Is Thai Food Really That Healthy?

Upon returning from Thailand this week I got to thinking about the food that I’d eaten over the prior few weeks and how some people might be lured into the trap of believing that Thai cuisine is much healthier than it really is.

It would be easy to see why, with its whole food, minimally processed ingredients, however, many of the cooking methods and ingredients used add tonnes of additional calories to some of the more popular dishes you will find at local restaurants and at street food stalls.

Here is a brief food guide for those planning on travelling to the Land of Smiles.

Let’s start with the renowned curries that Thailand has to offer.

Probably the most famous of all, the Green Curry, consists of chicken (or sometimes prawns), coconut milk or cream, curry paste, an assortment of vegetables, and usually a side of rice. Sounds good, right?

However, two cups of green curry can have well in excess of 600kcal and that’s before adding any rice into the mix. Once a side of rice is added the dish could be up to 900kcal!

Let’s look at another favourite, Pad Thai.

Depending on the serving size, a Pad Thai with chicken might end up being 800-900kcal and 11g of saturated fat.

Another point that most people don’t know about is the sugar added to fruit smoothies that you commonly buy from stalls at the beach. This can come in the form of regular sugar or some kind of flavour enhancing syrup but can add significant calories to what should be a healthy drink. Just ask the vendor not to add sugar to your fruit smoothie.

Don’t get me wrong, it is possible to eat fresh Thai food that hasn’t been stir fried or is high in coconut oil, you just need to know what to look for.

Som Tam (young papaya salad with prawns) comes in at 110kcal for one cup and a steamed sea bass will be around 500kcal per serving, meaning it is possible to keep the calorie load light whilst enjoying the sun, sea, and sand of Thailand.

Enjoy the heavier meals, such as curry’s and stir fry’s, in moderation to ensure you are getting the best of both worlds whilst on a trip to Thailand.