6 ways to make your weekend takeaway healthy

Weekend takeaways are a staple of student life — and it’s painful being told that they’re not healthy when they just taste so, so good.

We’re not going to tell you that, because (shocker) it’s not actually true. There are takeaway options that you can still indulge in whilst having a healthy weekend, if that’s what you’re going for. Spinach and potato curry, chicken and vegetable stir fry, fish and chips supplemented with baked beans and brown bread… the list goes on.

We asked two expert nutritionists, Jenny Arthur, of The Food Marketing Expert, and Fiona Kirk, author of 2 Weeks in the Super Fast Lane, for their tips on how you can up the health value of your weekend takeaway.

Fish and chips

First up, a British favourite. You can make your fish and chips healthier, says Jenny, by opting for fatter chips as they absorb less fat, asking to add the salt yourself, and of course ordering a smaller portion — but bulking up with baked beans, mushy peas or bread so you don’t go hungry and hit the fridge later.

Kebabs

If you can’t resist a kebab on your way home, Jenny advises that you “opt for Shish kebabs — a skewer of cuts of meat or fish and usually grilled and served in a pitta bread with salad.”

Fiona adds that “onions, pitta bread, chickpeas (in this case in the form of Falafels), cabbage and lettuce can all be incorporated into your Doner Kebab on the way home and offer good levels of Folic Acid which is one of the B vitamins.”

B vitamins play an important role in keeping your nerves, eyes, skin and muscles healthy, as well as helping the body release energy from carbohydrates — which you’ll need in the morning…

Pizza

Jenny advises that you choose a pizza with a thin base, loaded with lower fat toppings such as ham, fish — and of course veg, which will help to bump up your all-important five a day.

Chinese

It’s a sad decision — but it might be time to step away from the crispy beef. “Steamed dishes are the best option, or stirs fries as they contain lots of vegetables and are lower in fat,” says Jenny. “Choose a range of vegetables as different coloured vegetables contain different vitamins and minerals.”

As an alternative, opt for soup, steamed dumplings, steamed vegetables and plain boiled rice, steamed fish, chicken Chop Suey or Szechuan prawns. Chicken and fish are good sources of protein, as are beans and lentils.

Curries

Jenny says: “Choose tomato based sauces, e.g. tandoori and madras, with chicken, prawns or vegetables, plain rice and chapatti.”

It’s also a good idea to go for vegetable dishes, such as Dahl, which is made from lentils, or Aloo Palak, made with potatoes and spinach.

And finally…

Some very, very good news!

“If you can find a double chocolate milk shake made with good quality dark chocolate you could be on to a winner,” says Fiona. “The flamboyant Aztec Emperor Montezuma became immortalised for the vast quantities of foaming ‘xoco latl’ (chocolate) he used to drink every day before visiting his harem of 500 wives — and so began the legend of chocolate, satisfaction and sexual stamina!”

There you go — five everyday takeaway options, transformed! Order your takeaways from our friends at JUST EAT here.

Originally published at https://www.thenationalstudent.com.