{"id":46880,"date":"2022-10-25T23:40:48","date_gmt":"2022-10-25T23:40:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/?p=46880"},"modified":"2024-12-16T08:35:01","modified_gmt":"2024-12-16T08:35:01","slug":"is-orange-chicken-healthy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-orange-chicken-healthy\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Orange Chicken Healthy? The Truth About This Fan Favorite TakeOut"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_75 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-orange-chicken-healthy\/#Is_Orange_Chicken_Healthy\" >Is Orange Chicken Healthy?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-orange-chicken-healthy\/#Can_I_Eat_Orange_Chicken_On_A_Diet\" >Can I Eat Orange Chicken On A Diet?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-orange-chicken-healthy\/#Healthy_Orange_Chicken_Dinner_Ideas\" >Healthy Orange Chicken Dinner Ideas<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-orange-chicken-healthy\/#Option_1\" >Option 1<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-orange-chicken-healthy\/#Option_2\" >Option 2<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-orange-chicken-healthy\/#Option_3\" >Option 3<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-orange-chicken-healthy\/#How_Healthy_Is_Panda_Express_Orange_Chicken\" >How Healthy Is Panda Express Orange Chicken?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-orange-chicken-healthy\/#What_Are_The_Benefits_Of_Orange_Chicken\" >What Are The Benefits Of Orange Chicken?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-orange-chicken-healthy\/#The_Bottom_Line_Is_Orange_Chicken_Healthy\" >The Bottom Line: Is Orange Chicken Healthy?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Have you ever wondered if your orange chicken takeout order was healthy for you? When it comes to ordering Chinese takeout, many people often gravitate towards getting orange chicken, and with good reason. This dish is not only beautiful to look at, but also the chicken is always both juicy, crispy, and crunchy, plus the dish is also full of flavor from the tangy and sweet sauce. It is a meal that makes your mouth water by simply thinking about it. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taste aside though, is orange chicken healthy? If you are curious about this and also looking for some healthy chicken recipes for dinner, keep reading to learn more.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_Orange_Chicken_Healthy\"><\/span><b>Is Orange Chicken Healthy?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unfortunately, no. Despite the fact that chicken is the <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/ground-turkey-recipes-healthy\/\">main ingredient<\/a> in this dish, traditional orange chicken is in fact, quite an unhealthy dish. To understand why this is so, we need to take a closer look at the ingredients used to make orange chicken i.e. the chicken, the orange sauce, the coating, and the cooking process.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Chicken<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Traditionally, this dish is made using chicken thighs. While chicken thighs are often sweeter than breasts, they are considered dark meat not white meat like breasts. Dark meat like the thighs and drumsticks is usually higher in saturated fat content which in the long run isn\u2019t good for you, especially when it is breaded and fried which add even more fat.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>The sauce <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211; There is no doubt that this tangy yet sweet\u00a0 sauce that coats the chicken is the main attraction of this meal, however, it too is often made with some not so healthy ingredients, namely:<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Orange juice &#8211; While freshly squeezed orange juice is very healthy and full of nutrients, some opt to use store bought \u2018fresh\u2019 juices which often have added sugars. Added sugars add more calories to your food\/drink<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sugar &#8211; The sweetness in the sauce comes from sugar. Research has shown that diets high in added sugar may contribute to issues such as higher blood pressure, inflammation, weight gain, cavities, diabetes, fatty liver disease, and much more (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/heart-health\/the-sweet-danger-of-sugar\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">12<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>The Coating <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211; To achieve the crispy coating synonyms with orange chicken, the chicken needs to be covered in a batter made of flour and deep fried. The flour often used is white wheat flour, a simple carbohydrate that adds more calories to your food but few nutrients.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Deep Frying <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211; This is the last step of cooking your chicken. Not only does the deep frying process add empty calories to your meal, but fried foods are also high in unhealthy fats which are not good for you as they have been associated with an increased risk of many diseases, including heart disease, cancer, diabetes and obesity when consumed too often (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6342269\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/344019496_Why_Fried_Food_is_Unhealthy_Heat_Induced_Food_Toxicants_and_Associated_Health_Risks\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">15<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b><i>Read More: <\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/broccoli-in-air-fryer\/\"><i>Easy And Crispy 10 Minute Broccoli In Air Fryer Recipe<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Is_Orange_Chicken_Healthy\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-44729 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Frame-207638-1-1024x576.png\" alt=\"is orange chicken healthy\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Frame-207638-1.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Frame-207638-1-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Frame-207638-1.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Frame-207638-1-1637x920.png 1637w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Frame-207638-1.png 1729w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_I_Eat_Orange_Chicken_On_A_Diet\"><\/span><b>Can I Eat Orange Chicken On A Diet?