- Rice: The most common staple food in China, consumed by over 65% of the population.
- Wheat: The second most common staple food, used to make noodles, steamed buns, and dumplings.
- Other grains: Including corn (maize), sorghum (gaoliang), millet (shuzi), and barley (dama), which are mostly consumed in the north and northwest regions.
- Potatoes: A staple food in the mountainous areas, particularly in the southwest and northwest.
Vegetables:
- A wide variety of vegetables are consumed, including leafy greens (bok choy, cabbage, spinach, lettuce, etc.), root vegetables (carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, garlic, etc.), cucurbits (cucumbers, melons, zucchini), legumes (soybeans, green beans, peas, etc.), tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, and mushrooms.
- Vegetables can be cooked in various ways, including stir-frying, steaming, boiling, and pickling.
Meat:
- Pork: The most consumed meat, accounting for over 60% of total meat consumption.
- Chicken: The second most consumed meat.
- Beef: Consumed in smaller quantities than pork and chicken, but more widely consumed in the northern regions.
- Mutton: Mainly consumed in the northwest and northern regions.
- Fish and seafood: Abundantly consumed in coastal areas and along rivers.
- Other meats: Including duck, goose, rabbit, and pigeon, are consumed in smaller quantities.
- Meats can be cooked in various ways, including stir-frying, roasting, grilling, and stewing.
Fruit:
- A variety of fruits are consumed, including apples, oranges, bananas, pears, peaches, plums, grapes, watermelons, and cantaloupes.
- Fruit can be eaten fresh, juiced, or dried.
Other food items:
- Soy products: Tofu (bean curd), soy milk, fermented tofu (doufu), soy sauce, etc., are widely consumed.
- Dumplings (jiaozi): Thin, dough-wrapped pockets containing various fillings, such as meat, vegetables, or seafood, are a popular food.
- Noodles (mian): Made from wheat, rice, or other grains, noodles are usually cooked in soup or sauce.
- Buns (baozi): Steamed buns filled with meat, vegetables, or sweets.
- Congee (zhou): A rice porridge that is often eaten for breakfast.
- Snacks: A variety of snacks, such as fried dough (youtiao), scallion pancakes (cong you bing), and steamed buns (mantou), are popular.
Beverages:
- Tea: The most popular beverage, with green tea being the most common type consumed.
- Hot water: Widely consumed, especially during meals.
- Fruit juice: Fresh fruit juice and fruit-flavored drinks are popular.
- Soft drinks: Carbonated beverages are also widely consumed.
- Alcoholic drinks: Beer, wine, and spirits, such as baijiu (a clear, distilled spirit made from sorghum or rice), are popular alcoholic drinks.
