Eat Healthy AF
How it worksOur storySign in

Dish guides · Sichuan

Is dan dan noodles healthy?

Dan dan noodles costs about $3.09 a serving to make at home at typical US grocery prices. Going by its main ingredients, it's a good fit for more protein. For lower LDL cholesterol, steadier blood sugar and weight loss, go easy on ground pork and noodles.

By health goal

Lower LDL cholesterol
With a swap
Go easy on ground pork. Swapping ground pork for ground chicken keeps the dish and makes it better for lower LDL cholesterol.
Steadier blood sugar
With a swap
Go easy on noodles. Bok choy helps. Swapping noodles for soba noodles keeps the dish and makes it better for steadier blood sugar.
Lower blood pressure
Watch the salt
Go easy on doubanjiang: it's salty. Most of the salt in dishes like this comes from the sauce, so go light on soy sauce or use a low-sodium one.
Weight loss
With a swap
Go easy on noodles. Bok choy helps. Swapping noodles for soba noodles keeps the dish and makes it better for weight loss.
More protein
Good fit
For more protein, peanut butter in dan dan noodles helps, and nothing in it works against that goal.

For LDL cholesterol, with sources

0 of 5
LDL habits in this dish
Soluble fiber (oats, barley, beans, eggplant, okra, fruit)
Fish, ideally oily (salmon, mackerel, sardines)
Soy or beans in place of some meat
Nuts, seeds, olive oil or avocado
Little fatty meat, cream, butter or cheese
Go easy
ground pork
Red and processed meat: saturated fat raises LDL.
American Heart Association
One swap each, same dish
ground pork to ground chicken, or half pork with chopped shiitake
Mushrooms keep it juicy in dumplings and mapo dishes

What goes in (per portion)

noodles
¼ lb
ground pork
¼ lb
bok choy
½ bunch
peanut butter
1 tbsp
doubanjiang
½ tbsp
garlic
¼ head
green onion
¼ bunch

Questions

Is dan dan noodles healthy?

Dan dan noodles costs about $3.09 a serving to make at home at typical US grocery prices. Going by its main ingredients, it's a good fit for more protein. For lower LDL cholesterol, steadier blood sugar and weight loss, go easy on ground pork and noodles.

Is dan dan noodles good for high cholesterol?

With a swap. Go easy on ground pork. Swapping ground pork for ground chicken keeps the dish and makes it better for lower LDL cholesterol.

Is dan dan noodles OK for blood sugar or diabetes?

With a swap. Go easy on noodles. Bok choy helps. Swapping noodles for soba noodles keeps the dish and makes it better for steadier blood sugar.

Is dan dan noodles OK for high blood pressure?

Go easy on doubanjiang: it's salty. Most of the salt in dishes like this comes from the sauce, so go light on soy sauce or use a low-sodium one.

Is dan dan noodles good for weight loss?

With a swap. Go easy on noodles. Bok choy helps. Swapping noodles for soba noodles keeps the dish and makes it better for weight loss.

Is dan dan noodles high in protein?

Yes, going by its main ingredients. For more protein, peanut butter in dan dan noodles helps, and nothing in it works against that goal.

How much does dan dan noodles cost to make at home?

About $3.09 a serving, or $12.34 for four servings, at typical US grocery prices, with pantry staples like soy sauce and oil counted at $0.40 a serving.

How can I make dan dan noodles healthier?

Swap ground pork for ground chicken and noodles for soba noodles. Each swap keeps the dish recognizable.

Plan a week of dishes like this

Eat Healthy AF plans your week of Asian home cooking around your health goal, with one shopping list and the cost of each meal. Free for 7 days, no card needed.
Check your own recipe
How it works

More dish guides

Is pork fried rice healthy?
Is miso eggplant healthy?
Is pork chops healthy?
Is mapo tofu healthy?
Is fish-fragrant eggplant healthy?
Is kung pao chicken healthy?
General nutrition information, not medical advice, based on each dish's main ingredients as we cook it; sauces and salt vary by recipe. Prices are typical US grocery prices and vary by store.
Eat Healthy AF (AF as in Asian Food) is general nutrition information, not medical advice. It doesn't diagnose or treat anything. Keep your doctor in the loop, and don't change any medication without them.
How it worksPrivacyTerms