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As seen above, orange chicken is on the unhealthy side as it is high in calories, fats and sugars. This may not make it the best choice for your diet. However, if you are really craving it and would really like to have some, here are some tricks to help make your orange chicken recipe low carb and much healthier than the traditional version<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Use breasts instead of thighs<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Breasts have less fat contents which cuts down on both the amount of fats and calories you consume. Be sure to remove the skin too as this contains most of the fat.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Substitute soy sauce for coconut aminos<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Not only is coconut aminos slightly sweeter than soy sauce &#8211; without any significant added sugar &#8211; but it also has much less salt than soy sauce (25 mg vs 162 mg per teaspoon (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/fdc.nal.usda.gov\/fdc-app.html#\/food-details\/172473\/nutrients\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">11<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/fdc.nal.usda.gov\/fdc-app.html#\/food-details\/2282541\/nutrients\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Remember that for some people, too much salt is also associated with an increased risk of high blood pressure, which in turn puts you at a much higher risk of stroke and heart disease (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/heartdisease\/sodium.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Opt for fresh orange juice instead of store bought<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; It might take extra time to squeeze the oranges but this saves you from consuming any hidden added sugars from the bottled kind.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Bake the chicken instead of deep frying it<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Baking cuts down on the oil used in making the dish which gives you a less fatty end product. If you still want that crispy outer covering that comes from deep frying, crisp it on the stove after baking it. You can also throw it into the airfryer to achieve the same crispiness.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Use less sugar\/honey<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; All orange chicken recipes call for sugar or honey as this is the main sweetening agent in the sauce. You can choose to omit the sugar or honey altogether or simply reduce the amount the recipe calls for. Both options reduce how much added sugars are in the meal<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Replace the rice<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; This chicken dish is often served with white rice, which while delicious, is full of simple carbs. Substitute white rice with either black, brown, or wild rice as they are complex nutritious carbs. If you\u2019d like to avoid rice altogether, go for quinoa or low carbs alternatives like riced cauliflower or broccoli.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Serve with lots of veggies<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Vegetables are nutritious and they make the dish more filling<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Experiment with tofu instead of chicken<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Tofu is a healthy vegan alternative that is not only rich in protein but surprisingly, has more zinc, calcium, magnesium, fiber, and iron than chicken (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/fdc.nal.usda.gov\/fdc-app.html#\/food-details\/174291\/nutrients\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">13<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>If you tend to let yourself off the hook, raise the white flag when things get tougher than you expected, send yourself on an unconscious binge-eating trip \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Is_Orange_Chicken_Healthy\">BetterMe app is here to help you<\/a> leave all of these sabotaging habits in the past!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Is_Orange_Chicken_Healthy\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-44407 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Frame-207615-1024x576.png\" alt=\"is orange chicken healthy\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Frame-207615.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Frame-207615-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Frame-207615.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Frame-207615-1637x920.png 1637w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Frame-207615.png 1729w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Healthy_Orange_Chicken_Dinner_Ideas\"><\/span><b>Healthy Orange Chicken Dinner Ideas<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are some healthy orange chicken dinner ideas to try today.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Option_1\"><\/span><strong>Option 1<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a low carb keto version that requires no flour or deep frying.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Ingredients:<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>For the chicken<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1 egg beaten<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3 tablespoons baking powder<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">salt and pepper to taste<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>For the sauce<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1 tbsp unsweetened rice wine vinegar<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4 tbsp water<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1 tsp sesame oil<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2 tbsp coconut aminos<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1\/4 tsp fresh ginger<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2-3 minced garlic cloves<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1\/3 cup monk fruit sweetener<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1\/4 cup white vinegar<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2 tbsp orange zest<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1\/4 teaspoon xanthan gum<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Garnish <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(optional)<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sesame seeds<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">chopped green onions<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This recipe makes 2 servings. Get directions from <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stay Snatched<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.staysnatched.com\/keto-orange-chicken\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Calories for 1 serving: 381. Fats: 18 g. Protein: 49 g. Carbs: 7 g.