Healthy Versions Of Your Favorite Chinese Take Out

Vegetable stir fry on a whole new level. Here is a mouth watering list of the recipes you should try, and what you should buy for better health and a thinner waistline.

Sweet and Sour Pork Stir Fry

Simply Scratch / Via simplyscratch.com

This Sweet and Sour Pork is not only low-fat and packed full of veggies (one daily serving of veggie each); it isn't even pork! Chicken - a lean meat is used in place of pork, and is stir-fried instead of coated in batter and deep-fried. Get the recipe here!

Mapo Tofu w/ Steamed Broccolini

My Recipes / Via myrecipes.com

This Mapo Tofu is not dripped in oil - only 1 tbsp of it is required in cooking this dish. It also contains the delicious broccolini; and chicken stock can be replaced with vegetable stock, the meat can be subbed out. Did I mention sriracha is also in there? Get the recipe here!

Kung Pao Chicken

My recipes / Via myrecipes.com

This dish contains sesame oil instead of unhealthy vegetable oil; green peas are also mainly used, which not only taste better with high-heat cooking, but also better eaten cooked, unlike peppers which contain more nutrients when eaten raw! Get the recipe here.

Baked Crab Rangoon

Gen Y Foodie / Via generationyfoodie.com

These low-fat baked crab rangoon are only 41 calories each. Most importantly, instead of being drenched in unhealthy oil, each bite comes packed with protein. This really is the healthiest crab rangoon can get. Get the recipe here.

Baked Shrimp Egg Roll

Olives & Garlic / Via foodwinethyme.com

Don't you always feel so guilty after a big, oily egg roll? The cabbages fillings don't help? These baked egg rolls are the solution. Baked; fillings cooked only with olive oil, and stuffed full of veggie and shrimp, which is a source of lean protein. The spicy fresh chili sauce is a metabolism booster - much better alternative to preservatives-filled sweet chili sauce Get the recipe here.

Zucchini Noodles Chow mien

Comfy Belly / Via foodwinethyme.com

This chow mien is pretty much more like chow veg. Zucchini noodles or zoodles are used in place of typical egg noodles which are high in refined carb. The zoodles are not only low in calories, but also rich in vitamins. Each serving of this chow mien is 1/4 the calories of your typical chow mien, but more than one of your daily requirements for fruits and veggies. Get the recipe here.

Fresh Spring Rolls

Karan's Harvest Kitchen / Via khkitchen.com

Although you can now easily get baked spring rolls recipes out there, or even ready-made ones in the super market, why not opt for this fresh spring rolls recipe and say yes to raw power? This recipe is simple, quick, full of nutritious vegetables, and doesn't require cooking (only if you will include the shrimp). With fresh spring rolls you can also stuff more of your favorite fillings! Get the recipe here.

Whole Grain Dumplings with Tofu and Mushroom

Ramsons and Bramble / Via ramsonsandbramble.com

These dumpling wrappers are made from the nutritious and protein rich spelt flour; the filling is vegan, which can be replaced. Very little oil is used in pan frying the dumplings. The wrappers are not difficult to make, and can be replaced with store-bought whole wheat dumpling wrappers. Find the avocado in the dumpling! Get the recipe here.

Vegetarian Wonton Soup

China Sichuan Food / Via chinasichuanfood.com

This recipe is not only easy to make, it is also packed full of nutritious veggies, and contains only plant foods. The sesame oil is the only type of oil used, and gives it a wonderful aroma. This soup is sure to rejuvenate and give you a burst of clean energy! Get the recipe here.

Whole Wheat Steamed Buns

The Noshery / Via thenoshery.com

The fillings of these buns may not be the most authentic Chinese, but the buns are low in bad fat and contain real ingredients, unlike the unidentified meat pieces that can be found in cheap steamed BBQ buns. Get the recipe here. Tired of cooking? Whole wheat steamed buns can now be found in the frozen section of most Chinese supermarkets.

Quinoa Veggie fried "rice"

Damn Delicious / Via damndelicious.net

If this is not what you call healthy, I don't know what else is. This fried "rice" contains quinoa, which is considered a superfood with two times the minerals and vitamins of brown rice, and with less calories, making it an obvious better alternative. Only olive oil is used in the frying. Get the recipe here.

Baked Honey Sesame Chicken

Home Cooking Adventure / Via homecookingadventure.com

This sesame chicken recipe uses simple ingredients and doesn't leave an oily mess behind. The chicken are baked to crispiness and covered in authentic tasting honey sauce that will not spike your blood sugar. Get the recipe here.

Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken

Damn Delicious / Via damndelicious.net

This recipe is baked rather than deep-fried. The sauce is not in some strange fluorescent color that is common with takeout Sweet and Sour dishes. Instead, it contains natural and everyday ingredients, hence is also easy to prepare. Serve with brown rice and side of vegetables for a more nutritionally complete meal. Get the recipe here.

Hot and Sour Soup

The Daring Gourmet / Via daringgourmet.com

This Hot and Sour soup contains organic ingredients such as the medicinal shiitake mushroom; lean meat and other natural ingredients. This soup is low-carb, fat, and packed full of wonderful nutrients. Get the recipe here.

Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

My Recipes / Via myrecipes.com

This recipe contains very little oil, but lots of fresh vegetables while also still maintaining the same familiar Beef and Broccoli flavors. Best served with a warm bowl of brown rice Get the recipe here.

General Tso's Chicken

Damn Delicious / Via damndelicious.net

This General Tso's Chicken is also baked rather than fried, and is coated with cornflakes! It may not require any oil to cook, but it is certainly full of flavors! Get the recipe here.

Egg Foo Young

Closet Cooking / Via closetcooking.com

This recipe contains very little oil, but a lot of vegetable fillings. Additional toppings with gravy are suggested, to add more flavors and nutritional value into the egg dish. Get the recipe here.

Baked Wontons with Salmon Filling

This American Bite / Via thisamericanbite.com

These fancy wontons are stuffed full of omega-3 rich salmon, and baked with coconut oil for yet another dose of healthy fats. More authentic fillings can replace the original, such as, lean minced pork or tofu. Get the recipe here.

Honey Walnut Shrimp

Sam the Cooking Guy / Via thecookingguy.com

This version of the old classic, Honey Walnut Shrimp, is not deep-fried nor drenched in batter. Although the recipe calls for mayo and vegetable oil, these two can be easily replaced for healthier options or their amounts adjusted to your own health needs. Now, this can be called healthy.

Get the recipe here.

Brown Rice Radish Cakes

Divine Healthy Food / Via divinehealthyfood.com

Radish cake is only unhealthy when it is drowned in oil. In fact, it can be considered a healthy snack with all the veggies and protein that are packed in. This recipe takes all that to a new level with the use of high-fibre brown rice flour, olive oil, and other whole food ingredients. This is also vegan!

Get the recipe here.

Szechuan Chicken Stir Fry

My Recipes / Via myrecipes.com

This Szechuan Chicken recipe may not contain the famous Szechuan chilies, but it is packed full of wonderful veggies, and is low in fat. You can always adjust the flavoring and add as much chili or chili oil as you like for authenticity or a burst of energy and vitamin C.

Get the recipe here.