A Hilarious Day as Chinese Youth Suddenly Start Eating "White People's Food"
Actually, young people all over the world are living in a fascinating way. Sometimes, I can't quite grasp the reasons behind the popularity of these trends.
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What did you have for lunch today?
Recently, I've noticed a new trend on the Chinese internet: people are making the simplest lunches possible.
Just a bit of meat between vegetables, along with a bowl of soup, and that's a meal.
Because many foreigners rely on such simple meals for their lunch, it has been given the nickname "white people's food" by Chinese internet users.
These lunches win people over with their simplicity and convenience. They lack any standout features and their taste is mediocre at best. However, they have become incredibly popular on the internet. Once they are shared on social media, they attract countless views, likes, and even imitations. They are even gaining attention overseas, with foreign internet users becoming curious as well.
There are even foreign media outlets that have dedicated articles discussing this phenomenon: Why are ordinary "white people's food" gaining popularity in China?
What's going on with all of this?
The origin of "white people food" can be traced back to Europeans and Americans.
According to feedback from internet users living abroad, their European and American colleagues often bring lunches that leave much to be desired. The most common scenarios include: eating greens (munching on broccoli), eating greens with meat, eating greens with dipping sauce, and sandwiches.
If they want to be a bit fancy, they might include a small portion of French fries with fried chicken and a cola. But if they're really tough on themselves, they might just stick a banana in their lunchbox along with a drink, and that becomes a meal.
When many netizens first started working abroad, they couldn't help but exclaim that white people might lack taste buds, and eating is merely a means to sustain life.
In certain regions, the local food habits of white people are even more outrageous compared to the "white people food" made in China.
Some people would have celery dipped in sauce, accompanied by a cold drink, and consider it a meal.
Some people would simply bring a few carrots and a few spinach leaves without any preparation, and consider it a lunch. Those who are aware would say it's "white people food," while those who are unaware might mistake it for a meal fit for a goat... ??????
The reason behind this is rooted in the work schedules of Europeans and Americans. They have shorter lunch breaks and earlier quitting times, so many people tend to have a quick and simple lunch and then enjoy a good meal at home in the evening.
Some white colleagues of certain individuals have a liking for Greek yogurt-marinated chicken breast. It may sound like a strange combination, but after trying it, they were actually impressed and even got interested in trying it themselves.↓↓
Compared to traditional Chinese cuisine, these dishes require minimal preparation time and almost no cooking skills. They hit a pain point in Chinese culinary practices, and people who value convenience started to imitate them.
They also focus on using fruits, vegetables, and cold dishes as the main components for their meals, emphasizing simplicity and convenience, and they refer to it as "white people food."
These foods may seem like a way to cut corners, but there are also many principles to follow if one wants to genuinely embrace this approach.
Nowadays, enthusiasts of "white people food" in the community have summarized several key points: Avoid using heavy equipment; it's best to accomplish everything with a small knife. If you can break it apart with your hands, that's even more impressive.
Moreover, if a single pot can solve the meal, there's no need to spend extra effort washing it twice. If it can be eaten raw, there's no need to heat it up with oil.
Some netizens have taken the underlying characteristics of "white people food" - cold, raw, and minimal - and further explored the use and combination of ingredients, striving for the ultimate simplicity.
They have even gone as far as placing a boiled egg on top of fruits, and that alone can make up a meal.
Surprisingly, pairing tomatoes with tofu can also make for a satisfying meal.
If you're curious about the taste, well, there's not much to ponder. Most "white people food" would leave you questioning the meaning of life. Besides various critiques of it being "unappetizing," there are also comments from netizens on Weibo, a Chinese social media platform, such as, "Halfway through eating, I lose the desire to live."
I've seen many Reddit users whose lunches are quite similar to these descriptions, and seeing these images struck a chord with them.
However, they also acknowledge that "white people food" doesn't taste good. When they see the popularity of "white people food" in China, they can't help but lament, saying,
"They look so pitiful."
