WELLNESS
TEXT
AMY SELBACH
Healthy
CNY
Chinese cooking can
actually cater to a
host of specialty diets
with a small amount
of effort and very
little creativity.
O
n Chinese New Year, I
grew up watching an
elaborate and colorful
parade in China Town,
San Francisco followed
by Mu Shu pork pancakes and plum
sauce. I once had the pleasure of
another New Year spent in Hong
Kong where shark-fin soup was
offered afterwards. While these
options are not very healthy or
environmentally sustainable,
Chinese cooking can actually cater
to a host of specialty diets with a
small amount of effort. Here are 5
tips to accommodate a gluten-free
and dairy-free diet with a few simple
swaps.
sauces also contain gluten, corn
syrup and a ton of sodium. So it’s
best to make your own broths and
sauces from scratch with simple
ingredients and great flavors.
1. Many people report hangover like
symptoms from Asian cooking. A
huge reason for that is an ingredient
called MSG, (monosodium glutamate)
which is a flavor enhancer and
preservative. Look for ingredients
with no MSG. Store-bought Asian
3. Try a homemade spring roll. The
association with spring rolls in
China is that they are fried. I make
a healthy Vietnamese version with
rice paper with uncooked veggies
and steamed shrimp. Many people
think of spring rolls as something
48.
2. Focus on soups! Chinese flavors
are excellent in soups and lack the
oil that you traditionally find in
stir-fries. Use your favorite organic
broth as a base and add garlic, ginger,
spring onions, tamari (gluten free soy
sauce) mushrooms and your favorite
veggies and meat. You can even add
rice noodles for a completely gluten
free soup. Garlic and ginger are also
known for their medicinal properties
and are great for colds and flus.
to have in a restaurant, but they are
very easy to make at home. Just
get some rice pap \