Adjusting to the American diet

[robert]

With our interview less than a month away I am finding myself preparing the house for Limei"s coming home. One area of concern I have is the adjustment to a different diet for her. When I went to China the first time I was able to go to a pizza hut or Mcdonalds or even an american buffet at a close by hotel. I live in the country and am equal distance {100 miles} from Pittsburg,Pa., Cleveland, Ohio and Buffalo, N.Y.. I am hoping to find a China town shopping area at these cities . But how difficult was it for your loved one to completely adapt to a different style of food? For intial preparation any recomendations on any special foods that were instantly liked? I can cook. I used to own a restaurant. Limei loves fish, fruit and vegetables. Thanks in advance for any suggestions...Rob

[Randy W]

The universal ethnic dish - pizza !

[tywy_99]

My wife hated the pizza I bought home one night when she first came here.

I think it was just the shock of being in the US and the presence of an entirely different food that made her slam pizza because now-she loves it!

[ktmracer]

With our interview less than a month away I am finding myself preparing the house for Limei"s coming home. One area of concern I have is the adjustment to a different diet for her. When I went to China the first time I was able to go to a pizza hut or Mcdonalds or even an american buffet at a close by hotel. I live in the country and am equal distance {100 miles} from Pittsburg,Pa., Cleveland, Ohio and Buffalo, N.Y.. I am hoping to find a China town shopping area at these cities . But how difficult was it for your loved one to completely adapt to a different style of food? For intial preparation any recomendations on any special foods that were instantly liked? I can cook. I used to own a restaurant. Limei loves fish, fruit and vegetables. Thanks in advance for any suggestions...Rob

I have a farmer's market nearby and my laopo said that is all that she needed along with a source for fresh seafood.

[jim_julian]

You can get the basic staples in many cases in regular stores.

 

Fresh fish, pork, and chicken. Vegetables, fruits, and rice. There will be those who disagree but I think the quality of these things is better than what is found in China ... certainly the sanitation standards are.

 

The fish, pork, and chicken will be cut differently than is the norm in cleaver happy China but this can be addressed with a good butcher or perhaps your lady can adapt.

 

With a little luck you'll find local stores with acceptable soy sauce, MSG, dark rice vinegars, sesame oil, and cooking oil. Some of the more exotic things such as the recently discussed Prickly Ash Oil may be more difficult to find.

 

Fresh fat noodles, wonton wrappers, etc may also be available.

 

Arm yourself with a good quality large wok, a nice big stock pot, and a good quality cleaver and you'll be in good shape.

 

With all of the above you can make many stir fry dishes and soups that will be quite similar to what she is used to. When you find a Chinese market you can stock up on more exotic items.

 

Our eating habits have not turned out how I expected as I expected we would eat more American cooking but I actually have come to prefer Lao Po's great Chinese cooking for most dinners.

 

Breakfast is almost always soy milk and high fiber cereal with fruit. This is not at all typical for China but was readily accepted when I explained the health value of high fiber. On the weekend we may have Chinese egg soup or sesame stuffed rice balls.

 

Lunch is usually a salad, sandwich (sometimes hot open faced), or a burrito.

 

Dinner is usually spicy Chongqing cooking or occasionally a salad.

 

Your lady may be hesitant about salad as the sanitation standards in China condition everyone not to eat raw vegetables. Again, the health discussion goes a long way and finding a favorite dressing or two will seal the deal. My Lao Po now really enjoys a salad.

 

I think our diet is a reasonable fusion of East and West with an emphasis on healthy. We are blessed with a great Chinese market (99 Ranch) about 20 minutes from our home but we could exist without it.

 

Good luck ... with a little planning it should be too difficult.

[mchina34]

With our interview less than a month away I am finding myself preparing the house for Limei"s coming home. One area of concern I have is the adjustment to a different diet for her. When I went to China the first time I was able to go to a pizza hut or Mcdonalds or even an american buffet at a close by hotel. I live in the country and am equal distance {100 miles} from Pittsburg,Pa., Cleveland, Ohio and Buffalo, N.Y.. I am hoping to find a China town shopping area at these cities . But how difficult was it for your loved one to completely adapt to a different style of food? For intial preparation any recomendations on any special foods that were instantly liked? I can cook. I used to own a restaurant. Limei loves fish, fruit and vegetables. Thanks in advance for any suggestions...Rob

 

 

I'd try to find a asian market so she can buy things she's familar with, fish, vinegars, spices, etc.

