In Chinese culture, mealtimes are the high points of the day, yet numerous studies show that Chinese people remain slimmer and fitter than we in the West. How can this be?
Chinese culture encourages you to revel in food, to eat till you are full, and to explore a whole wide range of differant flavors. In the West we have been indoctrinated with the idea that the only way to lose weight is to eat less and exercise more. Somehow, this mantra has been lost in translation. The West is getting fatter even while exercising more and more each day. If you watch the Olympics on television you will see coverage of the local people and I dare say very, very few of these locals are even remotely as fat as most of our breathren in the West. What is the secret and do the Chinese have this secret?
Chinese people actually eat more than westerners and yet they somehow stay thinner. Studies have shown that Chinese people eat more calories than Americans, but keep slimmer. My studies have concluded that the first and fundamental differance between the way people eat in China and in the West is one of attitude. Instead of seeing food as an enemy and focusing on what not to eat, often depriving the body of needed nutrients, the Chinese focus on making food taste good and meeting the body’s needs. Chinese people do not approach food with trepidation, or do they worry that their favorite treats or goodies will lead to extra unwanted pounds and waist inches. The Chinese eat more calories but not “empty calories” full of fat and sugar. Chinese eat food rich in nutrients and packed with flavors. Mealtime is a joy and a full expression of love within family and friends. Western food intake has high percentages of all the wrong food groups.
Focus on the fact that more than a billion people in China, and millions more in Asia, eat regularly, eat a lot, and never seem to worry about counting calories. A steaming bowl of rice offers endless possibilities and is a good starting point as you navigate Chinese food culture. Rice is the superior staple in China from an economic, nutritional and culinary viewpoint. An excellent way to start your journey.
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