If You've Never Had Green Curry Chicken, You're Missing Out

Eat at an Indian or Thai restaurant, and you might find green curry chicken on the menu. This dish combines chunks of chicken and aromatic vegetables with a broth of coconut milk, chicken stock and green curry paste.

This dish is high in fat, but its nutritional value makes it a good option for increasing vitamin, mineral and protein intake. From a single portion of green curry, you can generally expect the following nutritional value:

• 395 calories
  
• 27 grams of fat
  
• 22 grams of carbohydrates
  
• 28 grams of protein
  

The number of calories in green curry chicken — 395 per serving — make this dish a good option for your meal plan. Men and women need different quantities of calories to meet their nutritional goals, but the typical diet includes 300 to 600 calories per meal.

A large number of green curry calories is from fat and may not be appropriate for all diets. One serving contains 27 total grams of fat, 14 grams of which is saturated. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015-2020, saturated fat intake should be less than 10 percent of your total daily calorie intake.

Based on a 2,000 calorie diet, less than 200 calories should come from saturated fats. Reduce fat content in green curry chicken by substituting regular coconut milk with reduced-fat or fat free versions. Or try this homemade green curry recipe.

Read more: 8 Curry Bowl Recipes That Will Warm Your Soul

There are 22 grams of carbs in green curry chicken. This macronutrient is the main source of energy for the body, and it also plays a vital role in central nervous system function.

You also get 9 grams of fiber, which helps you feel fuller longer, improves bowel function and helps control blood sugar spikes. Adults need 25 to 38 grams of fiber daily, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Green curry chicken is a good source of protein. One serving of this dish provides 28 grams of this important macronutrient, primarily from the chicken. Protein contains the building blocks for all the cells in your body, but it also gets used for energy if you don't have enough carbohydrates for the job.

Eat green curry chicken, and you satisfy the majority of your iron needs for the day. One serving contains 61 percent of the daily recommended intake of this mineral if you follow a 2,000-calorie diet.

According to the National Institutes of Health, adult males need 8 milligrams of iron per day, while females need 18 milligrams. Adults need iron to ward off anemia, a condition that leaves you feeling tired, but pregnant women have a particular need for iron — 27 milligrams — as they require enough of it for two people.

Read more: What Are the Health Benefits of Curry Powder?

According to the National Institutes of Health, females need 700 micrograms of vitamin A daily, while males need 900 micrograms. One serving of green curry chicken provides 31 percent of the vitamin A you need each day.

Vitamin A plays an important role in eye function, reproduction and communication between cells. It also supports normal cell development in other organs of your body, including the kidneys, lungs and heart.