As a traditional diet of China people, grain has been one of the indispensable foods on the table of ordinary people for thousands of years, occupying an important position in China's diet and being regarded as a traditional staple food. The Analects of Confucius? Xiang Dang: "Although there is a lot of meat, it won't make you win the food." This was when Confucius was a nobleman in the Zhou Dynasty. According to the living habits of the nobles, the staple food (grain) should occupy the largest proportion. "LingShu? "Sting knot is really evil": "Those who are really angry are also affected by heaven and grain." In other words, the nutrition of grain is the most important nutrition for China people.

In recent years, scholars have a great controversy about the advantages and disadvantages of China people's emphasis on food. Eugene N. Anderson, an American scholar, pointed out in his book "China Cuisine" that Chinese mainland has the highest mountain peak and the lowest basin, and is rich in animal and plant resources, so there are many delicious foods to choose from. China people chose the most economical and malnourished food, thus feeding a large population. Nie Wentao, a Chinese scholar, believes that since there are many foods to choose from, it is relatively calm and rational to choose whole grains, which is a way of life advocated by ancient nobles. This is a national habit related to China's thought of keeping in good health, and it is to protect grain. In addition, there are also differences between the two sides on the issue of protein content in grains as a standard to judge their food quality.