Panda Express Serves Up Healthy Meals with Bold Flavors
Like many people, I set a goal for the New Year to start eating better. My health and fitness journey has been more like a rollercoaster ride. Some weeks are great, and I cook health/calorie-conscience meals. Then there are other weeks when I either binge or simply lay on the couch with a jar of pickles and glass of wine.
Whether you are in school, work a full-time job or don’t necessarily have the motivation to cook healthier meals, reaching your goals can be a challenge. Fortunately, there are restaurants that know your struggle and create menu items to help with that!
After coming home from my friend’s bachelorette party, where indulgence was certainly a theme, I felt like I needed to get back on track. However, I had nothing in my refrigerator except milk, eggs and some questionable ham. I headed to Panda Express for a healthy dinner with big flavors.
Panda Express Firecracker Shrimp
Typically, when I eat Chinese food, I go for orange chicken. While Panda Express is known for their Original Orange Chicken, I decided to try something new.
Recently, Panda Express introduced an American Chinese original Firecracker Shrimp. This dish, made with succulent shrimp, hand-chopped red and yellow bell peppers, onions, string beans and whole dried chilis, is brimming with bold flavors. To finish, the dish is wok-tossed in an aromatic black bean sauce with a savory soy sauce taste.
The Firecracker Shrimp entrée captures the spirit of the Lunar New Year. Much like the fireworks displays during the Lunar New Year celebrations, Firecracker Shrimp dazzle your taste buds with its sweet, savory and not-so-spicy flavors, along with vibrantly colored vegetables and shrimp, which symbolize happiness and laughter in Chinese culture. Traditionally, shrimp is a lucky food that is believed to bring prosperity and good fortune to those who enjoy them during the annual celebration.
While the Chinese New Year was celebrated on January 25, the Firecracker Shrimp brought good fortune to my taste buds and waistline months later.
Panda Express Wok Smart Menu
Firecracker Shrimp is part of Panda Express’ Wok Smart menu. One serving of Firecracker Shrimp is 110 calories and 11 grams of protein. I ordered the Firecracker Shrimp bowl and paired the dish with steamed white rice for an additional 380 calories.
The goal of the Wok Smart menu at Panda Express is to offer diners menu options that feature big flavor, more protein and fewer calories. All items on the Wok Smart menu are 300 calories or less, and at least eight grams of protein. Other dishes on the Wok Smart menu include, Kung Pao Chicken, Grilled Teriyaki Chicken, Broccoli Beef and more. Just look for the Wok Smart logo to know you’re making a “better for you” choice.
Firecracker Shrimp is available at Panda Express locations until March 25, so try it while you can!
Thank you, Panda Express, for sponsoring this post.
