Lebanese cuisine is generally considered to be one of the healthiest in the world thanks to the popular high-protein dips, grilled meats and salads. However, not all Lebanese food is healthy. There are many high-fat options as well, especially those that are lamb-based or have butter in them. Lots of small dishes make up a meal here, like hummus, tabbouleh, pita bread, and cheese, so it’s easy to get waylaid, order more and overshoot your calorie targets.
To help you navigate the menu like a pro and call for healthy options, we list some expert-approved tips.
Order hummus but ask for a side of olive oil
Jitendra Chouksey, the founder of FITTR (SQUATS), an online fitness platform that provides professional assistance for people’s fitness and health goals, says, “Hummus is incomplete without a generous drizzle of Olive Oil. But did you know that each gram of fat contains 9 calories? Ask the restaurant to hold the oil. Instead, get them to pack the oil separately so that you can add as much (or as little) as you want.”
Ask for babaganoush
Calories can hide very well inside dips. So play it safe by ordering Babaganoush, a creamy eggplant dip that tastes like it contains mayo, but is actually made from eggplants, tahini sauce (made from sesame) and olive oil. Dip your veggie sticks or Pita breads into this
Look for healthier options for pita
“While it’s usually made from whole wheat, check if the restaurant uses healthier cooking options such as air frying or oil-free tandoors,” suggests Chouksey.
Call for tabbouleh
This is one of the most popular salads ad is super healthy. It is made of chopped parsley, tomatoes, scallions, bulgur wheat and seasoned with olive oil and lemon juice. Bulgur which gives the salad a crunchy texture contains 8 grams of fiber per cooked cup, so it will keep you satiated for long.
Be wary of falafel and kibbeh
Falafel is made of ground chickpeas but is deep fried. So eat a few, don’t go overboard. Kibbeh is made from ground meat and bulgur and then deep fried. Choose falafel over kibbeh if you are watching calories. Some restaurants do have baked falafel and kibbeh too, check before placing your order.
Skip the shawarma
The famed shawarma usually contains the fattier cut of meat (lamb, beef or chicken), cooked in generous amount of fat. The less than healthy cooking method is reason enough to steer clear of it. It also comes loaded with high calorie sauces and wrapped in pita bread.
