Over the past two weeks you have undoubtedly read and heard about the traditions and symbols of the upcoming Chinese New Year holiday. And if you were paying attention you know that  food and feasts are a huge part of the celebrations.

Over the next 15 days families and friends around China will gather to celebrate the New Year with tables full of symbolic , if not delcious dishes.

If you are lucky to be included in a Chinese New Year’s eve feast, you might start the evening by helping to make jiaozi, the familar pork and vegetable dumplings that are cleverly shaped to resemble ancient Chinese money, something everyone wishes for in the New Year. The meal might also include Tang Yuan soup, a sweet concoction of round and slippery glutinous rice balls stuffed with the magical black sesame paste.  The smooth round shape of the rice balls symbolizes the togetherness of the family for all time. And without a doubt the New Year’s eve meal will end with a  platter of steamed fish,  a  traditional wish for abundance in the coming year to all who partake. 

These are just a few of the dishes you are most likely to see on a banquet table set for the New Year. There are plenty more.  Mandarin oranges and kumquats both “abundant” at this time of year, are not only round but their bright colors remind the family of the happiness of being together. If  your host offers you  extra long noodles symbolizing a long life, be flattered, but don’t cut them. The Chinese believe that by cutting them you just might be “cutting  your life short”. This is the time to twirl. 

From a nutrition standpoint all these dishes have something good to offer and you won’t go wrong trying each and every one.  Like most holidays, eastern or western,  moderation is the key to survival.  Gong Xi Fa Cai !

“So tell me about the magic of black sesame seeds, O’ wise one?”  That is the question I had running through my head last week as I sat at a Chinese New Year banquet , munching on a lovely pastry stuffed with black sesame paste.

Turns out the magic of black sesame seeds, a seed that has been roasted and toasted  in Asia for thousands of years, comes from the powerful nutritional mix that is found within.  These potent little seeds are chock full of minerals, including copper and manganese( important for joint health), tryptophan ( the amino acid famous for its relaxation properties)  and cholesterol-lowering lignans and phytosterols. Along with being  another good source of calcium for you non-milk drinkers, sesame seeds with their high content of   iron, are great for vegans/ vegetarians , or those that just don’t eat much meat.

Black sesame seeds ( hei zhi ma) are prominent in both Traditional Chinese medicine and Aruyvedic medicine. In TCM the seeds are used to treat yin deficiency and help nourish the kidneys and liver. They also lubricate and moisten the intestinal tract, so the seeds are great for anyone with a sluggish digestive system. Of course if you have a tendency toward diarrhea then you want to avoid the magic of the black sesame seed.

Sesame seeds ( black and white) are quite versatile and should be easy to incorporate into your diet with just a bit of forethought. Whole seeds can be added to baking and stir-frys and substituting sesame oil for olive oil will add a new taste twist to your usual salad dressings and marinades.   Powdered sesame seeds blend easily in to smoothies and soups and don’t forget to spread tahini          (sesame butter) on your toast in the morning.

Eat Well, Live Well, Have Fun !

Eat Well Around Town:

The Market at Jiashan Lu is back  in business this weekend. Drop by on Saturday from 10 am-3 pm to pick up organic produce, yummy cookies and fresh meats and dairy.

On of my favorite shopping stops, Les Garcons Bouchers, has a new second location in the former French Concession. Stop in and say ”bonjour” to Pierre at 31 Yongkang Lu, (near Xiangyang Lu).                                             Hours:  10am to 7pm Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5 pm Sunday.

At this is the time of year my mailbox is always stuffed with tips and tricks to finally eat better, lose weight, discover my hidden self and find the path to enlightenment. Most of the time I will automatically hit the delete button but I have on occasion, reviewed these recipes for a “better me” to see, just in case, if I have missed something. After all you never know what may flip your switch, that is of course, if your switch needs flipping.

There is one sentiment that I have always thought a useful tool when trying to decide if any of these helpful holiday hints are really for me. ” If you keep doing what you have always done, then you will keep getting what you have always got.”  What I like most about this statement is that it gives you the responsibility and choice to make changes in your life.  It suggests you review your current approach to  life and then you can evaluate if you like what you are getting or you don’t. If you want something different then what you have, then you need to make the changes. 

The best part of this directive is that it  highlights two of the core tenets of Eat Well Shanghai, being mindful and the power of choices.  Eating well is about  making healthy choices and enjoying every bite of that choice. Make this the year that you find delcious  food that is good for you.  Think about what would taste best at this moment, think about what makes you feel satisfied and then enjoy every bite.  Shanghai has street after street of food that will give you the energy and pizzazz you need to get the most out of your time in this  crazy place. 

