When one of my friends opened a Las Vegas production company a few years ago, he made an interesting observation. Depending on where you are in the world dictates what makes something interesting, exotic, and of the highest quality.

It turned out to be true because the longest-running musical in Japan worked in Japan because of its Western elements. But when it played in the West, the allure of the show was that it came from the East. The irony to me was that the show was mostly the same.

The paradox of exotic applies to international cuisine too.

Right now, in China, 72.7 percent of young people under 15 years old prefer Western fast food to Chinese fast food. They like McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and Pizza Hut.

According to Mike Bastin, a marketing and management expert at Tsinghua University, it makes sense. While most of us wonder about the quality and cleanliness of Western fast food restaurants, young Chinese believe Western establishments have the upper hand when compared to Chinese quick service.

It's one of the reasons that traditionalists in China aren't as keen on Western foods China. In fact, some believe it is contributing to something China has never been known for before — overweight children.

Surely, the food choices alone are not the only culprit. Like children in the West, the Chinese are becoming wealthier and more socially mobile in their society. They eat more processed foods, enjoy more soft drinks, and invest more time in front of the television and gaming consoles (much like our own children in the United States).

Eating healthy isn't an East vs. West issue. It's global.

It has been a little more than year since I talked about eating healthy as it pertained to student meals at local schools in Las Vegas. Back then, I said that American student meals are often high in fat, additives, and preservatives. (They still are.)

I also compared school lunches in the United States, Russia, and Japan. I noted that Americans are eating turkey hot dogs and tater tots. Russians are eating beef, beet soup, and rye bread. And Japanese students are eating wonton miso soup, spinach and Chinese cabbage, rice, and milk. But now it seems Chinese students are developing the same tastes as American students.

So maybe even the Chinese too could learn something about their neighbors to the south. Thailand is one of the few countries in the world that is loaded with food and thin people too.

Did you ever wonder how the Thai people manage to stay thin? As general manager of Kung Fu Plaza, I spend a lot of time around food. But I manage to maintain a reasonably healthy size, even if I eat Western food on occasion. This got me to thinking. Maybe I will write an article about how a Thai diet might be the healthiest diet in the world.

Here are a few common observations that I would like to share: Thai people snack often (avoiding peaks and valleys throughout the day), they prefer fresh ingredients over processed foods, and they enjoy foods that are relatively low in sugar (even if the dishes taste sweet). Even these three tips could make a big difference in your life.

You can see for yourself. Visit Kung Fu Plaza (or order in) for a week. If you do, I think you will find that you will have more energy around 3 p.m. or 4 p.m. each day than if you eat at a Western fast food establishment.

Even more importantly, you will have something else on your side too. In the West, Thai food is becoming more common but is still considered exotic-- our place especially. Kung Fu Plaza is the oldest and most authentic Thai restaurant in Las Vegas. We serve Chinese food too, ensuring that there is plenty of variety.