In Records of the Grand Historian, it is said that “Bread is the staff of life.” From ancient  times to the present, there is not only the evolution of human history, but also the transformation of  food culture in Taiwan. Dishes such as stinky tofu, Taiwanese fried chicken steak, and bubble milk tea  are all a kind of representation of Taiwan. However, it is these “harmless-looking and tempting”  snacks that are gradually affecting the eating health of Taiwanese people. Taiwanese eating habits are influenced by our food culture due to the affection of fried food, the preferences of heavy taste, and the addiction to the hand-shaken beverages.  

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    The first consequence of Taiwanese food culture is the affection for fried food.  Traditional dishes like stinky tofu, sweet potato balls, and Taiwanese fried chicken steak are all  cooked by frying. Having two plates of stinky tofu for dinner seems like a happy moment after  an exhausting day. Buying a bag of sweet potato balls before class as a treat. Going to the food  stand to grab some Taiwanese fried chicken steak late at night with friends. These scenarios seem to be in the daily routine of Taiwanese. Having so many delicacies may be enjoyable； nonetheless, consuming too many fried foods can cause to obesity, severe nutrient loss, and increase the risk of diseases.  

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    Furthermore, a preference of heavy taste also affects our dietary habits. To enrich the  flavor of stinky tofu, cooks may add special sauce into stinky tofu and put Taiwanese kimchi. Sweet potato balls and Taiwanese fried chicken steak may be sprinkled with tasty powder to enhance their flavor. Nevertheless, these mouth-watering but heavy seasoned foods may lead to health problems. They may cause swelling in the face and hands, put stress on the  kidneys, and raise blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart problems. Overall, regular intake of heavily seasoned foods can have serious long-term effects on public health.

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    Last but not least, addiction to hand-shaken beverages also plays an important role in  Taiwanese eating habits. When thinking of Taiwanese cuisine, the first thing that the foreigners might think of may be stinky tofu or beef noodle soup. Locals, however, often associate Taiwan with hand-shaken drinks, which are consumed almost daily. Typical examples include having a cup of bubble milk tea with class or a cup of watermelon oolong tea with lunch.  However, these daily habits might gradually influence our health. High sugar content might cause obesity or diabetes, contamination from chemicals leaching from plastic cups may weaken immunity, fragrances in the beverages may increase the burden in the liver, thereby reducing detoxification function. 

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    Nothing impacts Taiwanese dietary habits more than the affection of the fried food, the preferences of heavy taste, and the addiction to hand-shaken beverages. Although many Taiwanese delicacies are tempting and hard to refuse, we should remind ourselves to consume them in moderation. All we have to do is spring into action to change our eating habits and restart a healthy life. For instance, we can start by reducing the frequency of eating fried food,  gradually eating lighter, or even preferring less sugar in drinks. These small changes can improve our health over time.