Dietitian shares healthiest takeout orders for every cuisine

It’s time to turn over a new leaf — or sprout.

Health is often top of mind come Jan. 1, and one of the most common New Year’s resolutions is losing weight.

In 2022, 22 states had at least 35% of adults with obesity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Obesity is a disease caused by many factors, including eating patterns, physical activity levels, sleep routines, genetics, and certain medications,” Dr. Karen Hacker, director of the CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, said in a statement.

Because scrolling through seemingly endless options on Uber Eats or GrubHub can be overwhelming, New Jersey registered dietitian Kierra Brown has shared her recommended takeout orders with Health.com.

A thin-crust veggie pizza is a healthier option than a cheesy New York-style one. Yell Design – stock.adobe.com

New Yorkers who don’t feel like walking to the corner for a slice should opt for a pie with a thin crust, tomato sauce, and a bit of protein or veggies sprinkled on top.

Thin crust typically has fewer calories and carbs than thick crust, while tomato sauces provide antioxidants and nutrients like potassium, iron, folate, vitamin C and protein.

For their part, vegetable toppings such as onions, bell peppers and mushrooms are a good source of vitamins, minerals and fiber.

Summer rolls are loaded with steamed vegetables and lean proteins. Lorenzo Dottorini – stock.adobe.com

For those who prefer Thai, health experts recommend ordering summer rolls as an appetizer, green papaya salad to start, and chicken satay as an entreé.

Summer rolls are loaded with steamed vegetables and lean proteins; papaya contains lycopene, a powerful antioxidant; and the grilled chicken skewer is an excellent source of protein.

If you’d rather have Chinese takeout, place an order of steamed vegetable dumplings, brown rice, steamed chicken and broccoli.

Steamed dumplings offer similar benefits as summer rolls; brown rice is a whole grain rich with fiber and nutrients; chicken provides protein; and broccoli contains minerals and vitamins, including vitamin C.

Brown rice is a whole grain that contains more fiber and nutrients than white rice. Africa Studio – stock.adobe.com

If you’re craving Japanese, start with a miso soup before digging into chicken teriyaki or tuna rolls.

Miso is a probiotic food that has been shown to boast a host of nutritional benefits, including reducing cholesterol and blood pressure, suppressing cancer cell growth, and improving digestion.

Chicken teriyaki is a tasty source of protein, vitamins and minerals like vitamin B6, vitamin K, iron, and zinc, while tuna rolls pack carbohydrates, seaweed, lean protein and omega-3 fatty acids into one bite.

Miso is a probiotic food that has been shown to boast a host of nutritional benefits. FomaA – stock.adobe.com

If you want Mexican food delivered to your door, customize a veggie burrito bowl with brown rice, whole beans (not refried), lettuce, guacamole, salsa and limited quantities of cheese and sour cream.

Nutritious whole beans are low in fat and calories; lettuce, guacamole and salsa supply healthy fats, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals; while moderate servings of dairy provide calcium and vitamin D.

A veggie burrito bowl with brown rice, whole beans, lettuce, guacamole, salsa and limited quantities of cheese and sour cream is a healthy option for Mexican food. lindahughes – stock.adobe.com
Indian dal is a vegetarian dish made with yellow or red lentils and spices. kravtzov – stock.adobe.com

If Indian food is making your mouth water, order dal, chana masala or tandoori chicken with brown rice to your cart.

The lentils and chickpeas in the dal and chana masala are packed with fiber, potassium, folate and iron, among other nutrients.