The worst of both worlds? (we've got mail).(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)

I just finished reading your editorial in the September issue ("Childhood obesity in the U.S.--and China too?") and I applaud you for bringing the issue of our childrens' and our own diets to light, especially your focus on the fact that Asians and Americans are adopting each others' dietary "vices."

Recently at a parents' day at my youngest son's elementary school I was served what they called "Oriental vegetables." It was awful! Salty soy sauce covered a greasy dish of wilted veggies and some kind of yellowed rice. And the beverage options of soda or chocolate milk were not appealing.

As an Asian American who cooks a lot of traditional Chinese recipes at home, I was excited to hear that ingredients like soy are very good for you.

At home, I feel my children are getting balanced meals, full of well-prepared Chinese and American fruits and vegetables. But after seeing this version of "healthy" Asian cooking at school, and after your editorial opened my eyes to the fact that it is perhaps a worldwide problem, I was wondering if you could give your readers some more tips on preparing healthy Asian dishes. Or perhaps you could just answer the question, "What have we done to Asian food to make it so unhealthy?"

Thank you,

 
HELEN WEST 
New York, NY 

Editor's reply