Follow these tips to make sure the Chow Mein you order is lower in sodium.
By Rachael Derr, RD
Q: How much sodium is in Chicken Chow Mein?
A: Great question! Typically, Asian cuisines tend to run relatively high in sodium, due to ingredients that are naturally higher in salt such as: soy sauce, fish sauce, oyster sauce, mushroom sauce and hoisin sauce. One order of Chow Mein can range from 500 to 3,680 milligrams of sodium, depending on the restaurant’s recipe. To put that in perspective: the recommended daily sodium intake is a maximum of 2,300 milligrams per day – except for those aged 51 and above, African Americans, and those with conditions like high blood pressure and kidney disease, who are advised to limit sodium intake to 1,500 milligrams per day.
Some restaurants have nutrition information available on their websites or by request. If you cannot locate the nutrition values and you are trying to lower your sodium intake, try these tips:
- Split your Chow Mein with a friend or save half for lunch the next day, as serving sizes tend to be very large these days!
- Request the sauce that the Chow Mein is cooked in to be served on the side. This will reduce your sodium intake, as you can make a point of using less sauce.
- Request that your Chow Mein be cooked with less sauce.