We all know that Thai food is incredibly delicious.
Whether you’re into soups, noodle dishes, rice dishes, or curries, all of these dishes taste incredible and seem healthy, but can anything that good really be healthy? You’re in luck.
Today, we’re going to discuss some of the healthiest Thai food menu items, as chosen by a nutritionist. If you were having doubts about your favorite dishes from your favorite Thai restaurant, we can help put your mind at ease.
Thai cuisine always contains a lot of fresh ingredients, which both enhances flavor and makes for a healthy dining experience. But, which dishes rise above the rest?
1. Som Tum
Papaya salad makes for a great appetizer to a heavier meal. Many Thai dishes contain grilled or fried meat, so being able to start off with something light makes a huge difference. If you’re so inclined, however, you can easily turn your Som Tum into a healthy little meal with some salad rolls or satay.
2. Tom Yum Soup
This delicious soup is a staple of Thai cuisine. Tom yum is made of a spicy broth with savory shrimp and loads of veggies, which makes it the perfect starter, side, or main dish. You can make the soup with or without coconut milk, so if you’re going for lighter, order it without.
Sour soups are always very flavorful, but some find tom yum to be too much for an appetizer. If you’re looking for something that gives you that flavor punch, is healthy, and gives you room for an entree, order hot and sour soup instead.
3. Green Curry
Now, Thai curry is made with a combination of coconut milk, spices, herbs, and fish sauce, which makes it pretty dense. However, combining it with lots of vegetables and a lean protein or tofu will counterbalance the delicious but relatively fatty sauce.
It’s important to remember that Thai curries are also really filling. If you eat it slowly, you’ll be able to save some for lunch the next day.
4. Phad Thai
Phad Thai always gets a bad rap in terms of its healthiness. In reality, it’s a relatively simple dish that doesn’t do anything negative for your health. It contains thin rice noodles, egg, bean sprouts, onions, and fresh ground peanuts in a tamarind sauce; that’s it.
If there aren’t enough veggies for you, order a side of steamed vegetables or grilled eggplant to get your vitamins.
5. Satay
Whenever you can get some grilled meat on a stick, you can load up on protein and avoid the oils that come with the fryer. Satay, whether it’s chicken or prawns, makes for a great appetizer, but you can turn it into a meal by ordering a side to go along with it.
Chicken or prawn satay with a side of Thai ginger green salad gives you a well-balanced and filling meal.
Eat the Healthiest Thai Food Guilt-Free
The healthiest Thai food is available, but you have to be responsible for what you order and your portion size. Any of these items will give you the incredible Thai flavor without any of the unwanted calories.
If you’re in the Seattle area, come satisfy your cravings! Thai Ginger has locations in Downtown Seattle, Sammamish, Redmond and Factoria!