French gastronome shares perspectives on food

Every day, we consume food, but do these meals merely fill us up or truly nourish us? Renowned French gastronome Nicolas Kenedi prompts us to ponder this question.

During a recent visit to Beijing, Nicolas shared his philosophy on food with China Daily. "Good food is the food that feed you. A lot of things can fill you, but don't feed you ... You stuff yourself with unhealthy things that neither feed you nor nourish you," he said. "The bad food creates an imbalance in your body and results in disease such as obesity, diabetes."

Nicolas urged people to leave their phones alone and care more about their bodies by preparing nutritious meals themselves rather than relying on unhealthy delivery options. "To live a good life, you have to take care of your beauty and health, go to gym and stay fit," he emphasized. "Use 20 percent of the time you spend on your phone and you will find time to cook."

As a board member of the International Academy of Gastronomy, Nicolas is dedicated to advocate the concept of healthy eating, which includes reducing sugar intake, eating less, particularly less animal protein, and opting for minimally processed foods.

These principles are reflected in the 10 proposals put forth by the AIG on its 40th anniversary in November last year. The manifesto asserts that "Gastronomy is about eating, preserving your health, understanding what you're eating, and having fun in a friendly environment." The proposals also encompass ecological respect of our land, protection of its biodiversity, preservation of local cuisine and the development of comprehensive educational program.

In an effort to raise awareness about healthy eating, Nicolas is currently working on a comic book which will be published next year. It will cover engaging topics such as how you enjoy things with people, how you drink like a French, and how to cook simply and fast.