Most weight loss programs say that carbohydrates make you fat. Some of them ban carbs altogether, or allow only very small quantities. But why do Asians—whose diet have a lot of carbs—have lower obesity rates than the Western world? Or how can you adapt a modified carbohydrate diet when your meals are culturally influenced by a lot of noodles and rice?
Here are some tips on how to stay skinny on an Asian diet. This weight loss program is more realistic for Asians, who can’t imagine food without rice or noodles. It also teaches Westerns an ‘Asian way’ of eating carbs that’s healthier and diet-friendly than most people realize.
Weight loss tip # 1: Asians use a lot of mixed-veggie meals.
It’s typical for Asian stir-fries to combine small bits of meat with a lot of vegetables. Even noodles with have toppings like chicken strips or fried tofu, with an assortment of leafy vegetables, carrot slices, and mushrooms.
This is a very smart combination. It has all the elements of a balanced diet, with plenty of flavor, and it’s filling! Compare this to Italian pasta, with its thick sauces, usually served with bread. (Noodles and bread—way too many carbs for one meal.) Asians don’t overload on carbs, they use it to enhance the rest of the dish. So, even without crazy calorie counting, the carbs are only half of the nutritional intake.
Weight loss tip # 2: Asians are not big on desserts.
Asian cuisine is not big on desserts. They tend to serve fruit after a meal, taking full advantage of the variety of fruits available in a tropical climate. And unlike the French pastries or the American pies, these fruits are not ‘processed’ with additional sugars and carbohydrates. They are served fresh, perhaps with shaved ice or a light drizzle of milk.
Weight loss tip # 3: Asians talk while they eat.
For Asians, meals are not just a way to fill an empty stomach. They are often social celebrations. Family members talk, often for hours, as they linger over each dish. It is considered rude in Asian culture to just sit down and eat silently, then leave when one is done.
This naturally leads to one of the most effective weight loss tips: eat more slowly, and savor each bite. (This is also one of the best weight loss tips for avoiding overeating).
Weight loss tip # 4: Asians eat dinner early.
The sun sets early in the Asian part of the world. By five or six p.m, the sky is dark, and this signals the start of dinner. Compare this to Europe, where it’s common to eat dinner at eight or nine p.m.
Eating carbs earlier in the day gives your digestive system time to break down and burn the food. In fact, weight loss experts suggest eating no carbs after six p.m. Asians have been doing this for centuries.
Weight loss tip # 5: Asians have a heavy breakfast.
Asian breakfasts can include a steaming bowl of noodles or fried rice—very heavy! Weight loss experts are now saying this is the best way to start the day. If you’re not hungry, you’re less likely to binge during lunch and dinner.
Photo from daniellebultron.blogspot.com
Interesting perspective.
I’m not sure where the author got their information on Asian eating habits. But a few of their ideas are way off. Asians DO in fact overload on carbs often times eating into the late hours of the night. I know for a fact that asians do eat just as much meat as some westerners.Carbs are the main part of some Asian diet. I also know that Asians eat the complete opposite of what we as americans have been taught. We are taught growing up that we should avoid fried foods, choose lean meat, take the skin from our chicken, cut back on carbs etc… I have seen far to many times Asians will eat 100% Deep fried chunks of pure FAT, Fatty cuts of meat and peel the skin from their chicken and eat just the skin and follow it with a large bowl of noodles chased down by beer. I have seen this more times than I can count. SO I know for a fact that a lot of asians eat the complete opposite of americans. Our society has been fooled by the diet industries into thinking that we are eating healthy so they can continue to reap the reward of our obesity.
I’m not sure this information is correct either. In fact people in Europe tend to eat dinner a lot earlier than most Asian people, who often eat late in the evening. Furthermore, the habit of mindful eating, meaning that you don’t talk and savour your food, is deep-rooted in Buddhist culture. I would agree, however, that many Asians eat around social gatherings but many tend to eat quickly and down their food. These are people who are very slim like I am and I do the same. I think the main reason why we are not fat is basically to do with balancing meals and not omitting nutrients, so meals have plenty of carbs, fat and colourful vegetables. I do not count calories, I eat plenty and I go with the motto, eat until you are no longer hungry, instead of stop when you stomach is full as we do in the West.