For the Chinese, a diet heavy in vegetables has been the historical norm. Changes have come on the wings of a growing middle class economy and the modern Chinese consumer, who makes more money, eats more meat and has more health problems with cancer and heart disease. Specifically, the consumption of meat in China has quadrupled over the last forty years.

Although meat consumption is still lower when compared to the western world, it is rising rapidly and getting worse, as indicated by the fact that factory farming of meat has already begun in China.

Actress, Gao Yuanyuan together with animal rights group, PETA, was part of a recent promotion targeted to encourage consumers to go vegetarian. In honor of the occasion, she sported a dress made of lettuce leaves that looked good enough to eat.

The form-hugging lettuce leaves were only part of her vegetarian ensemble. Around her neck, she wore a necklace made of shiny chili peppers.

“After going vegetarian, I feel so much lighter… When I first started the vegetarian diet, I was not used to it and so I ate starchy foods in big amounts, and gained a little bit of weight. Still, I felt much more energetic,” Gao told the press.

Many meat eaters are not so willing to change and are skeptical of the new findings, claiming that a balanced diet screams for meat and vegetables and not just veggies alone.

Time will tell on the meat and vegetable debate but in the meantime, once can only wonder:

Will Gao eat her dress in a healthy salad of lettuce and endive, or will it remain to rot somewhere on a rack?

Check out the video below depicting Gao and her mission:


source : reuters.

Lettuce Pray: Will China Go Vegetarian?