In fact, according to theU.S.
Bureau of Labor, in 2018, the average household spent $3,459 on takeout.
So yes, everyone loves to indulge in takeout every once in a while.
Shutterstock
And it’s possible!
Along with the healthy stuff, a typical Thai takeout menu is also riddled with diet-sabotaging boobie traps.
Here’s the best and worst of the lot for your belly.
Shutterstock
Your ultimate restaurant and supermarket survival guide is here!
Pair them with an order of edamame and a broth-basedsoupfor a satisfying, filling meal.
Spring Roll
Not That!
Shutterstock
Spring = deep-fried, which is why we say to skip ‘em!
They’re filled with fat and calories your gut and ticker don’t need.
More heart-harming foods to avoid: all of these30 Worst Foods For Your Heart!
Shutterstock
Try splitting an entree and sharing a side of sizzling vegetables to round out the meal.
Thai Fried Rice
Thai fried rice is nearly as oil-soaked as its Chinese counterpart.
The morelow-quality fatyou have on your plate, the more flab will find up stuck to your frame.
Shutterstock
Skip it and fill up your plate with an order of veggies instead.
Another great entree option?
And go ahead and even order some curry, too.
Shutterstock
See, Thai curries, regardless of color, are based oncoconut milk.
Coconut milk is higher in fat, so you’ll end up feeling fuller for longer.
Pla Rad Prik
When it comes to Thai food, be cautious about fish dishes.
Many of them are deep-fried, just like this dish.
To make this white fish meal, chefs bathe snapper in a wok of hot, bubbling oil.
Eat the whole thing with rice and the meal tops out around 900 calories.
Shutterstock
Skip it to stay slim.
It’s a seriously satisfying, low-fat food.
Tofu Spice Appetizer
While atofuapp maysoundinnocent.
Shutterstock
This appetizer is actually fried and served with a peanut and chili sauce.
Like porous veggies, tofu acts like a soybean sponge, sucking up anything it comes into contact with.
When it’s fried, that often translates into a heavy dose of oil and little else.
Shutterstock
Ask for it sauteed, or stick to the Thai vegetables or satay.
If you’re not in the mood for pasta though, Paul gives another entree suggestion.
“Order meatballs and a salad for a filling meal that’s lower in carbs,” she says.
If that doesn’t convince you to steer clear, we’re not sure what will.
Thin Crust
Most of the evils of pizza lie in the empty-calorie, yet highly caloric crust.
The less crust you indulge in, the better.
Shutterstock
That means thin-crust pizzas are almost always the better option.
Stuffed Crust
Not That
The first rule of pizza deliverydo not stuffeth thy crust.
It adds unnecessary calories and fat.
Shutterstock
There’s already plenty to enjoyon topof the dough anyway.
If your go-to Italian takeout joint serves theirs with bacon, have them leave that off.
Antipasto Salad
Some antipasto plates carry nearly 1,000 calories and 70 grams of artery-clogging fat!
Shutterstock
When You’re Craving Chinese…
Here’s a ratio worth forgetting at Chinese restaurants: 1 entree to 1 diner.
We like black bean sauce because a half a cup has less than 150 calories.
Compared to other Chinese restaurant sauces, it’s also relatively low in fat.
(Bet ya didn’t see that one coming!)
Other similar-looking dishes to avoid: orange and sesame chicken.
Shutterstock
Like General Tso’s, they top the 1,000 calorie mark.
That’s because they’re fried, vegetable-less, and topped with gloppy,sugar-ladensauces.
Order a side of steamed vegetables and serve it with a small scoop of brown rice.
Shutterstock
If you pair your selection with a side of rice, you’re looking at a 1,000-calorie meal.
Pair a serving with an order of steamed dumplings or a wonton soup for a satisfyingvegetarianmeal.
Even ordering the vegetable version won’t undo the wrong wrought by this dish.
Our advice: Stay away!
Scan our approved picks below before you order to ensure the best bet for your gut.
Request that your edamame comes salt-less and apply it carefully yourself to keep sodium in check.
Shutterstock
House Salad
Sounds healthy, right?
Branch out and try the seaweed salad, one of nature’s most potent multivitamins, instead.
Vegetable Tempura
Repeat after me, “Tempura is a fancy word for fried.”
Shutterstock
Stick with the plain tuna roll and ask for chili sauce on the side, or extra wasabi.
It packs just 300 calories for eight pieces and carries a dose of healthy fat from theavocado.
For a superior Rainbow Roll, ask the sushi chef to make it with real crab.
Shutterstock
Looking to slim down?
Pair this roll with an order of steamed edamame and call it a day.
A second roll would push you far beyond the reasonable amount of calories for a single meal.
Shutterstock
One pro tip: don’t eat the side of tortilla chips you get right away.
To slice additional calories, just use one of the tortillas and stuff it full.
Nachos
Friends don’t let friends order nachos.
Shutterstock
“I ask them to hold the sour cream and give me double salsa instead.”
Don’t order it if you want to stay slim.
But does that really surprise you?
Shutterstock
But a large pita can run you 165 calories of just plain empty carbs.
Ask for a side of veggie sticks along with your pita to keep calories to a minimum.
We’ve giving it the green light.
Shutterstock
Skip it to maintain your toned flat stomach.
Fattoush Salad
In the mood for a salad?
Stick with the fattoush salad.
Shutterstock
While you may have never heard of it before, most takeout joints have it.
And, on average, it has 320 fewer calories than the ultra-popular Greek salad.
Order some on the side so your salad doesn’t get soggy during delivery.
Shutterstock
Greek Salad
Some restaurants douse their Greek salad with up to 450 calories of dressing.
It’s unfortunate, really.
Prior to the salad sabotage, the veggie-feta cheese combo was a great bed of greens.
Shutterstock
If your heart’s set on ordering this dish, ensure to request the dressing on the side.
Dressing it yourself can save you as much as 225 calories.
Shutterstock
Shutterstock
Shutterstock
Shutterstock
Shutterstock
Shutterstock
Shutterstock
Shutterstock
Shutterstock
Shutterstock
Shutterstock
Shutterstock
Shutterstock
Shutterstock
Shutterstock
Shutterstock
Shutterstock
Shutterstock
Shutterstock
Shutterstock
