Comparison of nutritional composition and flavor between Chinese and western food

According to the different dietary structure between China and the West, this paper summarizes the composition of nutritional components in Chinese and Western food, and introduces the typical dishes in Chinese and Western food.

Key words: Chinese and Western food structure, nutritional components, Sichuan, Shandong, Jiangsu and Guangdong cuisine, French cuisine, Italian cuisine, American cuisine and Japanese cuisine.

Due to the differences in natural conditions, historical traditions, social systems and religious beliefs, countries around the world have formed different life characteristics and customs after a long period of development, which are reflected in food culture and have created different cooking techniques and dishes. Western food generally refers to the traditional diet of people in Europe and North America, which is different from the familiar Chinese food.

1. Nutritional composition of Chinese and Western food

In order to maintain normal activities, the human body needs a lot of nutrients, but in summary, they can be divided into protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber and water. According to the research of some scientific and technological personnel, many diseases that endanger human health, such as diabetes, obesity, cancer, etc., are simply related to people's diet at present, and there are still about 15% undernourished people in the world. The meaning of the word "Nutrition" put forward by our ancestors is actually not completely consistent with the word "nutrition" used in some foreign countries. The western term refers to the meaning of nourishing and nourishing food, and it does not explicitly include the word "ying" in ancient China. Those who "ying" seek for operation, and one of the principles of TCM is ying, wei, qi and blood.

1. Nutritional components of Chinese food

China residents' traditional diet takes cereals as the main energy source [2], which provides about 75% of the total calories, 66% of protein and 8% of animal food, and about 1 1% of protein. This dietary structure is nutritionally called high cereal diet, which contains a certain amount of vegetables and fruits. However, due to the traditional cooking techniques and taste requirements of China residents, a large number of healthy substances beneficial to human health are eliminated in the process of washing, cutting and cooking many vegetables. Because the protein content of cereal is not high and its amino acid composition is not perfect, the protein provided by this kind of diet is not only insufficient in quantity, but also low in physiological value, insufficient in calcium intake, low in utilization rate of trace elements such as iron and zinc, and insufficient in vitamin content. With the adjustment of dietary structure, food consumption has decreased year by year, while animal food consumption has shown an upward trend [3]. However, according to the results of 1992 national nutrition survey, the consumption of animal food has exceeded the consumption of cereals in some wealthy families. This "westernized" or "affluent" diet provides too much energy and fat, while the dietary fiber is too low, which is unfavorable for the prevention of some chronic diseases.

In order to improve the shortcomings of the traditional dietary structure, the China Nutrition Society and the Institute of Nutrition and Food Hygiene of the Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine formed an expert committee. According to the Dietary Guide for China Residents [4] and the dietary structure characteristics of China residents, the balanced dietary pagoda for China residents was designed [5].

The Balanced Diet Pagoda puts forward a nutritionally ideal dietary pattern. The recommended amount of food, especially the amount of milk and beans, may still be far from the actual diet of most people at present, and it may be far from some poor areas. However, in order to improve the dietary nutritional status of China residents, it is indispensable, and it should be regarded as a goal to strive for and gradually reach.

2. The nutritional composition of western food

At present, the developed countries are going up to the prevailing diet, with meat as the main energy source, which is characterized by excessive energy density, rich in oil and sugar and lack of complex carbohydrates. Although insufficient nutrient supply will lead to insufficient nutrition and multiple nutritional deficiencies, excessive nutrient intake will lead to excessive nutrient intake, which not only increases the burden on digestive organs and causes stomach diseases, but also is the root cause of obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, which is also not conducive to health. At present, western countries also recognize this problem, so they generally recommend China's dietary structure.

It is worth mentioning that in "What to eat? How to eat? " On the issue, due to various differences between China and the West, the results are different. China people pay more attention to the requirements of taste in diet, while westerners pay more attention to the collocation of nutrition.

It can be seen that a reasonable diet and balanced nutrition are the key to protect human health.

Comparison of Chinese Food Flavor and Western Food Flavor

The beauty of dishes should be judged by the taste, and the taste is the first. The national recipes of a country reflect some characteristics of the country to a certain extent, such as the fact that German dishes are affordable and rich in the flavor of family meals, which shows the simple character and pragmatic spirit of the German nation.

Due to different social and cultural backgrounds, China and the West have different requirements for food taste.

To sum up, "eating" is the top priority in life. Today, with the gradual improvement of living standards, we should not stop at "having enough to eat", but should consider how to "eat" in order to eat nutritionally. In addition, with the continuous exchange of Chinese and Western cultures, more and more people around the world will recognize and accept the flavor foods.