10 Ways to Eat Healthy at Indian Restaurants

Marked by its use of spices such as turmeric, coriander and ginger, Indian cuisine can be sweet or spicy and rich or light, depending on your preferences. It can be heavy on the calories if you don't order wisely — but there is healthy Indian food.

Learn more about the basics of this cuisine and how to pick lower-calorie Indian food.

​Read more:​ High-Protein Vegetarian Indian Foods and Recipes

From deep-fried samosas to rich paneer, many Indian appetizers are high in fat and carbohydrates. To save your appetite — and the calories — for the meal ahead, skip these unhealthy appetizers. If you must get a starter, stick with a light lentil soup.

Eating healthy isn't all about fat and calories but also maximizing nutrients. Turmeric, which provides the yellow coloring of many Indian dishes, might have anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. More research is needed to confirm these effects, however.

Tandoori items are made in a traditional clay oven called a tandoor. Because of the method of cooking, the dishes tend to be lean. Look for tandoori chicken or shrimp for a low-calorie, low-fat entree.

An Indian meal might seem incomplete without naan, but it's also a source of empty calories. Instead, order a side of roti, a whole-wheat bread, if you feel that you must have a side of bread at all.

The healthiest Indian dishes friendly to vegetarians, as it has many legume-based dishes. Dishes such as dal are made with lentils and low in oil and butter. Chole is made with chickpeas. Both are high in fiber and protein to keep you satisfied long after you're done eating.

If a menu descriptor uses the words "paneer," "ghee" or "malai," stay far away. Paneers are high-fat cheese, while ghee is clarified butter and malai is cream. None of them is a healthy option for your Indian meal.

If a dish is just too spicy for you, it's tempting to cool your mouth down with a high-calorie beverage. A healthier way to neutralize the spice, however, is to ask for a spoonful of low-fat yogurt and stir it into the offending dish.

Each cup of basmati rice contains more than 200 calories, according to the USDA, making it easy to pile on the calories without even realizing it. Stick to one serving to leave space for more of the main dish.

If you're not interested in the vegetarian options, Indian menus offer a wide array of meat-based dishes. Though you're less likely to see beef on an Indian menu, there are typically plenty of lamb options. The American Heart Association recommends picking a chicken or seafood dish, however.

Servers at Indian restaurants are likely used to some diners being unfamiliar with the cuisine, so they're available to answer questions for you. If you don't know what a word means, ask before ordering.

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