Hunan offers healthier weight-loss meals without sacrificing flavor

Authorities in Hunan province, an area famed for its bold and spicy cuisine, are taking steps to encourage residents to cut back on oil and salt as part of China's national "Weight Management Year" campaign.

Recently, 108 medical institutions across Hunan began offering "healthy yet flavorful" Hunan-style weight-loss meals for medical staff, patients, their families and nearby residents. The initiative has received widespread praise.

At the canteen of People's Hospital of Hunan Province, diners lined up for weight-loss meals that feature shrimp, beef, chicken and lean meat paired with vegetables, prepared mainly through steaming, boiling or cold tossing.

"We enhance flavor using fresh ingredients like ginger, garlic and onions, as well as mildly salted chopped chili or vinaigrette-based dips, to reconcile the bold tastes of Hunan cuisine with weight-loss dietary needs," said Cai Hua, director of the hospital's clinical nutrition department.

The hospital sells about 200 to 300 weight-loss meals daily, priced from 22 to 26 yuan ($3 to $3.60).Due to growing demand, reservations are now required, with diners placing orders a day in advance through WeChat groups or a miniprogram, Cai said.

Her team of clinical nutritionists designed the recipes based on Chinese dietary and weight-loss guidelines. Each meal comes with a nutritional label detailing macronutrients, oil, salt and total calories.

"The daily salt intake per person should not exceed 5 grams, while edible oil consumption should be limited to 25 to 30 grams," Cai said. "For Hunan people accustomed to rich and bold flavors, this means adjusting traditional habits — reducing stir-frying and deep-frying in favor of steaming and cold tossing. This helps effectively control oil and salt intake while promoting healthier eating."

A resident surnamed Wu said she enjoys the hospital's beef menu item, which comes with beef spaghetti, cherry tomatoes and other vegetables.

"It's quite tasty, and the ingredients are fresh, clean and well-arranged, which makes the meal appetizing," Wu said. "It has protein, carbs and vitamins, and the price is reasonable."

Wu described herself as slightly overweight and added that she wants "a healthy way to lose weight without starving." As the weather gets hotter, she finds lighter meals suit her better and plans to continue buying them four to five days a week.

"I hope it can help me stay healthy while getting slimmer and more attractive," she said.