12 healthier dinner options you can order from Chinese takeout menus

"When I think about nutrition, I oftentimes lean towards positive nutrition, " Rachael Hartley told Insider. "What can we add in instead of what should we take out?"rez-art/Getty Images

• Even as more and more restaurants begin to reopen for outdoor dining or limited dine-in service, many Americans are still relying on takeout food during the week.
• Simple modifications like adding brown rice or ordering a side of vegetables can make your takeout food order more nutritious.
• From plant-based dishes like Buddha's delight to a healthier spin on fried rice, these Chinese takeout menu items are both nutritious and delicious.

When it comes to eating healthy meals during quarantine — or any other time — it's less about taking out "unhealthy" ingredients and more about adding in as much fresh produce, healthy carbs, and protein as possible, according to nutritionist Rachael Hartley.

Insider spoke with Hartley, a registered dietitian, nutritionist, and owner of Rachael Hartley Nutrition who specializes in promoting intuitive eating and non-diet approaches to eating and enjoying food.

"While there's nothing specifically on the menu I would say to stay away from, when you're thinking about the purpose of food, it's to feel good," Hartley said. "Generally speaking, you're going to feel best when you're getting a good balance of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates in your meal, paired with some amount of produce. Achieving that kind of balance is going to make you feel a little bit more energetic when you're cooped up inside."

While it's never a bad idea to lean towards healthier options when ordering takeout, Hartley also recommends that during this time, people don't take themselves, or their diets, so seriously.

"The most important thing right now is that we're getting food and eating what we have access to," she told Insider.

Here are some healthier options you can find on most Chinese food takeout menus.