Panda Express Nutrition
Nutritional Information
To my surprise, the Panda Express website (www.pandaexpress.com) is most user friendly; offering a complete table of nutrition facts, separated by food type: rice, vegetarian, chicken, chicken breast, beef, pork, shrimp, appetizers, soup, and even sauces and cookies, making Panda Express Nutrition information an easily obtainable resource when eating on the go. Moreover, at the bottom of the page is information regarding the guidelines from The Guidelines for Americans, as well as contact information for Panda Express, should a customer have any questions.
Nutrition Calculator
Panda Express offers a nutrition calculator on their website giving the potential diner the ability to either ‘build a meal’ or ‘select items a la cart.’ This is of great benefit for individuals who are trying to watch what they eat, tend to eat on the go, or simply nutritionally conscious.
Demonstrating a clear understanding for those with specific dietary concerns, Panda Express clearly indicates on their website that although they have vegetarian entrées, they “are not certified vegetarian due to our cooking process and use of shared equipment.” This acknowledgment allows individuals to make their own decisions with respect to Panda Express Nutrition and dietary choices. But what if you have specific nutritional needs?
Sodium:
User friendly website aside, sodium content is a concern throughout the menu. Many of the dishes classified as “Wok Smart” or, entrées containing fewer than 250 calories, actually contain higher sodium levels than their standard counterparts. For example, Kung Pao Shrimp, which is classified as Wok Smart, contains 880 mg sodium and 115 mg cholesterol, while a Crispy shrimp, which is not classified as Wok Smart, contains 810 mg sodium and 60 mg cholesterol.
With respect to other Wok Smart dishes, Mongolian Beef contains 1040 mg sodium, and BBQ Pork has 1310 mg. Be careful about the vegetarian dishes as well. Wok Smart Chow Mein might seem a perfect choice, but if you are on a sodium-restricted diet, it is a dish to avoid as it contains 1060 mg per serving. In the chicken category, although Sweet and Sour Chicken is not considered Wok Smart, with 400 calories, 17 grams of fat and a whopping 46 grams of carbs, it contains the lowest sodium content of all the chicken entrées available at 370 mg.
Carbohydrates:
If you are watching your carbs, and most of us are, than checking out the Wok Smart dishes would seem a logical alternative. Be aware of the dipping sauces, however as Mandarin Sauce contains 40 g of carbs in only one 1.8 oz serving, and their steamed rice weighs in at 93 total carbs and 0 fiber.
There are several dishes with significantly high carbohydrate values. They include Beijing Beef with 67 g carbohydrates per 5.6 ounce serving, Sweetfire Chicken Breast, with a carbohydrate content of 53 grams for a 5.8 ounce serving and Fried Rice, with a whopping 85 g. carb value for 10 ounces. Perhaps most surprising was the carb content in the Panda Express Chow Mein which was an amazing 61 g.
How To Choose:
Eating out can be an arduous task because it is often difficult to decide on the best entrée for your specific dietary needs. Choosing Panda Express for your dining experience is no exception. Unfortunately, the Wok Smart meals do not necessarily mean the most healthful meals for those watching their sodium intake, and should you choose an appetizer as well as an entrée, the net totals could be shocking.
The solution: Be an informed diner. Be sure to look at the nutritional information before dining in order that you can make an informed nutritional decision. A little bit of planning can be the best reward. Bon Appetite!
References
Panda Express Nutrition Information. Panda Express Website. www.pandaexpress.com
Panda Express Nutrition Facts. The Daily Plate. https://www.thedailyplate.com/nutrition-calories/food/panda-express