Don’t Forget Vegetables When Dining in Autumn
Crispy skin pigeon, male fish head hotpot, beef brisket stew, stir-fried meat, Liwan pig trotters... “You’ve ordered quite a few meat dishes; how about adding a vegetable?” The server advised a diner. This scene was observed recently at a restaurant on Shengli Street, Hankou.
With autumn approaching, many people begin focusing on "gaining autumn strength" (tucking in during fall). With increased appetite, they tend to order large portions of fish, meat, and seafood at restaurants. “We can’t let vegetables dominate half the table during a banquet! Besides, autumn is the season to nourish ourselves,” said Mr. Li, dining at a restaurant. Many diners share similar views. Although aware of balanced nutrition, they still prioritize meat dishes, leaving vegetables as mere side dishes.
Several readers have inquired: What should we eat in autumn? Professor Lu Yongchao, Deputy Director of the Hubei Pharmacological Diet Association, believes: Autumn is the ideal time to increase vegetable intake, especially when dining out—there should be at least two to three vegetarian dishes on any meal. Hotel dishes are typically oily and heavy, with liberal use of spicy seasonings like black pepper, chili, and chili powder. These stimulate taste buds and enhance appetite, but excessive consumption leads to internal fire, manifesting as facial acne or oral ulcers. Vegetables contain water-soluble vitamins that balance the acidity from meat dishes, continuously supplying nutrients throughout meals and reducing internal heat toxicity.