Starch-based dishes are the most popular type, such as noodles, congee, dumplings, plain or stuffed buns and bing/饼 (oven or pan-baked flatbread), etc. Deep-fried items are popular with Chinese doughnut stick being the most typical example. Eggs are cooked and seasoned in many different ways.
A major difference in Chinese cuisine is the lack of dairy. Milk, cheese, butter and yogurt are not staples in Chinese cuisine and often aren't readily available in smaller markets and grocery stores. So many Western breakfast staples aren't eaten often here.
Many Asians begin their day with a warm bowl of congee (Chinese rice porridge), or zhou, a watery rice gruel that bears a marked resemblance to porridge.
Steamed dumplings (蒸饺), potstickers (煎饺), and wonton soup are popular breakfast choices across the country. Dumplings can have lots of tastes and the primary taste of dumplings depends on the fillings. The fillings are often composed of ground meat (pork or beef), fish, shrimp, eggs, or vegetables.
The time of breakfast for Chinese people is generally between 6:00 am and 8:00 am, and later at weekends. A few people take breakfast and lunch together as brunch. Some people have their breakfast at home, while some of them at a restaurant or the workplace. A few people eat on their way to work.
There are at least two thousand types of dim sum in total across China, and over one thousand available in Guangdong alone. Dim sum are usually eaten as breakfast or brunch.
Asian populations tend to be lactose intolerant, making dairy products difficult to digest. But dairy foods are believed to promote faster growth and taller heights in children, which the government deems desirable. Many people can handle dairy foods, especially yogurt and other fermented varieties.
Typically, a traditional Japanese breakfast consists of steamed rice, miso soup, a protein such as grilled fish, and various side dishes.
What's for Lunch. The menu is usually simple: noodles or rice, plus some meat and vegetables; no more than three dishes. But if there is a business lunch or any important lunch appointment, the lunch menu is usually richer and more varied (more like dinner).
Alongside boiled rice, a typical Korean breakfast might include soups, fish or meat stews, and side dishes called banchan. Banchan are small plates of fermented vegetables including the most famous Korean dish, kimchi. These are some of the same dishes you might find on a lunch or dinner menu.
Wholegrain toast with peanut butter, or avocado and tomato or baked beans. Porridge with fresh fruit. Fresh fruit, muesli and yoghurt.
Many Dongyang residents, young and old, said they believed in the tradition passed on by their ancestors that the eggs decrease body heat, promote better blood circulation and just generally reinvigorate the body. “By eating these eggs, we will not have any pain in our waists, legs and joints.
An intriguing little detail in all this frothy commerce is that many people in China, like much of Asia, are lactose intolerant. Human children produce an enzyme that allows them to digest milk, but in much of the world, its levels taper off as they grow up.
China is not just a land of milk and honey for dairy producers since there are several factors hindering the development of China's dairy market. First, Asian people are genetically predisposed to lactase-deficiency: around 92% of adults suffer from lactose intolerance in China.
A German breakfast consists of hearty Brot (breads) and Brötchen (rolls), decorated with butter, sweet jams and local honey, thinly sliced meats, cheese and even some Leberwurst.
Chinese daily meals consist of four food groups: grains, vegetables, fruit, and meat. Because of lactose intolerance, Chinese do not consume large amounts of dairy products. Instead, Chinese substitute these with soymilk and tofu, which also contain large amounts of protein and calcium.
The traditional Chinese diet consists of low or moderate amounts of meat or fish and plenty of vegetables accompanied by starches like rice or noodles. Tea is often served with dinner instead of soft drinks. Desserts are generally not part of the meal but fresh fruits can be served to help with digestion.
The Japanese word for breakfast is "asagohan" which translates to "morning rice" or "first rice". Like so many Asian regions, rice is a major part of breakfast.