 

Or better yet, move to a city with more asian influence.

[xiaoheather]

Not sure if moving is completely necessary.

 

In my experience, the Chinese have no doubt that their food is the best food in the world, and they have limited experience in trying other cuisines -- even comparitively wealthy people in Shanghai that have access to Indian, Thai, Italian, and American food. There are a lot of stereotypes that make them think they won't like this food.

 

I think you can push past this by getting them to try new things, especially if you can get to know his/her taste. And remember, just like McDonald's was comfort food for you, it may also turn out to be comfort food for them!

 

Let me take my husband for example.

 

For Chinese food, he particularly likes spicy dishes, seafood, beef, etc. So in New Orleans, we ate a lot of spicy seafood, e.g. shrimp, crawfish, crabs. He was in heaven!

 

He loves italian food, too, especially with tomato sauce. In China, most Chinese have only had or heard of "Spaghetti Bolgnaise" (yi da li mian), so this is what they will always order if they see it on a menu. However, often times this isn't the best dish on the menu! Try ordering a few things, a dish for you, a dish for her, an appetizer, and share it all. Let your SO try different things - but of course don't put pressure on her to like it!

 

Also found mexican food is a great option - especially fajitas! He's also become a sucker for cheese.

 

Of course, let them have their Chinese food too! As the others have said, stock up on soy sauce (you can prob find some in the American supermarket, even, though it might not be as good), vinegar, oil, etc.

 

Can your SO cook? If so, she'll know just what to do! My hubby makes a mean steamed fish, and all you need is some yellow wine (to limit the odor) and soy sauce!

[shaffej7070]

My wife hates American fast food, but loves tuna salad sandwiches. She's lucky I can cook Chinese food because she can't. She also hates pork. So much for the Xmas ham this year.

[lostinblue]

when i arrived here,all foods were stranger to me,i meant not foods themselves,but methods of cooking and ways of eating them,in fact foods here qualities are much better than china,especially meats,i don't think she will complain them,don't worry that,just concern the cooking methods,you might need to find a chinese or asian store nearby,buy her some spices she might need,like soy sauce,oyster sauce,rice cooking wine,vinegar garlic ginger,green onion,if she cooks a lot in china,she will enjoy cooking chinese dishes in your house,and enjoy cooking mixed chinese and American style dishes,tonight my parents in law came to our house for supper,i used oven cooking pork chop with chinese style sauces,they think it's very yummy,right now i'm eating tortilla with hot sauce,i think it's very hot like chengdu food,see your wife will find some new foods she will like here.

i have gone shopping at wal mart tops wegmans,i find out many foods look strange,cheese,some vegetables and sauce etc i had never seen in china,she will get lost without doubt,but it's interesting thing to know them eventually.

lostinblue MM

Edited April 29, 2007 by lostinblue (see edit history)

[robert]

when i arrived here,all foods were stranger to me,i meant not foods themselves,but methods of cooking and ways of eating them,in fact foods here qualities are much better than china,especially meats,i don't think she will complain them,don't worry that,just concern the cooking methods,you might need to find a chinese or asian store nearby,buy her some spices she might need,like soy sauce,oyster sauce,rice cooking wine,vinegar garlic ginger,green onion,if she cooks a lot in china,she will enjoy cooking chinese dishes in your house,and enjoy cooking mixed chinese and American style dishes,tonight my parents in law came to our house for supper,i used oven cooking pork chop with chinese style sauces,they think it's very yummy,right now i'm eating tortilla with hot sauce,i think it's very hot like chengdu food,see your wife will find some new foods she will like here.

i have gone shopping at wal mart tops wegmans,i find out many foods look strange,cheese,some vegetables and sauce etc i had never seen in china,she will get lost without doubt,but it's interesting thing to know them eventually.

lostinblue MM

THANK YOU!!!!

[TootTaLu]

With our interview less than a month away I am finding myself preparing the house for Limei"s coming home. One area of concern I have is the adjustment to a different diet for her. When I went to China the first time I was able to go to a pizza hut or Mcdonalds or even an american buffet at a close by hotel. I live in the country and am equal distance {100 miles} from Pittsburg,Pa., Cleveland, Ohio and Buffalo, N.Y.. I am hoping to find a China town shopping area at these cities . But how difficult was it for your loved one to completely adapt to a different style of food? For intial preparation any recomendations on any special foods that were instantly liked? I can cook. I used to own a restaurant. Limei loves fish, fruit and vegetables. Thanks in advance for any suggestions...Rob

 

 

I'd try to find a asian market so she can buy things she's familar with, fish, vinegars, spices, etc.

