Have you ever seen a fat Chinese?

Think about it, have you ever seen a fat Chinese? And I'm not talking about Chinese babies, I mean one that lives like people in China do? I suddenly accured to me the other week and since then I have been trying to figure out what it is that make them non-fat.

You might say it's the food itself. That would make it very easy, simply eat Chinese take-out every day? (YUM!) But rumours have it that they don't have chocolate, icecream or dairy (correct me if I'm wrong, because that's just sad), but instead only eat soup, vegetables and chicken. I guess that could be true. You see, I have had a lot of Chinese colleagues and being invited home for dinner once, I learned the fried stuff they serve in restaurants, is not 'real' Chinese food. We were instead presented to a big table covered with little bowls filled with vegetables, roots, meats, mushrooms and fruit. In the middle of the table was a hotplate with a big pot of boiling water and exotic spices. You could then choose whatever looked the best and put it in the pot to boil. It was amazing!

Must warn, original Chinese food does not necessary equal delicious - I also went to a restaurant in China town called Poo Dong. The soup I had resembled the name of the restaurant, and the 'chicken' was nothing but skin and fat (not even quite sure it was from a chicken) no need to say I was dissapointed.

Others may say it's genetic - but adoptees or individuals living a western food style is often rather chubby like the rest of us. (Except for the English, I don't get it!)

Anyway, I even had one suggest that it's all the gymnastik they perform each morning in the public squares with someone blurring out instructions from a speaker. If that's you, please start reading papers. Even though older people should be seen around the parks performing some sort of kung-fu for retired. Pretty cool.

No, I think I know why. Chop sticks! And before you discharge it please consider this. Eating with chop sticks takes a long time, even for the most rutined chop stick champion out there, it still takes longer than eating with a fork or spoon. If you eat slower you'll know exactly when you full and not 10 minutes later when you are stuffed. And have you ever tried to eat a spring roll with chop sticks? It takes for ever just to figure out how.

Ok, that is a pretty weak theory. But I'm still eating my dinner with chop sticks tonight. Kung Pao Chicken anyone?

Healthy a la America

Can you believe it! I finally lost 5 pounds! I know, it's pretty amazing... the thing is that I also flew to Texas to visit my brother and sister-in-law. After spending one week in America I have now gained everything back, and it seems like it brought half it's Facebook friends...

It's not like I didn't try eating healthy, but when you order a celery stick here it comes complete with peanut butter and raisins, vegetables are generally fried in butter, a salad is drenched in dressing and buried in cheddar and the rest is either deep fried or covered in blue cheese. The worst thing I have yet come across is deep-fried-chocolate-covered-bacon... and I've only been here a week.

The weird thing is that people is eating this on a daily basis... It's like they forgotten that vegetables have a taste of it's own. If you try to get a carrot, just a carrot without sauce or dressing or breading, no one will understand what you are asking for. Maybe the 'alien' entrance in the airport is more literate than I thought.

The worst thing is that the fried, breaded and buttered are easier to make than a standard 'healthy meal'... you see, it all comes in a mix-box. Kind of like bake-and-shake, but without the shaking. Home made fast food is a reality.

So when my dear sister-in-law announced she would make a salad for dinner the other day, I was genuinely exited to see a plain green salad, fresh and naturally crunchy. What came out of the kitchen was a green salad with tomatoes, deep fried chicken, cereal looking pieces, half a gallon of dressing and KaZaMm! cheddar enough to feed France for a year. I never knew you could make a salad have more than 1000 calories...

Of course some of this is exaggerated and it is far from every American that does this... But I have no doubt that Texas invented cholesterol. I am also a bit worried... I have to be here two more weeks...

Besides that I really enjoy how extremely jolly everyone is... and the milkshake.