Lunar New Year is a time when Taiwanese families gather around the table to indulge in a feast. But though your mouth may thank you, your waistline probably won’t.
A fragrant cloud of steam rises from a dish of freshly stewed goose. But nutritionist Kao Min-min says rich Lunar New Year foods like these come with a hefty amount of calories.
She says how the food is cooked has a big impact. A lot of dishes are fried in oil, and people often thicken soups with corn starch.
As for the worst offenders, number one is braised bamboo pork knuckle. A single dish comes with over 4,000 calories. Next is cured meat sticky rice with 2,600 calories. After that are braised meatballs with over 2,500 calories. Shark fin soup comes in close behind with just four fewer calories. Finally, in fifth position, there’s Dongpo pork. Other side dishes bring up the tail. That means an average table of ten dishes holds more than 20,000 calories.
Kao says most people consume more than 1,000 calories. That includes a generous portion of fatty meat dishes. For fish dishes, she says steamed fish is healthier than braised.
In addition, Kao advises people to eat more fibrous fruits, like tomatoes and tangerines. That way, you can enjoy the festivities without packing on the pounds.