By: Karen Sevong (黃凱玲) MScFN RD CDE CPT
About Chinese New Year
虎尾繫金攏財氣，玉兔迎春添新象！屬兔的朋友，都有反應敏捷，心思細膩，照顧周到的個性。
Chinese New Year is approaching and this year we welcome the Rabbit! According to the Chinese zodiac, those born with this sign demonstrate vigilance, deftness, wittiness, and patience.
中國傳統曆法標誌著春天的開始和農業世界的新周期。這是家庭聚會和慶祝來年好運的重要時刻。半個月前開始大家清潔打掃，除舊布新，來迎接中國除夕夜的全家團圓，吃頓豐盛的年夜飯。
The traditional Chinese calendar marks this to be the start of spring and a new cycle in the agriculture world. It is an important time for families to gather and celebrate good fortune for the upcoming year. Preparations for this symbolic occasion begin about half a month leading up to a big reunion dinner on Chinese New Year’s Eve.
年夜飯菜色選擇有一定的講究，象徵來年的好運、健康和幸福。例如吃雞有「起家」、「全家福」的意思，年夜飯一定要有的魚，代表年年有餘。早期易經的先後天卦，南方屬火，顏色為紅，而南方就是天的方位，故天的顏色是紅色，為表達對天的敬畏，自古坐北朝南的皇宮，大門一定都是紅色的。所以在過年的裝飾，都是紅色，以示慶賀。
During this time, traditions around food choices are highly valued to nourish and bring prosperity, good luck, health, and happiness. It is customary during Chinese New Year reunion dinners to include a variety of dishes including meat such as pork, chicken, fish, and duck to show abundance. The color red is prominent in all decorations during this holiday to bring luck.
Tips to Manage Kidney Friendly Variations
身為註冊營養師，我建議我們建立一些基本概念，來讓我們腎病患者也可以享受豐盛的年夜飯！
1. 選擇更多蔬菜。對於鉀限制的人，可以選擇一些捲心菜、茄子、花椰菜、胡蘿蔔、芹菜、甜椒和青豆。如果可能，選擇半盤以上此類蔬菜。
2減少調味鹽分。注意鉀磷限制，減少調味料和各種醬料中的鹽分。例如，將蘸醬放在一邊。
3. 避免暴飲暴食。 要注意自己平時的飽腹感，確保吃團圓飯時不過量和平時吃到飽感覺一樣。例如，每道菜只拿一些來享用。
Tips to help manage a kidney friendly celebration this year:
- Focus on choosing more vegetables on the plate (aim for half plate if possible). For those with potassium restrictions, some choices can include cabbage, eggplant, cauliflower, carrots, celery, bell peppers, and string green beans.
- Be mindful of potassium and phosphorus restrictions as needed, reduce salt in seasoning and various sauces. For example, keeping dipping sauces on the side.
- Try to be conscious of hunger cues and satiety levels, choosing a small portion of various items to help set the pace during reunion dinners and meals.
Traditional Chinese New Year Main Dishes
儘管世界各地都慶祝農曆新年，但使用的食材和與家人共享的菜餚略有不同。以下是一些根據腎透析患者需要進行了一些修改的菜餚：
Although Chinese New Year is celebrated across regions of China and Asian households alike, there are slight variations among ingredients used and dishes shared with family. Below are a few dishes with some modifications as needed:
1. 餃子
餃子的外型就像金元寶一樣，代表財源滾滾、招財進寶，吃越多餃子，就代表錢會越多喔。且水餃能簡單料理，餡料種類繁多，包括大白菜、胡蘿蔔、蘑菇、大蔥、韭菜、碎肉、蝦和雞蛋，每款都深受不少民眾喜愛。
Dumplings (餃子- jiao zi): A symbol of happiness, wealth, and unity with family. The Chinese word “jiao zi” means the exchange between the old and new year. Interestingly, they are shaped in close resemblance to the ancient Chinese currency silver and gold ingots. Wrapping dumplings are meant to reflect wrapping in fortune. Eating dumplings represent leaving behind the past year and welcoming a prosperous new year.
There are many types of fillings including Chinese napa cabbage, carrots, mushrooms, green onions, chives, ground meat, shrimp and eggs.
小貼士：用醋和切好的薑片做蘸醬，對腎臟有益。嘗試用白胡椒、料酒、香油、少鹽、低鈉醬油調味餃子餡。
Tip: Make this kidney friendly by using vinegar with finely sliced ginger for the dipping sauce. Try seasoning the dumpling filling with white pepper, Chinese cooking wine, sesame oil, less salt and low sodium soy sauce.