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Is_Orange_Chicken_Healthy\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-44380 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Frame-207572-1024x576.png\" alt=\"is orange chicken healthy\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Frame-207572.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Frame-207572-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Frame-207572.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Frame-207572-1636x920.png 1636w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Frame-207572.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Option_2\"><\/span><strong>Option 2<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/healthy-homemade-nutella\/\">vegan version<\/a> that uses chickpeas instead of chicken or tofu.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Ingredients:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2 (15 oz) canned chickpeas<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4 cups steamed broccoli or green beans<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>For the sauce<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1 tbsp toasted sesame oil<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2 cups orange juice<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1\/4 cup coconut aminos<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2 tbsp maple syrup<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1 tsp garlic powder<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2 tsp fresh ginger<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1\/2 tbsp orange zest<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1\/2 tsp pepper<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This makes 4 servings. Get directions from <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Clean Eating Couple <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/thecleaneatingcouple.com\/vegan-orange-chicken\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">14<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Calories for 1 serving: 362. Fats: 7 g. Protein: 14 g. Carbs: 63 g.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><b><i>Read More: <\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/chicken-quesadilla-recipe\/\"><i>Chicken Quesadilla Recipe<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Is_Orange_Chicken_Healthy\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-42493 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Frame-5934-1024x576.gif\" alt=\"is orange chicken healthy\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Frame-5934.gif 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Frame-5934-300x169.gif 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Frame-5934.gif 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Frame-5934-1636x920.gif 1636w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Option_3\"><\/span><strong>Option 3<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a more <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/buddha-bowl-quinoa\/\">traditional<\/a> version that uses chicken.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>For the chicken<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1 lb chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00bd tsp baking soda<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Salt to taste<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2 tbsp fresh orange juice<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1 \u00bd tbsp soy sauce<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1 tsp ground black pepper<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1 tbsp\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1 tsp minced garlic<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1 tsp minced ginger<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>For the sauce<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2153 cup fresh orange juice<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1 tbsp soy sauce<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00bc cup rice vinegar<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1 \u00bd tbsp chili garlic sauce (optional)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1\/2 tbsp\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2 tsp\u00a0 orange zest<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3 minced garlic cloves<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1 tsp minced ginger<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1\/2 tsp red chili flakes<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3 tbsp brown sugar<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Salt to taste<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1 tbsp oil<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1 tbsp sesame seeds<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2 tbsp chopped green onions<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This recipe makes 4 servings and is served with some rice and steamed vegetables. Get directions from <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gimme Delicious <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/gimmedelicious.com\/healthy-orange-chicken\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Calories for 1 serving: 257. Fats: 8 g. Protein: 26 g. Carbs: 19 g.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Is_Orange_Chicken_Healthy\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-42202 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Frame-3542-1024x576.png\" alt=\"is orange chicken healthy\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Frame-3542.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Frame-3542-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Frame-3542.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Frame-3542-1636x920.png 1636w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Frame-3542.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Healthy_Is_Panda_Express_Orange_Chicken\"><\/span><b>How Healthy Is Panda Express Orange Chicken?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not very. This <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/benefits-of-ginger-shots\/\">fan favorite<\/a> is one of the highest-calorie, highest-sugar <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/keto-pancakes\/\">options<\/a> on the Panda Express menu. One serving of this dish has <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">490 calories, 23g total fat, 5g saturated fat, 51g carbohydrate, 25g protein, and 820mg sodium <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/PandaExpressWebsite\/files\/pdf\/Nutrition.