Differences in Chinese Diet

Many nutritionists consider Chinese food more healthful than Western food because it generally contains less calories and salt. However, if you are used to a high protein diet, Chinese food will not give your body sufficient energy to cope with the physically demanding activities involved with training there. As a foreigner in China, you will have to get yourself accustomed to the effects of a wholly different diet, and it is important to know the selection of food that will most closely meet the dietary requirements of your body to keep you fit and healthy throughout the length of the trip.

Basically, the nutritional value of a certain kind of food depends on the cooking method and the ingredients used. Chinese cooking is done with fresh ingredients bought from the market daily, and it is not unusual that fish, crabs or shrimps are kept alive until shortly before they are cooked. Although much is said that the Chinese are not so concerned about the nutritional value of food, their methods of cooking seem to be founded on a tradition of preserving the natural nutrition of the ingredients used. Whether by stir-frying over a big fire or boiling in a clay-pot, it is a trademark of true Chinese cooking that beneath the sauce or the seasoning, the raw flavor of the ingredients can still be tasted.

Most mainland Chinese restaurants are willing to oblige to the specific needs of their customers, and if you are concerned about the calorie count in your food, you can make a request for the cook to use less oil. When ordering stir-fried dishes, make sure it is cooked with a white sauce because red and brown sauces are known to be high in fat content. Chinese deep-fried items are quite low in fat and grease-free because the oil is very well-heated before the ingredients are immersed. When served, they are warm and crunchy on the outside and smoking hot on the inside. If you are looking for a well-balanced meal that is low in fat, steamed fish, vegetables and rice make the best combination. In general, Chinese cooking does not use seasoning that is very high in fat content, and soy sauce, which is very low in sodium, is usually used in place of salt. Therefore, if you are informed about the calorie count in basic meat-types and ingredients, there are many items on the Chinese menu that will meet your dietary requirements. Besides, vegetarian restaurants are aplenty in China.

Compared to the Westerners, the Chinese do not use so much meat in their cooking. Instead, vegetables and soup form a large part of their everyday diet. As a result, westerners who are used to high energy food find it difficult to adapt to Chinese food which has lower protein content. As well, the most common type of meat is pork, which is very low calorie compared to beef, which seems to be the predominant meat that is eaten in other countries.

To keep up with the metabolism rate of your body, you may need supplements to make up for the dietary deficiency. You can either bring your own supplements such as protein powder mix, nuts, raisins and vitamins, or make an effort to consume more of these while you are in China. Soy beans are known to be very high in protein and nutrition, and most Chinese people drink soy bean milk for breakfast. Protein supplements are hard to find in supermarkets in China-- the best place to look for these is at the local weight gyms.

There are also a lot of items on the Chinese menu that are cooked with nuts, and you can ask the waiter to recommend you some. Fruits are a very important part of a traveler's diet because it gives your body system a lot of replenishing as you adapt yourself to unfamiliar conditions.

If you are staying in a school or eating on a budget you may also want to supplement your food with a multivitamin, as often there is not enough nutritional content to keep your body happy in a typical meal, and also there is not a lot of variety to help fill in these holes.

The Chinese cuisine is one of the most important tourist attractions of the country. Within its extensive variety, there are types of food that will meet your dietary requirements, though they are not amongst the everyday food you may find in local dining outlets. However, if you know how to make up where you lack with supplements, you should have no problem maintaining a well-balanced and nutritional diet throughout your trip in China.