2. 蒸魚
年夜飯一定要有的魚，象徵年年有餘，都需要以全魚呈現，且不能吃完，表示每年都能豐衣足食還能有剩餘，體現「餘」的好兆頭。且要記得吃魚頭和魚尾就代表你在新的一年會有好的開始與結束。
Steamed Fish(鱼- Yu) : According to Chinese cultural traditions, eating fish represents surplus and leaving leftovers represent having abundant resources carried into each year. The phrase “年年有余 (Niánnián yǒu yú /nyen-nyen yo yoo/): May you always have more than you need!” reflects this. Steamed Whole Fish- Sea Bass (鱸魚) or tilapia (羅非魚) – Kidney Community Kitchen
小貼士：鱸魚或羅非魚是這個春節大餐的常見選擇。添加額外風味的一個好方法是用切成薄片的生薑和大蔥裝飾。蒸魚後淋少許醬油和香油平衡。或者，將醬油放在一邊，以降低鈉含量。
小貼士：醬油替代品
Sea Bass (鱸魚) or tilapia (羅非魚) are common choices during this Chinese new year feast. A great way to add extra flavour is by garnishing with thinly sliced ginger and scallions. Drizzle with less soy sauce and balance with sesame oil after steaming the fish. Alternatively, have soy sauce placed on the side for a lower sodium option or try this Soy Sauce Substitute Soya Sauce Substitute – Kidney Community Kitchen
醬油替代品，來自腎病患者烹飪食譜，加拿大腎髒病營養師協會（2015 年）。
– ⅓ 杯 (75 mL) 牛肉湯，不加鹽
– ⅓ 杯（75 毫升）紅酒醋
– 1 湯匙（15 毫升）糖蜜
– ¼ 茶匙（1 毫升）生薑，磨碎
– ½ 茶匙（3 毫升）大蒜粉
– ⅛ 茶匙（小撮）黑胡椒
– 1 ¼ 杯 (300 毫升) 水
使用方法：
1. 將原料混合放入鍋中，輕輕煮沸 5 至 10 分鐘，直至混合物減少至約 1.5 杯（325 毫升）。
2. 將醬汁加蓋在冰箱中最多保存四天。
3. 使用前攪拌或搖晃。
4. 如果你在一周內用不完所有的醬汁，把多餘的部分冷凍在冰模托盤中，以備日後用餐。
3. 白切雞
整隻雞代表完整、團聚和重生。將雞肉放入一大鍋沸水中，加入薑和蔥調味。吃這種美味雞肉的關鍵是搭配薑蔥蘸醬。
Poached Chicken (白切鸡 – bai qie ji), translates into “white cut chicken” A whole chicken represents wholeness, reunion, and rebirth. Poach the chicken in a large pot of boiling water with ginger and scallions for flavour. The key to consuming this delicious chicken is to pair it with the Ginger Scallion dipping sauce.
小貼士：為了幫助保持醬汁對腎臟有益，可以考慮使用芝麻油、蔥、蒜末、薑粉和少鹽調味。
Tip: To help keep the sauce renal friendly, consider using sesame oil, green onions, minced garlic, ginger powder, and less salt to taste.
4. 火鍋
「年夜飯」又稱「圍爐」，大家圍在一起吃火鍋就有團圓之意，同時還可以根據個人的需要來定製配料。 蔬菜選擇的例子包括空心菜 、菜心 、芥菜。如果有鉀限制，蓮藕和白蘿蔔的份量要少一些。 – 包括您最喜歡的麵條類型，例如米飯或白面，作為長壽的代表 。通常會加一些蛋白質和蝦，一次 ¼- ½ 杯硬豆腐，新鮮或冷凍魚或瘦牛肉片、豬肉或羊肉。盡量限製油炸豆腐、油炸豆腐、仿蟹或魚丸、豆腐片的鉀和磷限制。
- Hot Pot (火锅– huǒ guō)- A versatile way to enjoy a family reunion dinner while also customizing ingredients that suit your needs.
- Examples of vegetable choices can include napa cabbage (sui choy), choy sum (yao choy), gai choy (mustard greens). Have smaller portions for lotus root and daikon radish, if there are potassium restrictions.
- Include your favorite type of noodles such rice or white noodles as a representation for longevity
Toss in some protein with shrimp, ¼- ½ cup firm tofu at a time, fresh or frozen fish or leaner slices of beef, pork, or lamb. Try to limit fried soy puffs, deep fried tofu curds, imitation crab or fish balls, bean curd sheets for potassium and phosphorus restrictions.