So for the upcoming New Year Season my EWS healthy tip for 2012 is:  Keep what  works well, change what isn’t helping and  enjoy every eating experience this city has to offer.   That suggestion alone should  keep you busy right up to 2013 and we here at EWS will be right along  with you discovering the healthiest and tastiest bites in Shanghai.

Eat Well, Live Well and from all of us at EWS, we wish you a Happy and Prosperous New Year !

I reminded myself this morning that I need to get this post done before life gets ahead of me ( once again). It also occurs to me that this sentiment is the perfect opening for the subject of this blog, Slow Food.                                                                     

This past Saturday I attended one of the most fun foodie events I have been to in many years.   The Shanghai Slow Food Convivium chose the lovely Top of the Hilton to host Shanghai’s very first public event celebrating the Slow Food principles of Good, Clean and Fair food.   For the lucky people that attended , there were yummy samples from restaurants, who can forget the Soletta mozzerella cheese featured by Mr. Willis?  and Anna Maya’s delectable vegan black sesame balls as well as the individual home chefs that offered samples of their delicious meals available for private catering.  There was  a nice array of  small and family run organic farms and a good supply of organic wines to round out the afternoon.

The relaxed atmosphere reflected the philosophy of the Slow Food Movement. The attendees  had time to savor the many food samples and share ideas with the vendors on why this movement makes sense,especially in the frenetic enviornment of Shanghai. And if you weren’t sure what the buzz was all about there were several speakers from the Italian consulate ( Italy pioneered the Slow Food movement), Greenpeace and local organic farm experts.

If you want to know more about the Slow Food Movement you can read my previous August blog on the subject and I encourage you to contact www.slowfood-shanghai.org    Watch for more Slow Food events coming in the  new year. You won’t want to miss another one.

You can also enjoy the fruits of the movement at any one of the following restaurants and small food purveyors.

Restaurants: Kush, Mr. Willis, Origin, Qi Min Hot Pot,Annamaya,Downstairs,Melange Oasis,Madison,Organic Kitchen.

 Catering Services: The Elmz( Jamaican cuisine,mohini1008@hotmail.com),food by emma p.(eprigent@yahoo.fr) and Quiche Me (quichemeshanghai@gmail.com)

Many of these vendors and a few more can be found at the Jiashan Market this Saturday, December 17th.

Eat Well Live Well Have Fun !

All I can say is it has been quite a year for Eat Well Shanghai.  Just a bit over a year ago, Eat Well Shanghai: the Guidebook was introduced to a welcoming audience.  Then Julie, the author and creator of Eat Well Shanghai, decided that it wasn’t enough just to have Shanghai eating well, she needed to introduce the world to the Eat Well philosphy. It wasn’t long after that, that Eat Well Global was born.

Eat Well Global, among other pursuits, is introducing a whole new approach to travel with nutrition travel apps for your iPhone and iPad. And of course, one of the first to hit the “shelves” is Eat Well China. 

 The Eat Well China app is perfect for anyone traveling and/or living in China.  The app has much of the information found in the Eat Well Shanghai Guidebook but we have expanded our resources to include Beijing and Guangzhou.

 On a business trip to Guangzhou and you want to find a good vegetarian restaurant, tap on the listings and several will pop up before your eyes.  You have a visitor coming that is allergic to gluten ? Tap on the special diets tab and find restaurants, support groups and Mandarin phrases to help you along.  How about you just want to take a cooking class in Shanghai or Beijing ?  Eat Well China has that information ready to download at the tap of your finger.

This app is different from the wonderful Eat Well Shanghai Guidebook, which is written for expats living in Shanghai, in that there is much more in-depth information about the cuisine of China.  If you want to know what that unusual fruit is in the market, chances are you will find it complete with photo and description on the Eat Well China App. Interested in the advantages of the Chinese diet over a western diet, the EWC app has that information too.

In my humble opinion, if you are living in Shanghai you should own both the Eat Well Shanghai Guidebook and the Eat Well China App. With both at your finger tips will be you ready to Eat Well anywhere you go in China.  And while we are on the subject, the Eat Well China app makes a great holiday present for any of your visitors this year.

The Eat Well China App is available from the iTunes store and the Eat Well Shanghai Guidebook is available from this site.  Just shoot an email to info@eatwellshanghai.com and we will deliver one to your door.

                              Eat Well, Live Well, Have Fun !

