China

1. China By Jennie Kim and Morgan Kennedy

2. Introduction • Why we choose China • We both have a strong interest in the culture • Jennie loves Chinese food, and Korean food, which is a big part of her life, has its roots in Chinese culture. • Traveling to Hong Kong is on my bucket list! I find the culture intriguing because of the contrast to my culture.

3. Family • Traditional family has a patriarchal authority (1). • Eldest son marries and continues living with his parents; younger siblings marry and leave the household. • Now, more parents and grown children prefer not to live together but remain near each other. • More commonly applies to middle-aged parents. • Those who live together do so mostly for economic support and caretaking. • Education is highly valued in Chinese families (2). • Parents tend to be less satisfied with their child’s achievement level. • Teachers are much more important than parents when it comes to their child’s academic performance. • Self-improvement, collectivism, group identification

4. Religion: Background • Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism are interconnected (3). • All three co-exist in one’s life, sets the foundation for a holistic approach to life

5. Religion: Impact on Diet • The heightened awareness of life’s dual nature had direct effect on diet (4). • Food is believed to have a great impact on one’s balance. • Foods are categorized as yin or yang and hot or cold, these definitions can vary by region.

6. Traditional Food Habits • Eating is a communal affair (5). • Family sits together: bowl, plate, chopsticks • Share dishes, greet each other • Eldest person may take first bite of the meal • Staples • North: wheat (buns, noodles, pancakes), sweet corn • South and East: rice • West and Central: sweet corn • Frying is the preferred cooking style • Other common methods: sautéing, boiling, steaming, braising, smoking, stewing • Yin and yang balancing • Yin = cold foods (ice cream, watermelon) • Yang = hot foods(garlic, chili peppers) • Also applies to climate and geographical area

7. Health: Background • Health beliefs and practices are strongly influenced by religious beliefs (4). • Emotional state is reflection of health status • Holistic approach to medicine

8. Health: Growing Rate of Obesity • 1992-2002 (6). • 50% increase in overweight children (15% to 23%) • 150% increase in obesity (2.6% to 6.4%). • 2002-2010 • Overweight 25% to 38.5% • 2005-2011 • 18 million obese • 100 million obese

9. Health: Chinese in the U.S. • Increased prevalence of chronic disease of Chinese living in the United Sates verse China (7). • The greatest influence of dietary change are food availability, cost and convenience (8). • Educational programs should focus on how to make a healthy transition into the Western diet while respecting current cultural beliefs (9).

10. Recipe: Ants Climbing a Tree (Ma Yi Shang Shu) • 6 - 7 oz dry bean thread noodle (fen si).5-6 oz lean pork, minced carefully 1/8” pcs.2 green onions, white portion fine mince, greens shredded for garnish2 med cloves garlic, finely minced1 heaping Tab ginger, finely minced1 tsp chili paste • Meat marinade: • 1 tsp dark soy sauce4 tsp shaoxing wine or dry sherry2 tsp soy sauce1 tsp sesame oil1 tsp cornstarch • Sauce: • 1 1/2 to 2 CUPS homemade or low sodium chicken stock2 Tab shaoxing wine or dry sherry2 tsp sugar2 tsp salt (10)

11. History of Recipe • Derived from play Injustice to Dou E during the Yuan Dynasty (11). • Dou E gets sold to father’s creditor Mrs. Cai to be her daughter-in-law. Dou E becomes burdened by the family after her husband unexpectedly dies. • They were tight on money, so she made stir-fried mung bean noodles with ground pork for Mrs. Cai. • Mrs. Cai thought the ground pork were ants.

