later.

So, is it even possible to eat Chinese food anymore if you are trying to stay very low carb and follow a ketogenic diet? These are the challenges with eating Chinese food out while on Keto:

🔹 Can’t assume any item is low carb — including something like a “Lettuce Wrap”

🔹 Most food items are served with rice or noodles

🔹 Many proteins are breaded and battered

🔹 Most of the sauces are loaded with sugar

🔹 Most of their foods are Fried

🔹 Many Chinese restaurants use MSG (Monosodium Glutamate), a food additive that enhances flavor (linked to possible obesity, headaches, sweating, breathing difficulties).

However, with the growth of Chinese food chains, such as P.F. Chang’s and Pei Wei, we now have more transparency with their menus. Also, their ability to allow for individuals to customize…