Feeding the fitness frenzy

Subtle changes to traditional Chinese fare proving popular with the nation's gym crowd 

To eat, or not to eat

That's always a tough question for people interested in fitness, and it is even more true in China.

Chinese food, although diverse, is high in fats and features a great deal of fried fare.

Many Chinese bodybuilders nowadays prefer Western style dishes like boiled chicken breasts and steamed broccoli because domestic fare is often deep-fried, with heavy amounts of soy sauce and sugary items like lemon chicken.

It's fair to say that many of these foods are caloric bombs waiting to destroy your physique.

"I think Chinese food tastes fantastic but is something of a guilty pleasure, while Western fitness food is much cleaner and physique-friendly," said a fitness amateur surnamed He.

Although China's various regional cuisines contain unhealthy dishes, not all Chinese food is marked by unhealthy cooking.

There are plenty of options that are fairly healthy and lean by most standards. For example, unlike in the West, Chinese cuisine treats vegetables as meals rather than add-ons. This creates a number of culinary opportunities for those interested in cooking and eating healthy food.

"There are lots of foods that can influence workouts, and the most fundamental task is educating people to make correct choices," said Wang Ru of the School of Kinesiology, Shanghai University of Sport.