Why the Chinese Don't Count Calories: 15 Secrets from a 3,000-Year-Old Food Culture

by Lorraine Clissold

An ancient cuisine reveals secrets that will change the way you eat, feel, and look. Lorraine Clissold always loved food, but like many Western women her enjoyment was tinged with guilt. She lived in constant fear of piling on the pounds. Then she discovered a nation of people who positively stuffed themselves and never worried about counting calories or getting fat. During Clissold's ten year journey into the 3,000 year old Chinese food culture, she discovers the 15 secrets that make it possible to enjoy delicious meals three times a day, and keep slim and feel fitter. Why the Chinese Don't Count Caloriesbrings a commonsense approach to eating—one which has worked for billions of people over thousands of years—into American kitchens for the first time.

Genres: Nonfiction, Food, Health, Cookbooks, Nutrition

288 pages, Paperback

First published June 26, 2008

About the author

Lorraine lived in Beijing from 1995 to 2005 and, fascinated to find a nation that loved to eat and always ate well, she frequented street stalls and markets and learned to speak Mandarin Chinese so that she could interact with chefs and restauranteurs.

Her interest led her to the study of Chinese traditional medicine; she appeared frequently in the Chinese press, hosted a cooking programme on Chinese national television and founded the Chinese Cooking School, the first to be dedicated to teaching Westerners the wisdom of the traditional Chinese diet. On her return to the UK in 2005 she wrote ‘Why the Chinese Don’t Count Calories’ to demystify the Chinese diet and show the West how food can be make you fit not fat.

Reviews

[Ivz Andonova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Понякога в преоценените книги в книжарниците, насред всички езотерични тъпни, може да откриеш съкровища. Така открих У Цин с неговият "Един ден", "Цветя за Алджърнън" и "Защо китайците не броят калории" на Лорийн Клисълд. Признавам, че последната я взех с тайната надежда, че китайската кухня ще блесне пред мен с цялата си красота и патладжанът по съчуански ще престане да бъде тера инкогнита за мен. Но книгата се оказа много повече от това. Представете си обстойно проучване върху китайската кухня, подкрепено от личния опит на автора, нашарен с всякакви случки, практически съвети и рецепти. Основната тема е систематичното и стройно разкриване на причините, поради които китайците не дебелеят и как да прилагате наученото в собствената си кухня, без тепърва да ставате китайски майстор готвач. А най-любимата ми фраза е още в първата глава- престанете да броите калории. Точно така, престанете да броите калории и се съсредоточете върху факта, че основната функция на храната е да се наядеш. Хубавата храна, консумирана по точният начин, прави човека здрав, а не дебел. Интересен факт, споменат в книгата е, че проучване от 1990 г. показва, че китайците приемат много повече калории от американците, но са по-слаби. И то не, защото спортуват повече или защото им е заложено генетично. Просто спецификата на кухнята им води до тези резултати.

Целият текст: ТУК

[Chris Aylott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a cookbook, through there are some recipes in it. Instead, it's a thoughtful explanation of some basic principles of Chinese cooking -- the why of mixing various ingredients and flavors.

I don't buy into the mystical aspects of the Chinese approach to food, but the basic principles make a lot of sense: eat more vegetables, fill up on rice, balance a variety of ingredients and flavors, cook gently to retain nutrients while making them more digestible. We do some of this but not enough; this book is encouraging me to do more.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

got the message, but got bored getting it.

[Desiree Wills Velazco · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked how comprehensive and all encompassing this book is. It touches on all aspects of health with concepts that vibe with me. I'm definitely going to read through this one again.

[STEPHEN SHEN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked up this book after learning about the China Study (Campbell) and being curious about the original Chinese diet (before KFC and other fast food chains in China) lauded in the Study. This book gave me all the information I was looking for (and more, such as Chinese alternative medicine and "exercise"). However, I think the reader who will get the most out of this book is somebody who has experienced Chinese food/culture firsthand as an expat, which is the case of the author and myself.

[Tina Tovmassian · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s alright. The author gave good background in all the points she mentioned. But you could have just read the titles of the table of contents to understand the gist of this book. Lot of backstory on Chinese culture though so if you are interested in that then this will be a good read.

[Hannah Chiang · Rating 3 out of 5]

Glad I explored this read out of my comfort zone. Lots of interesting insights on food and culture. Eat whole foods!

[Serena Long ﺕ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting perspective. More and more convinced that plant-based eating is the most healthiest option. A diet made up of the foods that nature has made available will benefit your body. The right foods, real foods provided by nature will help your body keep fit and free from illness. Many of the foods that are also medicines’ are packed full of health giving properties as well as nutrients recognised by western nutritionists and they can be eaten every day.

[Lisa Kelsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

You just can't say much about four thousand years of a food culture in one book. It was an interested read, but can't say it enlightened me much about the Chinese way of eating.

[Peggy]

Very interestin perspective. More and more convinced that plant based eating is the healthiest option

[Penny · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought it had some interesting things to say, but I found it pretty heavy going and lost interest after a certain point. In the end, I didn't actually finish it.

[Antonio Buainain · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a bit disappointed because at the end, it is more a recipe book than I was expecting. No problem with the content, style etc, but it just did not fulfill my expectations.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. It puts things into perspective and spits out facts, not opinions. It also included lots of good recipes! (I'm still counting calories, but someday I'll take this advice, haha)