12. Unique Ingredient: Mung Bean Noodles (12) • Made throughout Asia • No flavor on its own • Benefits: fat-free; low in sodium; good source of thiamin, selenium, iron (13). • Calorie-dense, calories are mostly from carbohydrates • Not the best choice for weight loss • Low in protein

13. Nutritional Analysis • Carbs = about 70% • Fat = about 16% • Protein = about 19% • Good source of selenium – 46% RDA • Good source of thiamin – 38% RDA (15). • Very high in sodium! (14)

14. Modified Recipe • Modified to reduce sodium content • Switched to low sodium versions of soy sauce and chicken broth and omitted table salt • Modifications resulted in a reduction to sodium to 32% RDA (15). (14)

15. Counseling Tips • Birth place and level of acculturation should be considered (4). • Yin and yang concept • Use of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) • Communicate in formal manner with unrushed dialogue • Introductions: nod or slight bow • Use of titles signifies respect • Maintain personal space • Explain symptoms and origins of condition in detail and in understandable terms. • Women may be especially modest. • Consult with family members first if possible

16. References •  1. Logan JR, Bian F. Family Values and Coresidence with Married Children in Urban China. Social Forces. 1999;77(4):1253-1282. http://sf.oxfordjournals.org/content/77/4/1253.short. Accessed February 13, 2013. • 2. Chen C, Uttal DH. Cultural Values, Parents' Beliefs, and Children's Achievement in the United States and China. Human Development. 1988;31(6):351-358. http://groups.psych.northwestern.edu/uttal/vittae/documents/chenanduttal1988_000.pdf. Accessed February 13, 2013. • 3. Confucianism [DVD]. Films Media Group,1996. http://ffh.films.com/id/8502/Confucianism.htm. Accessed February 22nd, 2013. • 4. Kittler PG, Sucher KP, Nahikian-Nelms M. Food and Culture. 6th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth; 2012 • 5. Duru HI, Wang T, Odhianbo LA. Chinese and Kenyan Food Culture-Information for Health Care Personnel in Finland. Turku University of Applied Sciences. 2009:12,19-20,35-36. http://publications.theseus.fi/handle/10024/5978. Accessed February 13, 2013. • 6. Wu, Yangfeng., Huxley, Rachel., Li, Ming., Ma, Jun. The Growing Burden of Overweight and Obesity in Contemporary China. CVD Prevention and Control. 2009; 4(1):19-26. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1875457008000995. • Accessed February 13th, 2013. • 7. Nan Lv, J. Lynne Brown. Chinese American Family Food Systems: Impact of Western Influences. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. 2010; 42(2): 106-114. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20219723. Accessed February 13th, 2013. • 8. Satia, Jessi A., Patterson, Ruth E., Taylor, Vicky M., et al. Use of Qualitative Methods to Study Diet, Acculturation, and Health in Chinese-American Women. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 2000; 100(8): 934-940. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10955052. Accessed February 13th, 2013. • 9. Lv, Nan MS; Cason, Katherine L. PhD, RD. Current Dietary Pattern and Acculturation of Chinese Americans in Pennsylvania. Topics in Clinical Nutrition. 2003; 18(4): 291-300. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15127063. Accessed February 13th, 2013. • 10. Sinclair J. Traditional Chinese Recipes. http://traditionalchineserecipes.blogspot.com/2011/08/ants-climbing-tree-ma-yi-shang-shu-this.html. Accessed February 10, 2013. • 11. Travel China Guide.com. Ants Climbing Trees (Vermicelli with Spicy Minced Pork). http://www.travelchinaguide.com/tour/food/chinese-cooking/ants-climbing-trees.htm. Accessed February 14, 2013. • 12. USDA SR-21. Noodles, chinese, cellophane or long rice (mung beans), dehydrated. http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/legumes-and-legume-products/4350/2. Accessed February 13, 2013. • 13. Whittemore F. Livestrong.com. Updated June 14, 2011. http://www.livestrong.com/article/271449-cellophane-noodles-nutrition-information/. Accessed February 13, 2013. • 14. Fitday.com. http://www.fitday.com. Accessed February 10, 2013. • 15. Thompson, Janice & Manore, Melinda (2012). Nutrition: an applied approach (3rd ed.). San Francisco, CA: Pearson Benjamin Cummings.