| Food is an important part of daily life for Chinese | | | | preserved eggs, aka "thousand year old eggs" or |
| people. Chinese not only enjoy eating but believe | | | | salted and dried fish. Other exceptions include snack |
| eating good food can bring harmony and closeness to | | | | items such as beef jerky, cuttlefish jerky, sweet and |
| the family and relationships. Shopping daily for fresh | | | | sour preserved plums, or dehydrated mango slices. |
| food is essential for all Chinese cooking. Unlike the fast | | | | Canned or frozen foods are seldom eaten. Western |
| food society of the U.S., the Chinese select live | | | | desserts such as cookies, cakes, pies, and ice cream |
| seafood, fresh meats and seasonal fruits and | | | | are eaten only on special occasions such as birthdays |
| vegetables from the local market to ensure freshness. | | | | and weddings. After dinner, families usually eat |
| This means swimming fish, snappy crabs, and | | | | seasonal fruit as dessert. Chinese desserts such as |
| squawking chickens. Even prepared foods such as | | | | red bean soup, sweet white lotus's seed soup, or |
| dim sum or BBQ duck for to go orders must gleam, | | | | steam papaya soup are served every so often as a |
| glisten, and steam as if just taken out of the oven. | | | | special treat on a hot summer's night. Ethnic Chinese |
| Chinese people in general are not as concerned about | | | | cooking does not involve a lot of deep fried cooking. |
| nutrition as Western culture. They are more concerned | | | | The reason most of the Chinese restaurants in |
| with the food's texture, flavor, color, and aroma. These | | | | America have deep-fried dishes such as sweet and |
| are the crucial points for good Chinese cooking. | | | | sour pork, almond fried Chicken, and deep-fried shrimp |
| Chinese daily meals consist of four food groups: grains, | | | | is to promote business and to please western tastes. |
| vegetables, fruit, and meat. Because of lactose | | | | This clearly reflects why there are more overweight |
| intolerance, Chinese do not consume large amounts of | | | | and high blood pressure concerns in Western culture |
| dairy products. Instead, Chinese substitute these with | | | | than there are in Chinese culture. Such an ethnic |
| soymilk and tofu, which also contain large amounts of | | | | Chinese food mingled with Traditional Indian food can |
| protein and calcium. Vegetables, fruits, and meats are | | | | be enjoyed in Indo Munch Restaurant which is and |
| usually fresh. Some exceptions include preserved | | | | Indian Chinese Fusion Cuisine. |
| vegetables such as snow cabbage or mustard greens, | | | | |