Though Chinese cuisine is famous for its delicacy, today's Chinese people seem to be at a loss what to choose for a healthy diet. The People's Daily published an article recently, calling for an improved diet, as "it is not only a matter of lifestyle, but also an urgent one bearing on our future."

For example, many Chinese today eat too much on holidays, and they eat perhaps whatever animals they can lay hands on, not to mention the bad habit of extravagance and waste when throwing a banquet. It is sad to see that what they eat these days have led them to some severe diseases like hypertension and hepatic adipose infiltration. It can be estimated these diseases will haunt the country in the future, unless the Chinese observe a healthier diet.

Fortunately, there are many celebrities working hard to tell the general public the importance of a balanced diet to both humans and the eco-environment. Yao Ming, the famous Chinese basketball player, is a good role model in the campaign when he says "no" to shark fins, which is supposed to be a rare nutritious Chinese cuisine.

However, more good role models are still needed, and many officials are just doing the opposite. Banquets paid for by public funds have become a very bad social tumor, harming both the image and health of the officials themselves. Furthermore, drunk driving after banquets of this kind has also aroused many complaints.

(Chinanews.com November 21, 2006)