The one advantage to writing this blog is it gives me an excuse to try foods that I just haven’t taken the time to taste.  In the last few weeks you may have noticed the appearance in the wet markets and grocery stores of an  orange colored fruit that  resembles a tomato. This rather plain looking specimen is  the nutritionally remarkable persimmon fruit.

Turns out persimmons are one of the fall fruits  that packs a powerful nutritional  punch. This fruit is so good that in one study comparing the heart healthy benefits of apples to persimmons, persimmons came out tops in almost every category from having more fiber to being far richer in helpful anti-oxidants. Prompting one researcher to quip” a persimmon a day will keep more doctors away”.

Persimmons have been cultivated in China for “1000’s of years” and part of the Chinese diet for just as long. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, persimmons are a “cold” food (yin energy) and  powerful in expelling pathogenic heat. Persimmons are used to treat diarrhea,high  blood pressure and hardening of the arteries among other ailments.

This time TCM aligns very well with western nutrition as the persimmon is a very good source of fiber, one medium fruit has 6 gms of fiber, nearly 25% of the recommended level for a heart healthy diet. Persimmons are rich in the anti-oxidants, beta-carotene and lycopene, both powerful anti-cancer agents . One persimmon provides over 50% of the recommended daily levels of vitamin A and 25 % of the recommended level of vitamin C. Vitamin A plays an important role in strenghtening your immune system while vitamin C is an important anti-oxidant , reducing inflammation that can lead to artery damage. 

 All this in a sweet, creamy fall fruit.   Persimmons are in season through November so don’t delay and treat yourself to a healthy bite today.          

Eat Well, Live Well, Have Fun !

I am sure you will agree that shopping day in Shanghai is often full of surprises.  The other day, while perusing the shelves for brown sugar I was drawn to this very pink package of ORGANIC brown sugar.  What fascinated me more than the big ORGANIC letters was the smaller print saying “For Women”.  Now this is interesting…

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, brown sugar is a warming food ( yang energy) nourishing for blood and  helps to reinforce Qi (energy).  Brown sugar will also reduce gastrointestinal pain, promote blood circulation and production and fight blood stagnation.  All of which sounds very positive for a weary body.

TCM specifically recommends brown sugar tea for women with painful monthly cramping, women who have just given birth and the weak and the elderly. Plenty of candidates for nourishment on that list.

Apparently drinking brown sugar tea for menstrual cramps is something every Chinese woman knows.  And from my anecdotal survey the prevailing opinion is that it works.  Thanks for letting your western sisters in on the secret, ladies.

Back to the ORGANIC brown sugar.  Brown sugar in China is processed in a way that does not use any artificial additives or colors. The sugar cane is boiled for 5 -6 hours which gives the sugar the rich brown color. It is most often sold in cakes.  For the package I found the cake had been ground.  Of course just because they don’t add artificial stuff does not make it organic. To get the organic seal the brown sugar must be made from organically grown sugar cane.

It does not appear that this brown sugar, even though it is marked “For Women”,  contains any thing other than brown sugar.  According to TCM, the  magic ingredient is the brown sugar.  From what I can tell, any Chinese brown sugar will do for  a nice hot cup of the  pick-me-up tea.  Perhaps this pink packaging was just a not so subtle reminder to women to grab a bag for next month.  It definitely caught my eye.

Eat Well, Live Well, Have Fun !

As of this week the Eat Well concept has gone to Argentina !  Eat Well Global , the now parent of Eat Well Shanghai, has marketed the first nutrition travel application for your smart phone and iPad.

Eat Well Argentina will arm any traveler to Argentina with information on local customs and food traditions as well the information you need to enjoy the taste treats of Argentina and eat healthy.  Questions on food allergies and special dietary needs are addressed as well as concerns regarding food safety.   So check it out today in the iTunes store.

Next up is Eat Well China, look for it to show up on iTunes in the coming weeks.  Of course I will also let you know when it is there.

Around town this week: Look for Eat Well Shanghai at the Shanghai Mamas First Anniversary Party and Picnic.  This is yet another chance to pickup your Eat Well Shanghai Guidebook.

Another place to be this weekend is the ongoing Jiashan Farmers Market (550 Shanxi Lu near Jianguo Lu). Plenty of lovely fruits veggies, smoothies, bagels and sweet treats to brighten up your Saturday. Market is from 10 am – 3 pm. 

