Fresh Yam, Black Bean, Peanut and Quail Soup

Why people make this soup

Most children who grow at their expected pace simply need balanced nutrition, adequate sleep, and regular physical activity. But parents of children who seem to eat well yet don’t gain weight or height as expected often turn to Cantonese food therapy for additional support. The upper primary school years — roughly grades 5 and 6, or ages 10 to 12 — are considered a key growth window. Nourilo emphasises that for protein to be effectively used for growth, it must be consumed together with carbohydrates (so bread, rice, or noodles alongside protein-rich soup is ideal), and that picky eating is perhaps the biggest obstacle to healthy development.

Sleep is also critically important: growth hormone (a protein-based hormone) is secreted primarily during the deep sleep that follows within 30–60 minutes of falling asleep, and the sleep cycle repeats every 60–90 minutes. Primary school children ideally need 8–9 hours of sleep a night.

This soup supports these goals through the spleen and stomach — in Chinese medicine, the organ system responsible for digestion, nutrient absorption, and the production of qi and blood from food.