小貼士：用煮過的蔬菜長時間煮湯以帶出味道，根據您的喜好加入姜、蔥和辣椒調味。對於有限制的人，骨湯將含有磷。蘸醬的一些例子可以是芝麻油、蒜末、姜、蔥或低鈉醬油、½ 湯匙或更少的純芝麻醬和一些辣椒油。
Tip: Make the broth using boiled vegetables for prolonged periods of time to bring out the flavour, season with ginger, scallions, and chilis according to your preference. Bone broth will contain phosphorus for those with restrictions. Some examples for dipping sauces can vary from sesame oil, minced garlic, ginger, scallions or low sodium soy sauce, ½ tbsp or less of pure sesame paste, and some chili oil.
5. 炒三鮮：也有「金玉滿堂燴三鮮」年菜的美名，這道菜的配料有很多變化，包括扇貝或混合蔬菜的蝦。蝦是新的一年帶來財富、好運和幸福的象徵意義。
Chinese Vegetable and Seafood Stir Fry ( 炒三鮮 – Chao San Xian): There are many variations in the ingredients for this dish including scallops or shrimp with mix vegetables. Shrimp “Ha” is a symbolic meaning for bringing fortune, good luck, and happiness into the new year.
小貼士：用適量的玉米澱粉漿翻炒蝦仁、豌豆、甜椒和胡蘿蔔。如果願意，可以用白胡椒、中國料酒、蒜末、薑片和青蔥調味。盡量限製鹽的味道。
Tip: Stir fry shrimp with snow peas, bell peppers and carrots in a modest cornstarch slurry. Season with white pepper, Chinese cooking wine, minced garlic, thinly sliced ginger and green scallions if preferred. Try to limit salt to taste in small amounts. Check out a similar recipe: Shrimp and Apple Stir Fry – Kidney Community Kitchen
6. 蒜香芥藍：這道「金蒜炒芥蘭」的年菜，是鉀含量較低的不錯選擇。一般滿桌的大魚大肉中，一定會準備幾道蔬菜，這道蒜香芥藍菜就是其中一道，試著用大蒜、中國米酒和薑片一起炒。加入少許香油調味。
Gai lan (Chinese broccoli) or Chinese Eggplant Stir Fry: These vegetables are a good alternative for being lower in potassium. Try stir frying it with garlic, Chinese rice wine and thinly sliced ginger to serve. Add some sesame oil for flavor.
小貼士：芥蘭及茄子都是是鉀含量較低的，可以放心食用。
Traditional Chinese New Year Desserts Platter
年夜飯後，吃點甜點，期待新的一年都是甜甜蜜蜜。橘子代表幸運和成功。在這個節日期間，通常會為家人和朋友帶來橙子或柑桔。
To conclude Chinese New Year celebrations, having something sweet represents bringing happiness (sweet) in the new year. Clementine or Oranges or tangerines (桔子) represents luck and success. It is customary to bring oranges or clementine for family and friends during this holiday. Clementine and tangerines are better choices for being lower in potassium compared to oranges.
春節禮盒：這些是常見的禮品盒，包含各種干果、瓜子、糖果和零食等家庭款待。
小貼士：其中一些傳統物品將富含鉀和磷，作為替代方案，您可以考慮以下一些替代品。
Chinese prosperity or togetherness tray: These are common gift boxes with treats for families including a variety of dried fruit, seeds, candies, and snacks. Some of these traditional items would be rich in potassium and phosphorus, as an alternative you can consider some of the following substitutions.
小貼士：使用以下低鉀選擇構建您自己的水果托盤：
– 蘋果：吃蘋果, 「平平安安」
– 葡萄：寓意著「碩果累累」
– 金橘 : 橘』諧音『吉』，象徵「吉祥如意」
選擇較小的份量，每份不超過 5 份，以限制鉀含量
Build your own fruit tray with the following lower potassium choices:
- Apple (苹果 Píngguǒ): Chinese homophone meaning for safeness and peace
- Grapes (葡萄 Pútáo): Represents abundance and good luck to follow
- Pineapple (菠萝 Bōluó): For wealth and good luck
- Fresh kumquat for good luck and happiness. Choose a smaller portion size of no more than five each for potassium restriction
除舊布新，農曆新年即將到來進入虎年，祝福大家，虎躍龍騰生紫氣，風調雨順兆豐年，和氣吉祥皆快樂，四季平安過新年。
Join us for our next cooking class, featuring Tanya Choy, on January 24th at 5:00 PST. She will be sharing how to prepare some delicious dishes that celebrate Chinese New Year while nourishing your kidneys. Register here.
Happy Chinese New Year! Wishing everyone a healthy and prosperous new year!