City to Trim the Fat

Beijing’s health authorities, not content with banning smoking, are now attempting to change the city's eating habits, to the delight of local nutritionists.

According to The Global Times, Beijing's health authorities are hoping to coordinate their new plan with restaurants to encourage the promotion of healthier, less fatty meals. Official figures show that currently Beijingers eat almost twice the recommended daily intake of both fat and salt.

This new push for health-conscious menus is the result of an increasing preference from customers to insist on less fatty and greasy meals, opting instead for lighter fare. With so many Beijingers choosing to eat out every night, it appears that the city is gradually demonstrating awareness about the importance of diet regulation.

The first restaurants to collaborate with the health authorities, Jinxinglou and the Taoran Hotel cafeteria have reported that the changes in meal preparation which comply with the health drive has not affected business nor the overall quality of the dishes.

Over the next few months, more restaurants will be selected to participate in the new program.

With the health authorities enacting this program in conjunction with the imminent anti-smoking campaign, healthy times lay ahead in Beijing!