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">9<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>BetterMe app is a foolproof way to go from zero to a weight loss hero in a safe and sustainable way! What are you waiting for? <a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Is_Orange_Chicken_Healthy\">Start transforming your body now<\/a>!<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Are_The_Benefits_Of_Orange_Chicken\"><\/span><b>What Are The Benefits Of Orange Chicken?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most of the benefits of this dish come from the chicken itself. According to <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">WebMD, <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">eating chicken will help with<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stronger bones and muscles due to the amino acids (protein) found in this poultry<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Weight management &#8211; Chicken is an excellent source of protein. This macronutrient helps keep us fuller for longer which prevents overeating. The body also burns more calories trying to digest protein which boosts our metabolism<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Improving mood &#8211; This protein is an excellent source of tryptophan, an amino acid which is a precursor for the neurotransmitter serotonin<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Its low in carbs and fats (when not breaded and deep fried)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It contains selenium, a mineral used by the body for immune function, thyroid health, and fertility.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Bottom_Line_Is_Orange_Chicken_Healthy\"><\/span><b>The Bottom Line: Is Orange Chicken Healthy?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No, it is not. Traditional orange chicken is full of fats, carbohydrates, added sugars and a lot of salt, all things that are not good for your body, <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/low-calorie-breakfast-recipes-for-weight-loss\/\">weight management<\/a>, or overall health. However, with a little tweaks in ingredients and cooking methods, you can make it much healthier and weight loss friendly, while maintaining most of the original taste.<\/span><\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Is_Orange_Chicken_Healthy\" target=\"_blank\"><video autoplay=\"autoplay\" loop=\"loop\" muted=\"muted\" playsinline=\"playsinline\" width=\"777\"><source src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/ezgif.com-gif-to-mp4-2.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\" \/><\/video><\/a>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Have you ever wondered if your orange chicken takeout order was healthy for you? When it comes to ordering Chinese takeout, many people often gravitate towards getting orange chicken, and with good reason. This dish is not only beautiful to look at, but also the chicken is always both juicy, crispy, and crunchy, plus the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":46882,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[82],"tags":[],"coauthors":[109,87],"class_list":["post-46880","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-recipes"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.8 (Yoast SEO v27.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Is Orange Chicken Healthy? The Truth About This Fan Favorite TakeOut - BetterMe<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"\u2605 IS ORANGE CHICKEN HEALTHY? \u27a4 Check out this article to learn the truth about this fan favorite takeout option and whether you should eat it or avoid it for other chicken options.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-orange-chicken-healthy\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Is Orange Chicken Healthy? The Truth About This Fan Favorite TakeOut\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"\u2605 IS ORANGE CHICKEN HEALTHY? \u27a4 Check out this article to learn the truth about this fan favorite takeout option and whether you should eat it or avoid it for other chicken options.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-orange-chicken-healthy\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"BetterMe Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/betterme.health.coaching\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"#\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/shutterstock_1929062225-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1707\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"\u0421. Kamau, Kristen Fleming, RD\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@betterme\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@betterme\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"\u0421. Kamau, Kristen Fleming, RD\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/betterme.world\\\/articles\\\/is-orange-chicken-healthy\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/betterme.world\\\/articles\\\/is-orange-chicken-healthy\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"BetterMe\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/betterme.world\\\/articles\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/84fac06cc2a16b2ad5e0d8dfc2ae9ba1\"},\"headline\":\"Is Orange Chicken Healthy? The Truth About This Fan Favorite TakeOut\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/betterme.world\\\/articles\\\/is-orange-chicken-healthy\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1592,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/betterme.world\\\/articles\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/betterme.world\\\/articles\\\/is-orange-chicken-healthy\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cdn.betterme.world\\\/articles\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/10\\\/shutterstock_1929062225-scaled.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Recipes\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"articleBody\":\"<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">Have you ever wondered if your orange chicken takeout order was healthy for you? When it comes to ordering Chinese takeout, many people often gravitate towards getting orange chicken, and with good reason. This dish is not only beautiful to look at, but also the chicken is always both juicy, crispy, and crunchy, plus the dish is also full of flavor from the tangy and sweet sauce. It is a meal that makes your mouth water by simply thinking about it. <\\\/span><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">Taste aside though, is orange chicken healthy? If you are curious about this and also looking for some healthy chicken recipes for dinner, keep reading to learn more.