For people in Guangzhou, having morning tea (Cantonese-style restaurant) and eating Cantonese-style dim sum is a very popular lifestyle. Cantonese-style dim sum is diverse, mainly including buns, steamed savory items, cheung fun (rice noodle rolls), pan-fried/deep-fried items, blanched vegetables, desserts, and congee. However, there is currently no research in the country on the nutritional evaluation of such complex foods as Cantonese-style dim sum. At the same time, there is a lack of research on the consumption patterns of dim sum among residents, making it impossible to guide residents in making scientific and reasonable choices when eating breakfast out.
Eighty percent of consumers do not order fruit and vegetable dim sum
The survey found that residents' choices and combinations of Cantonese-style dim sum are unreasonable. Only one-quarter of residents consume nutritionally sufficient dim sum, and about half of residents choose dim sum from three food groups, of which about 70% did not select foods containing milk and dairy products, and about 30% did not select foods containing vegetables and fruits. Another quarter of the surveyed subjects had an inadequate intake of nutrients from breakfast, of which about 80% of the people's selected dim sum types did not include milk and dairy products, and vegetables and fruits. In addition, about 10% of residents chose dim sum that contained only grains or only animal-based foods. The survey results show that the breakfast of the surveyed subjects is mainly composed of grains and animal-based foods, with insufficient intake of dairy products or vegetables and fruits, which is consistent with the previous results that residents of Guangzhou City consume excessive fat and insufficient carbohydrates in their breakfast. Furthermore, the survey also found that some subjects had high cholesterol intake in their breakfast, and some had excessive salt intake. A 1% decrease in serum cholesterol can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by 2%. Dietary cholesterol intake is positively correlated with blood cholesterol, so it is necessary to limit dietary cholesterol intake, especially for sensitive groups such as middle-aged and elderly people and those with a family history of cardiovascular disease.
Cantonese-style dim sum should be paired with dairy products
Cantonese-style dim sum is rich in variety, and each type has its own nutritional characteristics. Steamed savory items are relatively rich in iron and protein, but higher in sodium, cholesterol, and fat; steamed sweet items are relatively rich in carbohydrates and iron, but higher in cholesterol; pan-fried/deep-fried/baked items are rich in iron, lower in sodium, but higher in fat and cholesterol; cheung fun (rice noodle rolls) are rich in iron, protein, and carbohydrates, but higher in cholesterol, sodium, and fat; congee is relatively rich in protein and iron. The survey results also show that the five types of Cantonese-style dim sum—steamed savory items, steamed sweet items, pan-fried/deep-fried/baked items, cheung fun, and congee—are all low in dietary fiber, calcium, and vitamin C. Therefore, it is important to choose dim sum reasonably to ensure the intake of nutrients and avoid excessive energy intake.
From the perspective of residents' consumption patterns of Cantonese-style dim sum, most of those who choose to eat Cantonese breakfast in Cantonese-style restaurants are residents over 45 years old (accounting for 75.7%), with a majority being women. The most popular choice for Cantonese-style dim sum among residents is steamed savory items, followed by congee, cheung fun, pan-fried/deep-fried/baked items, then steamed sweet items, and the least popular is blanched vegetables. The main factors influencing residents' breakfast choices are nutritional value, taste preference, and safety.
The survey results indicate that the overall energy intake of the surveyed subjects for breakfast is high, fat intake is excessive, and carbohydrate intake is insufficient. Some subjects have high cholesterol intake (14.8% for males, 7.1% for females), and some have excessive sodium intake (17.3% for males, 8.1% for females). In addition, among the subjects who ate at Cantonese-style restaurants, the combination of food types was inadequate in terms of milk and dairy products, and vegetables and fruits.
Three suggestions for a balanced breakfast nutrition
1. Residents should control breakfast energy, reduce fat intake, and increase the intake of carbohydrate-rich foods. When choosing Cantonese-style dim sum containing grains and animal-based foods, they should also select some milk and dairy products, as well as vegetables and fruits, to make the breakfast nutrition more balanced.
2. Catering service units should increase the variety of Cantonese-style dim sum, especially milk and dairy products, vegetables, and fruits.
3. The government should increase the publicity and education of breakfast nutrition knowledge for Guangzhou residents, especially strengthening nutritional education for middle-aged and elderly people, controlling salt intake in breakfast, and reducing the intake of foods with high cholesterol. Guide residents to choose breakfast reasonably and have a scientific diet. At the same time, further in-depth surveys on Cantonese-style dim sum should be conducted, and a dietary guideline for dim sum that fits the characteristics of Cantonese cuisine and the eating habits of Guangzhou urban residents should be formulated.