VEGETABLE DISHES

Although few people in China—aside from Buddhist monks—are vegetarians, the Chinese diet does tend to rely more heavily on grains and vegetables than on meats. In 1989 in China only 9 percent of calories were obtained from animal products.

The latest available figures show that by 1996 the general improvement of economic conditions and the consequent change in dietary habits led to a 3.8 percent increase in meat consumption. In contrast, in the United States the corresponding figure for calories from animal protein was 34 percent, and in Great Britain it was 35 percent.

In China, an ordinary meal in the home only rarely includes more than a few morsels of fish or meat. We reserve meat eating for special occasions, for when we have guests, or for specific health problems.Chinese cuisine, therefore, includes many more recipes for vegetable dishes than for fish, poultry, or other meat dishes. Following are just a few of these.

hancheng

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