And we wonder why we are fat... - DPChallenge Forums

02/07/2007 06:23:43 PM · #1

Just shown this by my brother. P.F. Chang's is an upscale franchise restaurant which specializes in, natch, Asian food.

Asian food is healthy right?

Get a load of the nutritional data on one of their typical Lo Mein selections. (Come on...Lo Mein! It's noodles. How can a billion Chinese be wrong?)

Beef Lo Mein (for Dinner)
Calories 1790
Protein 67g
Carbs 94g
Total Fat 123.0g
Saturated Fat22.0g

Holy cow! And I didn't even pick something too unusal. That one plate has more than your daily allowance of saturated fat (20g) and almost enough calories for an average sized woman for the entire day.

These days, obesity is partly a problem of lack of education on such things. Would you have guessed that about a dish of Lo Mein noodles?

Do you know a Grande Frappachino at Starbucks has as many calories as a Big Mac?

yanko

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

02/07/2007 06:32:13 PM · #2

That is a lot of calories but I never was under the impression their food was healthy. Heck I didn't know P.F. Changs was considered "upscale".

Elvis_L

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

02/07/2007 06:36:00 PM · #3

Originally posted by yanko:

That is a lot of calories but I never was under the impression their food was healthy. Heck I didn't know P.F. Changs was considered "upscale".

It will cost you and yours a hundred+ most consider that upscale

Spork99

OM System OM-1

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

02/07/2007 06:39:09 PM · #4

My understanding is that it's not that Asian food is unhealthy, it's more that the Americanized versions are.

Typically, in the US, diners expect (and get) a lot of sauce, veggies and meat accompanied by a bit of rice, when in Asia, the ratio of rice to sauce, veggies and meat would be reversed, with a great deal of rice and a small portion of savory stuff.

Add to that, the ever-growing portion size offered here in the US and that nutritional data for that Lo Mein starts to make sense.

02/07/2007 06:39:55 PM · #5

Well, it certainly doesn't qualify as "fine dining". I qualified it as "upscale franchise". So among the restaurants that you are likely to see in many towns (versus ones where there is only one location), I would consider it to be among the more pricy.

Plus I'm cheap...

yanko

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

02/07/2007 06:41:20 PM · #6

Originally posted by Elvis_L:

Originally posted by yanko:
That is a lot of calories but I never was under the impression their food was healthy. Heck I didn't know P.F. Changs was considered "upscale".

It will cost you and yours a hundred+ most consider that upscale

Not here in Austin. I've been there many times and have never paid that much not even half.

Message edited by author 2007-02-07 18:41:59.

Elvis_L

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

02/07/2007 06:46:27 PM · #7

Originally posted by yanko:

Originally posted by Elvis_L:

Originally posted by yanko:
That is a lot of calories but I never was under the impression their food was healthy. Heck I didn't know P.F. Changs was considered "upscale".

It will cost you and yours a hundred+ most consider that upscale

Not here in Austin. I've been there many times and have never paid that much not even half.

I must be thinking of somewhere else then.

just remembered it was Benihana's that cost me about 50 per person before drinks when i took my employees.

Message edited by author 2007-02-07 18:49:35.

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

02/07/2007 07:04:05 PM · #8

Originally posted by yanko:

Yup, Changs is sort of expensive fast food chain, rather than 'upscale'

The problem isn't so much the food that they serve, its the quantities they serve it in. You can typically get 3 meals out of their standard servings, 4 if you don't gorge yourself.

yanko

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

02/07/2007 07:17:05 PM · #9

Originally posted by Gordon:

Originally posted by yanko:

Originally posted by Elvis_L:

Originally posted by yanko:
That is a lot of calories but I never was under the impression their food was healthy. Heck I didn't know P.F. Changs was considered "upscale".

It will cost you and yours a hundred+ most consider that upscale

Not here in Austin. I've been there many times and have never paid that much not even half.

Yup, Changs is sort of expensive fast food chain, rather than 'upscale'

The problem isn't so much the food that they serve, its the quantities they serve it in. You can typically get 3 meals out of their standard servings, 4 if you don't gorge yourself.

They should just call it "family style" a la Buca di Beppos.

jaysonmc

Nikon D200

Nikon MF 105mm f/2.5 AIS

02/07/2007 07:19:20 PM · #10

That is alot of calories, but more important is what you do to expend those calories rather than the total amount.

It is far better to eat 4000 calories a day while burning off 2500 from exercise than it is to only have 800 calories a day and sit on your keister.

Moderation and exercise is always the key. Hopefully with that speech I'll go out and get my heart pumping now. :)

Brad

Olympus OM-D E-M1

Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO M.Zuiko

02/07/2007 07:27:44 PM · #11

I notice you didn't list the Sodium level.
That was probably through the roof!

Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO M.Zuiko

02/07/2007 07:31:31 PM · #12

Originally posted by BradP:

I notice you didn't list the Sodium level.
That was probably through the roof!

They didn't list it either...

Brad

Olympus OM-D E-M1

02/07/2007 07:40:05 PM · #13

Well next time in the store, take a look at the Sodium levels in things like Top Ramen, Marie Callendars soups, and many Asian meals just to name a few - they are really bad! Some run into the 1200mg levels.

DjFenzl

02/07/2007 07:46:14 PM · #14

Calorie King is your friend. They have the worlds largest nutritional value database - including P.F. Chang's entire menu :)

MattO

Nikon D4

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

02/07/2007 07:46:58 PM · #15

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

Plus I'm cheap...

Based on past posts, I dont think anyone though any different of you. :P

MattO

fotomann_forever

02/07/2007 09:06:31 PM · #16

Damn, I'm craving Chinese now ... love fried rice ... mmmmmm... I like Thai better than Chinese though.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

02/07/2007 09:29:10 PM · #17

I like this stuff when I want Chinese. It's a lot less fat and calories than the stuff you get in a restaurant.

Contessa

awpollard

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

02/07/2007 09:45:56 PM · #18

Oh man, now I want PF's lettuce wraps...Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm...

PF Chang's in San Diego (La Jolla/UTC) is not Asian fast food. You might get out under $100 for 2 peeps (not including the valet), but it is a pretty cool social hang.

Asian Fast Food would be Pick Up Stix (over priced fast food, @ $30 for 2) or Panda Express (3 hour heat lamp helpings, @ $18 for 2)