 

Or better yet, move to a city with more asian influence.

My city does not have many Asians or a very big Asian market,but there are a few smaller Asian markets where most all of the sauces,vinegars ,oils and spices are sold.

I think it may be difficult to find suitable noodle products though.

She may also be picky about the freshness of the rice thats available too.

Even the smaller Asian markets sell a variety of different rices though.

I think she can make due with the vegetables that are available in any grocery store.

I would not worry about it.

If you do have a problem in your city,just make a trip every now and then to another city with an Asian market and stock up on the bottled stuff,like her preferred soy sauce,vinegar,cooking oil and spices.These have a long shelf life.

Dont make the mistake of buying a big 25lb bag of rice before she arrives because she will definately be concerned about the freshness and particular type of rice she prefers.

[SheLikesME?]

Get the things like cookware mentioned by Jim for sure.

 

I would get some small bags of staples like rice, but I found that my wife wanted a special kind of rice. We found it even at Wal Mart where they had a small Asian section. I think the rice came from Thailand but it was the type she wanted. When in the Houston Chinatown she saw a resturaunt section where a bag of rice there (the right kind) would last us a year and is cheaper. So when she returns we will buy one of those huge bags.

 

My wife bought the spices her and her daughter wanted at a local Asian market. Dughter fell in love with toast and jam. My gosh she went through a jar a week. We just let her and she burnt out after 4 weeks.

 

Noodles didn't seem to matter to her to begin with, and we bought what she wanted later, but have some noodles of some kind. IN fact maybe go to an asian store and get the little plastic bag quick heat up for when she wants to snack. Just a few as she may want something different in the long run.

 

Fresh vegtables. Find a local source that she can buy often if not daily. I only say this because I feel it is healthier. My wife did not like can goods at all So there I was, but she ate it to not waste. Frozen veggies was ok with her but she sure liked fresh. She also began making a salad for EVERY meal every time.

 

Flour for making dumplings or other cakes they make. Maybe ask. She loved to make things from scratch when she had time.

 

She loved cheap frozen pizza for quick snacks. I was surprised.

 

I didn't like th ehot pots I found, but maybe a hot plate for the table will do if it get's hot enough and put a divided pot on it. Aisan stores have some of this stuff, your call.

Edited April 29, 2007 by SheLikesME? (see edit history)

[tonado]

My wife only like fresh food. The food will be tossed even though the expiration date is still good. She is very wasteful. Now she is into organic food. I hope she won't get into organic clothes.

[Dan R]

My wife only like fresh food. The food will be tossed even though the expiration date is still good. She is very wasteful. Now she is into organic food. I hope she won't get into organic clothes.

 

Darn Tony is she putting health before expense?

 

The expiration date is the date it is to be pulled off market shelves. It is not the day it magically becomes harmful to eat. For many foods it is simply the date that it starts losing flavor.

 

Most companies testing food spoilage will get the shortest test result. They back off by 20 % and that is the time the market has to sell it from production. You then have the 20% margin to safely use it.

 

good info

 

understanding expiration

 

If you keep products stored as recommended by the manufacturer and the sell by is 20 days from pack then you can be pretty sure of having 4 more days.

 

If she tosses everything at expiration, how about taking it to a nearby charity?

[esun41]

The biggest challenge for my wife is food safety. She was used to leaving cooked food out overnight and then reheating for the next meal. She'd get upset when I wouldn't eat her reheated food and toss it before she'd cook. I've been Serv Safe certified in the restaurant industry for many years so I have the knowledge (basic) of what is deemed safe when it comes to those standards. Danger zone for prepared foods holding is 41 to 140 degrees. The longer a food stays in this range, the dangers you face multiply, not just double. She is wise in the fact that meats must be cooked to an acceptable temperature level. Example... hamburgers must be cooked to a minimum (155 degrees) internal temperature. This ensures that E-coli 0157:H7 bacteria is destroyed.

 

Her opinion of American food? It's ok as long as it doesn't make her fat!