Eat Well, Live Well, Have Fun

People always say that things change fast in Shanghai.   In my very last blog I said that organic meat was hard to find and you needed to check with the small butchers , etc. No sooner do I say this then I walk in to my local City Shop and right there on the shelf  is organic pork from Jilin province, in the very far north of China.

My first thought was, “what do they mean by organic ?” My second thought was, “gee I wish I could read the label”.  Taking a closer look I did notice that the company website was listed on the label in English.  The company website predictably is in Chinese but they do have a limited English translation.  In the end I found some good news about this particular product.

The pork is produced by Vitale Hilly Black Pork. The company originally started with chickens and in 1998 developed the hilly black pork project to help redevelop this rural area.

The black pig is a different breed from the more common white pork and apparently native to this area of northern China. So not only was the idea to develop a sustainable industry to support the local farmers but to use  production and breeding methods that would preserve the genetic resources of this indigenous breed.

According to the website, no hormones are used on the pigs and as a result they are allowed a longer growth period before slaughter.  The pigs are fed organic corn and soybeans as well as being allowed to freely graze in the nearby Changbei Mountains.

I believe this is a start. The price of the pork is  much more than the non-organic pork, so I don’t think the production methods will become the industry standard, but it is another welcomed choice.

If you want to read more about this company try this link:    http://www.ejqs.com/en/news.asp?pageclass=10301&id=83

Eat Well Shanghai Update: Last month I had the pleasure of catching up with Julie Meyer, RD, the creator of  this blog and the author of the Eat Well Shanghai Guide Book.  To all of you that met Julie, you know she is always on the move and since repatriating has expanded EWS to Eat Well Global( eatwellglobal.com).  One of the first products to come out of Eat Well Global will be a nutrition/travel app , aptly called Eat Well China.  The app should be available for download to your iPhone, IPad or Android by the end of 2011. Look for it  in the iTunes store.

Eat Well, Live Well, Have Fun !

Last week I met with  the Shanghai Bumps & Babes group, a very gracious and well informed group of Moms and babes.

I have decided to share a summary of our discussion here as I think all of us, not just Moms ,are confused about whether organic food is necessary here  or anywhere.

Whether or not to spend money on organics is a major question for people here in Shanghai, especially due to the uncertainty that the product labeled organic is truly organic.  Organic foods are a new industry in China and like most new things in China the industry is growing faster than the structure to regulate it.  There are regulations regarding organic farming in China and the certification process has been in place for several years now.

Our best advice is to get to know your supplier.  Find out where they get their produce. We also recommend that you take advantage of the offers to visit the farms.  Not only is this a fun day out for the family but you will get a first – hand look at the farm and what surrounds it. Many of the organic farms around Shanghai offer farm tours.

Eat a variety of fruits and veggies from a variety of suppliers.  Include in-season organic produce in your meals. If your produce isn’t organically grown, eating a mix of foods from a variety of sources can minimize your risk of ingesting too much of any one pesticide.

Wash well. Wash and scrub all fresh fruits and vegetables. Soaking is fine to loosen dirt and debris, but studies have shown that running water is the most effective means of physically removing pesticide residues as well as dirt and bacteria. Scrubbing with a soft brush can help remove contaminants in crevices.

Many of you had questions regarding meat and fish and dairy here in Shanghai.  This gets a bit more complicated, especially for the meat because there are not as many alternatives to buy organic meat.

I recommend that you follow the principle of variety.

Choose a variety of meats, both imported and exported.  Look for small butchers that are appearing around town offering Chinese grown meat without anti-biotics and hormones.  Try Korean and Japanese markets and ask about where their beef and other meat products come from.   Reduce the amount meat in your diet.  By this I mean serving smaller portions.

The same idea of variety goes for dairy products. The exception being that I recommend that pregnant, nursing women and children drink UHT milk (boxed). The ultra high pasteurization process kills any harmful bacteria. You can find organic boxed milk in Shanghai. I also recommend introducing soy milk to the family, just for variety.

Fish is another tricky one.  Make sure it is alive, if you are buying a whole fish from the wet market or grocery chain.  As in many countries, the fresh water fish will carry more contaminants, so I recommend eating it less than once a week and using more ocean going fish.

Variety is the key to safe, nutritious eating.

For more detailed information on organic foods and labeling in China , pick up a copy of  the Eat Well Shanghai Guidebook.

Kid Friendly Recipe of the Week:

Invite your kids into the kitchen and let them crush the cereal to make these delicious French Toast Bites with Yogurt Dipping Sauce. http://bit.ly/oAwM4Q

Eat Well, Live Well, Have Fun !