"Why would they torture themselves by eating these things?" they wonder.
On the other hand, there is another group of foreign netizens who are accustomed to eating this type of food and express skepticism towards the notion of "suffering meals" attributed to Chinese people. Some of them even feel offended and become angry.
From claims that "cooking destroys the nutritional value of certain foods" to assertions that the term "white people food" carries racial discrimination, and others simply emphasizing that raw vegetables are delicious! There's no need to stir-fry them with oil anymore!
In summary, they are defending their own food culture and preferences.
The trend of Chinese people starting to eat "white people food" has gained popularity overseas.
Many people on the internet express their lack of understanding, questioning why so many people would try it if it's considered unappetizing. However, there are reasons behind this phenomenon. On one hand, there is the soaring prices of takeout food, and on the other hand, the frustration of not knowing what to eat nearby. Although "white people food" cannot satisfy the craving for exquisite cuisine, it teaches you how to quickly fill your stomach.
On the journey to alleviate hunger, young people have gradually discovered more benefits: no more sweating in the kitchen, no more spending two hours cooking and washing dishes, and feeling less drowsy after lunch due to the low carbohydrate content.
As a result, there are those who question "white people food," those who understand it, and those who exclusively eat "white people food." In fact, "white people food" is not a recent phenomenon.
As early as the second half of 2021, international students began sharing their experiences of "eating lazily" on social media.
Being in a foreign land, these individuals have to balance their studies and daily life. Some don't know how to cook, some don't want to bother buying ingredients, and others are too busy with their academics to spend hours cooking every day.
Their focus is not on deliciousness but rather on "surviving." They either buy "white people food" to get by or simply make a one-pot stew, emphasizing adaptability and making do with whatever is available.
They save on all possible equipment, using a spatula as a knife, and even cracking an egg into the container used for storing ingredients. Some netizens jokingly say that they thought they would be forced to become chefs before going abroad, but after arriving, they discovered they had evolved into wild beings who eat raw food.
They take the art of making do to the extreme. They not only eat raw vegetables but also mix ice cream with rice...
These records filled with imaginative and somewhat outrageous ideas have further escalated on social media. Even young people who are capable of cooking and eating meals under normal conditions have started exploring the concept of "maintenance meals."
Some criticize the notion of "slacking off during lunchtime," arguing that if food is essential for life, then merely satisfying hunger seems a bit sad. Besides, can you resist the desire for something more enjoyable to eat?
However, those who embrace the "slacking off" approach don't see it that way. They genuinely find spending several hours cooking to be extremely burdensome.
In today's society, young people face numerous demands. Older generations often repeat the notion of "doing things appropriate to your age," such as buying a house, a car, getting married, and having children. There are also various implicit societal expectations, like having to eat exquisite meals, stay in luxurious hotels, purchase bigger houses, and travel to more places.
However, for the majority of young people who have just graduated and are earning meager salaries, their daily routine consists of finishing work, sometimes even with long hours (perhaps the notorious 996 schedule), and returning to their rented apartments, where they simply want to quickly have a warm meal to fill their stomachs.
Waiting for unhealthy takeout is not ideal, and preparing a proper home-cooked meal often takes up to 2 hours. In such circumstances, dedicating a significant amount of time to a single meal becomes less of a pleasurable aspect of life and more of a burden.
So, what's the solution?
In the realm of "one-pot stews" and "white people's food," they have found a more suitable answer for their current lifestyle: eating solely for the purpose of satiating hunger.
They all started learning together, sharing their experiences in the comment section. Today, someone discusses where they bought their soybean paste, why their attempt at cooking turned into a mushy mess, or how their meat ended up overcooked.
Some argue that this "white people's meal" is a voluntary surrender, gradually eroding one's hope for a better life. However, I disagree. Today's young people have richer spiritual and material lives than ever before. While some spend their time cooking, others choose to go downstairs and skateboard or open up a gaming console.
For them, it's also an opportunity to enjoy themselves on a night of self-indulgence.