1. What foods are most nutritious and what food are not very nutritious?
Most dieticians agree that foods high in fat, salt and sugar are not very good for you. These include a lot of fast food like burgers, fries and pizza. The trouble is, these foods also taste great, and so it can be tough cutting down on them. Healthier foods are vegetables, fruit, fish and bread. Many countries recommend that people eat an average of five pieces of fruit or vegetables a day, just to stay healthy. Many people don’t manage that. It’s mostly the cheaper foods that are less nutritious, like instant noodles, so it can be hard for a poor person to eat healthily if they don’t have much money to spend on food.
2. Are there many vegetarians in China?
Historically, vegetarianism has been common in China for over two thousand years. Figures such as Cao Cao and the Emperor Wu were vegetarian. Vegetarianism is often taken up for religious reasons, and it is common amongst people who practice Buddhism. In modern China however vegetarianism is not mainstream, and it can be difficult to find dishes that do not contain meat. Although vegetables are considered healthy, they are also seen as lacking fortifying properties, and people think that if you don’t eat meat then you will become weak. You can find vegetarian restaurants in many big cities in China but it can be hard to find them in more rural areas where people’s views are less modern.
3. Do you think advertising has an effect on what foods people eat?
Without a doubt, advertising can have a big impact on what people eat. If you’re watching television and feeling hungry, and an advert comes on telling you that this particular food is delicious, then naturally you’re going to want to eat it. This is especially true for children, who are more easily persuaded by advertising. It’s unfortunate that most food advertising is for snacks and junk food because these are generally unhealthy. You don’t see many adverts for fruit or veggies.
4. Do you think that junk food should be banned?
Although junk-food is unhealthy and contributes to many health-problems, banning it entirely would be a huge overreaction. It would be a knee jerk response to the problem. It’s unfair to stop people eating junk-food entirely. Many people enjoy eating junk-food in moderation, maybe once every couple of weeks, so it does not affect their health too much. It’s not right to stop them eating a food they like. Banning junk-food entirely is too harsh by far. If people get fat because they eat too much junk-food then that’s their own fault. They don’t have to eat it. We should trust people to make their own choices.
