Whether it’s eat-in or take-out, Chinese food is a comfort for many.  However, between the large portions and endless fried options, it is hard to know how to make healthy choices when faced with such a diverse menu.  On another note, Chinese food can also be healthy, if ordered the correct way. Just follow these easy steps and make sure you always have a plan before you order:

Soup is your friend. A small cup of soup is a great start. Egg drop, won ton, or hot & sour …(they're a bit high in sodium and fattening). It is a high-volume food that will fill you up.

The only appetizers you should even look at are steamed vegetable dumplings (just a few) or minced chicken in lettuce cups.

For your main course, stay away from brown sauce. Ordering steamed is boring so don't do it. Anything in a white sauce is better, but most importantly order something where vegetables are the stars and the shrimp, chicken or scallops are the guest stars. Eat all of the vegetables first and have a few pieces of the protein.

Eggplant in a Chinese restaurant is always delicious because it is fried to within an inch of it's life even though it seems sauted. One or 2 bites or you could have chocolate cake instead.

*Naturally Thin Reminder* You cancelled your membership to the clean plate club, so spoon a reasonable portion on your plate, eat a bit and move on.

Order brown rice if available, but don't eat a pint. Be satisfied with a spoonful or don't do it. Mushu anything is ok if you ask for light sauce, and don't eat the pancake or brown sauce.

A fortune cookie never killed anyone, so find out your future with no guilt.