On March 21, 2007, a report titled “Wok Carefully” released by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) shows many Chinese dishes are high in fat and sodium. However, the report draws criticisms from some of the readers. “If Chinese dishes are fatty, why Chinese people on average are slimmer than Americans?”

Americanized Chinese Food vs. Oriental Chinese foods

The Chinese foods that you buy in most Chinese take-out restaurants in the United States are actually different from what many Chinese people eat at home or back in their country. Some of the popular items selling in United States can hardly be found in China. For example, I had never heard of General Chicken or Sesame Chicken before I came to United States. Also, only Spring Rolls are available in China but not Egg Rolls. You may ask why the restaurants would serve different kind of foods to Westerners. A similar question was asked when I was in Hong Kong. “Why French dishes in Hong Kong are different from French?” The answer is that the chefs modified the receipts to match the preferences of local customers. Most of them are much stronger flavored which is either much sweeter or saltier than original recipes appeal the customers.

However, you may say that was only the assumption of the Chinese Chefs. I did an interview with a Chinese Restaurant owner. He said, “I saw many customers add extra soy sauce to their fried rice which is already seasoned with plenty of soy sauce and other flavors.” He also said that many healthier items are not as popular contract to the less healthy version. Steamed Chicken with Broccoli is not as popular compare to Chicken with broccoli, which is heavily flooded in sauce and higher calories.

Chinese tend to share the plate instead of eating the whole entree entry.

You may ask me if all the dishes that Chinese people eat are healthy. I would will say no. However, we do not eat that much. There is a plate called “Dong Po Pork”, which is cooked pork with skin that contains a thick layer of fat. When we eat, we usually share with the family, so everyone has to eat in small portion. In addition, we usually have steamed vegetables and white rice to go along with it. The report showed a plate of General Tso’s Chicken containing about more than half the calories an average adult needs for an entire day. In many cases, we would share that with up to 2 to 3 people along with other vegetable plates in order to have a balance diet.

The portion is big

Another plate highlighted in the report was Chicken Chow Foon which is loaded with plenty of calories. Many Chinese Restaurant offers noodle or fried rice to go along with the entrée, which increases the calories. However, when we eat noodle or fried rice, we seldom have other plates to go along with it. In China, fried rice and pan fried noodle usually is sold alone instead of combining with other entries.

In addition, due to many competition from other Chinese or non-Chinese restaurants, the plate is bigger and the prices did not have significant change. I had talked to a person from A A Trading Inc, a leading Chinese wholesale in Georgia. He said the prices in the Chinese Restaurants’ menus are about the same as he moved to Georgia 10 years ago. I personally can not finish a small Chicken with Broccoli with white rice selling at $3.99 plus tax bought in the Chinese Restaurant close to my house. The Report from CSPI also suggested people to share the plate or try to have some left over for the next meal.

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