<\\\/span>\\r\\n\\r\\n\\r\\n<h2 style=\\\"text-align: center;\\\"><b>Is Orange Chicken Healthy?<\\\/b><\\\/h2>\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">Unfortunately, no. Despite the fact that chicken is the <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/betterme.world\\\/articles\\\/ground-turkey-recipes-healthy\\\/\\\">main ingredient<\\\/a> in this dish, traditional orange chicken is in fact, quite an unhealthy dish. To understand why this is so, we need to take a closer look at the ingredients used to make orange chicken i.e. the chicken, the orange sauce, the coating, and the cooking process.<\\\/span>\\r\\n<ul>\\r\\n \\t<li style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\" aria-level=\\\"1\\\"><b>Chicken<\\\/b><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\"> - Traditionally, this dish is made using chicken thighs. While chicken thighs are often sweeter than breasts, they are considered dark meat not white meat like breasts. Dark meat like the thighs and drumsticks is usually higher in saturated fat content which in the long run isn\u2019t good for you, especially when it is breaded and fried which add even more fat.<\\\/span><\\\/li>\\r\\n<\\\/ul>\\r\\n<ul>\\r\\n \\t<li aria-level=\\\"1\\\"><b>The sauce <\\\/b><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">- There is no doubt that this tangy yet sweet\u00a0 sauce that coats the chicken is the main attraction of this meal, however, it too is often made with some not so healthy ingredients, namely:<\\\/span><\\\/li>\\r\\n<\\\/ul>\\r\\n<ol>\\r\\n \\t< ...\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/betterme.world\\\/articles\\\/is-orange-chicken-healthy\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/betterme.world\\\/articles\\\/is-orange-chicken-healthy\\\/\",\"name\":\"Is Orange Chicken Healthy? 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The Truth About This Fan Favorite TakeOut - BetterMe","description":"\u2605 IS ORANGE CHICKEN HEALTHY? \u27a4 Check out this article to learn the truth about this fan favorite takeout option and whether you should eat it or avoid it for other chicken options.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-orange-chicken-healthy\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Is Orange Chicken Healthy? The Truth About This Fan Favorite TakeOut","og_description":"\u2605 IS ORANGE CHICKEN HEALTHY? \u27a4 Check out this article to learn the truth about this fan favorite takeout option and whether you should eat it or avoid it for other chicken options.","og_url":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-orange-chicken-healthy\/","og_site_name":"BetterMe Blog","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/betterme.health.coaching","article_author":"#","article_modified_time":"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2560,"height":1707,"url":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/shutterstock_1929062225-scaled.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"\u0421. Kamau, Kristen Fleming, RD","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@betterme","twitter_site":"@betterme","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"\u0421. Kamau, Kristen Fleming, RD","Est. reading time":"9 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-orange-chicken-healthy\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-orange-chicken-healthy\/"},"author":{"name":"BetterMe","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/84fac06cc2a16b2ad5e0d8dfc2ae9ba1"},"headline":"Is Orange Chicken Healthy? The Truth About This Fan Favorite TakeOut","dateModified":"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-orange-chicken-healthy\/"},"wordCount":1592,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-orange-chicken-healthy\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/shutterstock_1929062225-scaled.jpg","articleSection":["Recipes"],"inLanguage":"en-US","articleBody":"<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Have you ever wondered if your orange chicken takeout order was healthy for you? When it comes to ordering Chinese takeout, many people often gravitate towards getting orange chicken, and with good reason. This dish is not only beautiful to look at, but also the chicken is always both juicy, crispy, and crunchy, plus the dish is also full of flavor from the tangy and sweet sauce. It is a meal that makes your mouth water by simply thinking about it. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taste aside though, is orange chicken healthy? If you are curious about this and also looking for some healthy chicken recipes for dinner, keep reading to learn more.<\/span>\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>Is Orange Chicken Healthy?<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unfortunately, no. Despite the fact that chicken is the <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/ground-turkey-recipes-healthy\/\">main ingredient<\/a> in this dish, traditional orange chicken is in fact, quite an unhealthy dish. To understand why this is so, we need to take a closer look at the ingredients used to make orange chicken i.e. the chicken, the orange sauce, the coating, and the cooking process.<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Chicken<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> - Traditionally, this dish is made using chicken thighs. While chicken thighs are often sweeter than breasts, they are considered dark meat not white meat like breasts. Dark meat like the thighs and drumsticks is usually higher in saturated fat content which in the long run isn\u2019t good for you, especially when it is breaded and fried which add even more fat.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>The sauce <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">- There is no doubt that this tangy yet sweet\u00a0 sauce that coats the chicken is the main attraction of this meal, however, it too is often made with some not so healthy ingredients, namely:<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ol>\r\n \t< ..."},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-orange-chicken-healthy\/","url":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-orange-chicken-healthy\/","name":"Is Orange Chicken Healthy? 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