The Nutrition Values for Chinese Chicken Fried Rice
Learn more about then nutritional content of chicken fried rice, a popular Chinese take-out dish with a high fat and carbohydrate content.
When you don't feel like cooking, Chinese take-out food can be a convenient, tasty choice. While many Chinese dishes — such as those featuring seafood or those that are steamed — can be healthy, not all menu items are optimal for your health. Chinese take-out chicken fried rice is high in fat and carbohydrates.
Calories
Chinese take-out chicken fried rice is calorie-dense. A one cup serving of this food contains between 130 and 240 calories, according to LIVESTRONG's food database MyPlate; this is six to 11 percent of the daily recommended intake of 2,000 calories. If you want to burn the calories in one cup of Chinese take-out chicken fried rice, you need to jump rope for 18 minutes or lift weights for 58 minutes.
Fat
Despite the small serving size, a one cup serving of Chinese take-out chicken fried rice contains between two and 2.5 grams of dietary fat. Of this fat, three grams comes from saturated fat, a type of fat that can increase your cholesterol levels. The American Heart Association suggests a daily limit of 16 grams of saturated fat, so a half a cup of Chinese take-out chicken fried rice contains 19 percent of that amount.
Carbohydrates
As with other rice-based dishes, Chinese take-out chicken fried rice is rich in carbohydrates. Each one cup serving contains between 21 and 44 grams of carbohydrates, a nutrient that is your body's primary source of energy. Because of this, high-carbohydrate foods can be helpful for fueling sports and other activities.
Fiber
One important type of carbohydrate Chinese take-out chicken fried rice provides is dietary fiber. Each one cup serving provides one to two grams of dietary fiber, a nutrient that helps manage your blood sugar levels, promote satiety and ensure a healthy digestive system.
Protein
Chinese take-out chicken fried rice is rich in protein. Each one cup serving contains between eight and 12 grams of protein. Protein is vital for your health because it helps maintain and build your body's cells and tissues.
Sodium
Chinese take-out chicken fried rice is high in sodium, with 530 milligrams in each half of a cup. That amount comprises 23 percent of the daily recommended intake of 2,300 milligrams. Consuming too much sodium may increase your risk of high blood pressure.
More About MyPlate
The free LIVESTRONG MyPlate calorie tracker app for iPhone and Android has helped millions of people lose weight the healthy way — by getting support from an active community as they track their eating and exercise. Consistently a top-rated app, MyPlate offers the latest technology in an easy-to-use tool that includes millions of foods and recipes, 5-minute in-app workouts and a robust support community.