Sweet and sour chicken, chicken fried rice, and that ever-present deep-fried eggroll are some of the best and worst aspects of Chinese takeout in America. We’ve taken the traditional recipes brought over from China and dressed them up with loads of sugar, fats, and salt.

Even though most dishes contain multiple servings of vegetables and lean, white meat, they are still not that great for you. The combination of fat and sugar cause large blood glucose spikes within hours of eating.

So, how can you enjoy Chinese food as a diabetic?

Here are a few tips for eating takeout without it taking you out!

#1 Ask for Sauce On the Side

Some places will serve your dish with the sauce on the side, allowing you to control how much you use. Since the sauces for many dishes are added last, it shouldn’t be too much of an inconvenience for the cook.

#2 Choose Dishes Without Batter

Yes, batter-dipped chicken is delish, but it adds unwanted carbs. There are hundreds of options on the standard Chinese restaurant menu. Consider trying something new without the batter on it. Beef, shrimp, and vegetable dishes are all good choices.

#3 Go for Brown Rice

White rice is a very popular side dish, but it also digests very quickly. Instead, choose brown rice or wild rice, if you can. Even if the restaurant doesn’t serve it, you can keep a bag of frozen brown rice in the freezer to steam in the microwave after getting home with your takeout.

#4 Avoid Sugary Or Salty Dipping Sauces

Those packets of duck sauce and soy sauce seem deceptively small, but they still add to your overall intake of salt and carbs. Keep a bottle of low-sodium soy sauce at home to use. Try out those hot mustard or wasabi sauces, which pack a lot of flavor into a small amount of sauce.