Breath of Fire - foods for the year of the Dragon

In the lunisolar calendar, 2012 is the year of the Dragon. The lunar new year is in it's 4710th (or there a bouts) year and began this past January 23rd and, as it turns out, the Dragon is considered on of the luckiest years in the Chinese Zodiac.

Ah yes, a Dragon... indeed... a very mystical creature and quite an auspicious sign. In fact the Dragon, a symbol of good fortune and intense power, is the only animal of the 12 depicted in the lunar calendar that isn't actually real (or is it?).

"Luck. Money. Ambition. Initiative. Success."

According to the Economist, stock markets like Dragon years. It's apparently a great year for giving birth to small businesses, babies, you name it.

"Dragon years can be tumultuous, so be prepared for the unexpected...Be bold, be brave. Make your mark. After all, a fire-breathing, tail-wagging dragon would likely carve quite a path wherever it goes." - Rhonda Abrams, USA Today

As someone who was born in the year of the Dragon, I am quite intrigued. I am not an avid astrologist, but it intrigues me none the less. The Chicago Tribune recently posted the top Ten lucky foods for the year and while I adore dumplings, spring rolls and and noodles, I reserve eating them for special occasions. I am a huge proponent of whole fish and oranges, also on the list. The rest of the top ten foods are: red-cooked chicken (braised in soy and sugar), tea eggs (eggs stewed in black tea, soy and spices), lion's head meatballs (pork balls braised in greens), stir-fried lettuce and barbecued duck. um, huh?

In breaking down the list, dumplings - while they symbolize wealth, they have a lot of dough and are high in calories, usually fried (though I do like this recipe). Spring rolls - golden color means good fortune, but the golden color also means deep fried. Nope. Noodle dishes - do I really need to expand here? Noodle dishes... long noodles equal long life. In our culture, which is overladen with high calorie, preservative rich foods full of unhealthy fats, noodles should be kept as a small side dish, not a main dish. Too much fat, calories, and just plain junk, unless of course you are making the noodles yourself and cooking them at home, then go for it, just be sure to watch the oil and include plenty of vegetables. Instead choose Bikram's saying, "healthy spine equals a healthy life" and go to yoga. Stir-fried lettuce - greens are good fortune. Completely agree. However, if we can avoid stir frying them, I think that would be a healthier option (duh). Red-cooked chicken - red is a lucky color, indeed, but the redness comes from sugar and soy, so we will have to scour the internet to find a healthier version of that... pass. Tea eggs (fertility), let's just skip that one for obvious reasons and go with poached (my fav) or hard boiled organic eggs instead. Lion's head meatballs - power and strength. Pork balls braised in greens. I think we can do that healthy - choose lean ground pork, organic please! And again, keep the oil minimal. Barbecued duck - fidelity. How about we barbecue without barbecue sauce? Remove the skin and relish in an abundance of integrity.

In honor of the dragon and breath of fire, I'm making Grilled All Natural Pork Tenderloin marinated in Spicy Soy Sauce (recipe here), this marinade can be used on chicken or beef, just be sure to try and get lean organic and natural meat.

If you are headed out to a Chinese restaurant, you may not know what to eat to stay healthy and watch your weight. A sure bet is steamed or poached (jum) chicken or tofu and Chinese vegetables with a few tbsp's of MSG free white sauce, low sodium soy and steamed brown rice (more fiber). Try to keep portion size down and steer clear of chow mein (fried). Avoid the fried appetizers and the tasty crunchy fried garnish. Stay away from "Sweet and Sour", Kung Pao, General Tso and fried rices. Better yet? Make it at home!

Oh, and remember to brush and floss. The breath of fire thing was a play on words (Dragons, Kapalbhati breathing, get it?) not to be taken literally. Thank you. Everyone thanks you.

Happy Lunar New Year fellow Dragonians!