Finding the Golden Mean of cuisine

Beijing is all about food: We live in a city of bottomless hot pots, greasy treats and blow-out champagne brunches. On top of battling wine waists and “baibai rou” (the bits that jiggle when you wave goodbye), I was just told by a Chinese doctor that I have to worry about my system being too “heat-y” as well. What’s a girl to do? Luckily there are excellent healthy restaurants popping up all over the place, like the new Crystal Jade, which offers healthy gourmet that's neither too hot nor too cold, and non-greasy to boot.

Japanese Sumo wrestlers put in grueling hours to pack on the pounds, for the obvious reason that Japanese food is healthy. If you can stay away from the tempura at Len Len, you’ll earn a tasty, low-fat meal as a reward; they have an excellent house salad, fresh sushi and a fabulous black cod with miso. Middle Eastern food also provides some relief. Tabouleh (a salad of bulgur wheat, fresh herbs and lemon juice) and protein-packed hummus make a complete, healthy and satisfying meal. Dareen’s Coffee does up great renditions of all of these. If you’re still craving dessert, head over to Bitapitta for their watermelon and feta salad and fresh smoothies.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, or TCM, slimming down is only half the battle. In TCM body parts are either yin or yang and it’s our job to keep them in balance. Certain foods throw it off and you can swell up like a potato. Yaoshan, or health food, is the specialty of Yuyuan Shanfang, where the dishes are matched for their “heating” and “cooling” properties. This has nothing to do with the temperature of the food, but its effect on the body. Hot food stimulates the system, but can lead to over-activity in the organs. Cold foods, on the other hand, have a calming effect, but can sedate your innards. When I heard that “heat-y” foods, like beef, chicken and chilli dishes, all promote weight loss I was thrilled. Finally, the ancient version of the Atkins diet! Unfortunately, overindulgence causes not only weight loss, but pimples, shaky hands and constipation. After all, gongbao jiding is said to pack the same oily punch as a Big Mac. Being too cold will make your joints ache and bowels flow. Makes you wonder whether or not many a case of "laduzi" is caused by the notoriously cold five kuai Qingdaos.

It seems that the Chinese not only honor the golden mean in philosophy, but in food as well.