Detox Your Takeout

The spicy, bold tastes of Asian-inspired cuisine are what make it so pleasing to our taste buds, though the takeout variety is often less so for our overall health. With cleaner flavours, ingredient swaps, and a touch of healthy cooking ingenuity, Asian-inspired takeout tastes can be yours at home.

A sodium trap, most takeout will set you far over your daily recommended intake of 1,500 mg. With most Canadians eating approximately 3,400 mg of sodium per day, approximately double what’s suggested, this increases the risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and stroke.

A favourite, wonton soup, has nearly 1,000 mg of sodium per cup—and that’s just the appetizer. Main courses, including saucy rice and meat dishes, stir-fries, and curries, are not only sodium-loaded, but packed with preservatives, artificial colours, flavours, additives, and unhealthy fats.

Without resorting to plain steamed rice, classic takeout dishes that we all have a soft spot for can easily be replicated at home. Bursting with nutritious whole grains, lean protein, and vegetables, these recipes showcase the lighter side of Asian-inspired takeout; their preparation is just as fast, at a fraction of the cost to your wallet and health to boot.