Health on the Tip of the Tongue Lies in the Daily Warmth of Cooking Fires

Healthy eating is never a cold “list of forbidden foods” nor an expensive “nutritious tonic set”. It lies in the warmth of cooking fires that accompany our three daily meals, offering the gentlest nourishment to our bodies.

The first bite of the day doesn’t need to be fancy. A bowl of warm multi-grain porridge with a boiled egg, or a slice of whole-wheat bread stuffed with lettuce and chicken breast—these combinations of carbohydrates, protein, and dietary fiber gently rouse the stomach. Far better than greasy fried dough sticks and soy milk, they keep you fresh and light throughout the morning.

Lunch, the core of the day’s energy, follows a simple rule: “one meat, one vegetable, one staple”. Steamed fish, stir-fried seasonal greens, and a small bowl of multi-grain rice—cooked with less salt and sugar, eaten slowly and chewed thoroughly. This lets your taste buds savor the natural sweetness of the ingredients, not the overpowering kick of heavy seasonings.

Dinner, meanwhile, should be “light and simple”. A bowl of vegetable and tofu soup, paired with a little lean meat or shrimp, is enough to leave you 70% to 80% full. This gives your stomach space to rest at night, avoiding going to bed with a stuffed feeling.

Healthy eating is never about ascetic restraint, but about the wisdom of “moderation and balance”. Craving something sweet? Replace cakes and milk tea with fresh fruit. Want a snack? Swap potato chips and cookies for unsalted nuts or boiled corn. There’s no need to feel anxious about occasional “indulgences”—what matters is sticking to the long-term habit of “choosing more natural, less processed foods; more light, less greasy dishes”. Fresh vegetables carry the faint scent of soil, freshly cooked rice steams with warm aroma, and steamed fish and shrimp retain their purest, most authentic deliciousness. These plain flavors are the truest form of health.

“Eat well” is not just a slogan—it’s about pouring love for your body into every carefully prepared meal. When we learn to listen to our bodies and nourish them with simple, natural ingredients, health will quietly arrive, day after day, in the warmth of the cooking fires.