Panda Express can easily satisfy your need for fast Chinese cuisine when you’re in need of it. In Glendale, California, Peggy and Andrew Cherng opened the first Panda Express restaurant in 1983 as a means of providing for their family. This was the beginning of the fast-food company. In 2020, some forty years later, Panda Express welcomed its 2,000th location. The well-known eatery claims that it strives to constantly innovate Chinese American cuisine, and its success to date is evident in its popularity.
However, keep in mind that, similar to most fast-food menus, Panda Express’s menu includes a number of dishes that are high in calories, fat, sodium, and saturated fat before you visit. Here are some top picks for healthy Panda Express menu items for when you visit the restaurant the next time, so you can still enjoy the flavors of your favorite Chinese food while also keeping your health objectives.
Panda Express’s Nutritional Information
Classic Chinese-American cuisine is the basis of the Panda Express menu. There’s a lot to choose from, including signature dishes like honey walnut shrimp, orange chicken, and broccoli beef, as well as appetizers and sides like potstickers and egg rolls. The Panda Express menu fits a wide variety of tastes, appetites, and nutritional objectives thanks to its abundance of options. And for learning more healthy things, here is the nutritional information of Panda Express, which you can also find on their website.
Make Smart Food Choices While Eating Out at Panda Express
Sides
At Panda Express, sides play a significant role in the meal experience, and there are many of selections available. The company offers a wide variety of sides, ranging from rice dishes and high-calorie, high-sodium noodles to low-calorie veggies.
Select Super greens – cub meal with 60 calories, 2g fat, 0mg cholesterol, 200mg sodium, and 4g sugars.
Avoid Fried rice with 520 calories, 16g fat, 120mg cholesterol, 850mg sodium, and 3g sugars.
Vegetables
The super greens and the eggplant tofu are the only veggie dishes that Panda Express offers, which is surprising.
Select Super greens-cub meal entree with 30 calories, 1g fat, 0mg cholesterol, 95mg sodium, and 2g sugars.
Avoid Eggplant tofu with 340 calories, 24g fat, 0mg cholesterol, 520mg sodium, and 17g sugars.
Chicken
The chicken on the Panda Express menu is the true “meat.” More chicken-based meals than any other type of protein are available. Everything is available here, from fried, battered options dripping with sweet sauce to lean meats and veggies. Grilled meats are generally lower in calories and carbohydrates than fried meats, and selecting an entrée that includes vegetables is always a wise choice.
Select Potato chicken- cub meal with 140 calories, 8g fat, 20mg cholesterol, 0mg sodium, and 0g sugars.
Avoid Orange chicken with 490 calories, 23g fat, 80mg cholesterol, 820mg sodium, and 19g sugars.
Chicken Breast
Panda Express offers different flavors of chicken breast, including honey sesame, string bean, sweet fire, and sweet & sour chicken breast.
Select String bean chicken breast – cub meal with 160 calories, 9g fat, 25mg cholesterol, 420mg sodium, and 4g sugars.
Avoid Sweetfire chicken breast with 360 calories, 15g fat, 45mg cholesterol, 370mg sodium, and 19g sugars.
Beef
Panda Express offers five beefy options to satisfy your hunger, whether it’s for meat on its own or a protein-and-vegetable plate. Healthy options can be challenging in this area because to the high levels of sugar, sodium, and saturated fat.
Select Broccoli beef- cub meal with 110 calories, 6g fat, 10mg cholesterol, 400mg sodium, and 5g sugars.
Avoid Beijing beef with 480 calories, 27g fat, 35mg cholesterol, 600mg sodium, and 21g sugars.
Seafood
For those who want seafood with Chinese influences, Panda Express offers a wide variety of cuisines.
Select Steamed ginger fish-cub meal with 70 calories, 4g fat, 15mg cholesterol, 660mg sodium, and 2g sugars.
Avoid Honey walnut shrimp with 360 calories, 24g fat, 60mg cholesterol, 590mg sodium, and 8g sugars.
Appetizer
There are four appetizers to choose from at Panda Express: chicken egg rolls, chicken potstickers, cream cheese Rangoon, and vegetable spring rolls.
Select Chicken potsticker(3 pcs) with 160 calories, 6g fat, 20mg cholesterol, 250mg sodium, and 2g sugars.
Avoid Vegetable spring rolls (2 rolls) with 240 calories, 14g fat, 0mg cholesterol, 560mg sodium, and 0g sugars.
Beverages
Drinks from the fountain, like as soda and iced tea, are available at every Panda Express restaurant. We would suggest avoiding sweet drinks in favor of unsweetened iced tea because frequent use of sugar-sweetened beverages can raise the risk of health issues like obesity and type 2 diabetes2.
Select Lemon green tea with 0 calories, 0g fat, 0mg cholesterol, 0mg sodium, and 0g sugars.
Avoid Fanta orange-large with 570 calories, 0g fat, 0mg cholesterol, 200mg sodium, and 147g sugars.
Last Word
For most individuals, Panda Express has lots to offer when it comes to lower-cost Chinese-inspired cuisine. There are still healthy options on Panda Express’ menu, despite the fact that many of their dishes are heavy in sugar and sodium. Make a plan and look for lower-sodium, lower-sugar options if you’re looking for a healthier lunch.
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