Is Japanese food healthy? More than just sushi!

1. Japanese food has a healthy image: many people immediately think of raw fish, fresh vegetables and rice. Healthy fats and lots of vitamins and proteins. Nevertheless, an evening of all you can eat sushi may not always match your fitness goals. In this article you can read how it works: is Japanese food healthy or is it disappointing?

2. Japanese food has a healthy image: many people immediately think of raw fish, fresh vegetables and rice. Healthy fats and lots of vitamins and proteins. Still, an evening of all you can eat sushi may not always match your fitness goals. In this article you can read how it works: is Japanese food healthy or is it disappointing?

Is Japanese food healthy?

1. Of course, the Japanese don't eat sushi every day. Still, when it comes to Japanese food, sushi is the first thing that comes to mind, perhaps followed by ramen or other noodle dishes. A shame really, because Japanese cuisine has a lot more to offer! Are all those different types of Japanese food healthy, or is it disappointing?

2. Of course, the Japanese don't eat sushi every day. Yet when it comes to Japanese food, sushi is the first thing we think of, perhaps followed by ramen or other noodle dishes. A shame really, because Japanese cuisine has a lot more to offer! Are all those different types of Japanese food healthy, or is it disappointing?

Traditional Japanese meals

1. A traditional Japanese meal consists of rice and miso soup, with side dishes of seasonal vegetables and meat, fish or tofu. In fact, rice is so closely associated with Japanese food that the Japanese word for rice (gohan) means not only â € riceâ € ™ but â € meal.â € ™

1. How healthy such a traditional meal is depends on the rice you choose and the side dishes. Brown rice or multigrain rice are the healthiest options. White rice types such as pandan rice, instant rice and glutinous rice are less healthy because they contain less fiber.

1. The side dishes can be anything. If you want to eat healthy, it is best to choose lots of vegetables. Seaweed is also a very healthy option. Add some lean proteins, such as tofu or poultry, or opt for the healthy fats from fish. For example, Japanese food is very healthy indeed!

Japanese noodles

1. If you want to eat Japanese noodles, don't choose instant noodles. These contain a lot of salt and at most traces of vegetables. So you hardly get any useful nutrients from it. Homemade noodle soup can be very tasty, and healthy too!

1. Ramen noodles come in all kinds. Udon, for example, is a thicker type of noodle, made from wheat flour. Soba is thinner and made from buckwheat, or in some cases from a combination of buckwheat and wheat flour. Have a look around in the supermarket to see what's on offer, or go to a shop for real traditional noodles.

2. Ramen noodles come in all kinds. Udon, for example, is a thicker type of noodle, made from wheat flour. Soba is thinner and made from buckwheat, or in some cases from a combination of buckwheat and wheat flour. Take a look around in the supermarket to see what the offer is, or go to a shop for real traditional noodles.

1. Then make the soup with fresh vegetables and proteins, and you've got yourself a great healthy meal! You can also flavor your soup with a drizzle of soy sauce, Japanese rice wine or sesame oil. A little salt is really not a problem, as long as you keep it reasonable.

2. Then make the soup with fresh vegetables and proteins, and you have a great healthy meal! You can also flavor your soup with a drizzle of soy sauce, Japanese rice wine or sesame oil. A little salt is really not a problem, as long as you keep it reasonable.

Is sushi healthy?

1. The most famous Japanese food is of course sushi. But how healthy is that? Sushi traditionally consists of white rice, with a topping of raw fish, meat and / or vegetables. No unhealthy ingredients in itself. Yet that does not mean that you are always responsible for an evening of sushi.

2. The most famous Japanese food is of course sushi. But how healthy is that then? Sushi traditionally consists of white rice, with a topping of raw fish, meat and / or vegetables. No unhealthy ingredients in itself. Yet that does not mean that you are always responsible for an evening of sushi.

1. Firstly, there are also enough types of sushi with less healthy ingredients. Consider, for example, variants with mayonnaise or with cheese, with which you get a lot of saturated fats.

1. Second, sushi usually contains a relatively large amount of rice and relatively few other ingredients. On your plate, it would look like a huge scoop of white rice and a few small piles of vegetables and protein… It is therefore wise to include some healthy dishes, such as seaweed salad or vegetables.

1. All-you-can-eat restaurants are especially a risk if you want to eat healthy sushi. You will soon eat more than you might be sensible. For example, because you want to get the most out of your evening, because you unnoticeably eat a lot with all the small dishes, because you want to try as many as possible, or simply because it is so tasty. However, the health benefits are soon over; nothing is healthy if you eat too much of it.

2. All-you-can-eat restaurants are especially a risk if you want to eat healthy sushi. You soon eat more than you might be sensible. For example because you want to get the most out of your evening, because you unnoticeably eat a lot with all the small dishes, because you want to try as many as possible, or simply because it is so tasty. However, the health benefits are soon over; nothing is healthy if you eat too much of it.

1. Want to keep Japanese food healthy? Then it is always wise to choose traditional sushi as much as possible. So choose fillings with vegetables, fish or egg. â € sushiModernâ € ™ sushi with all kinds of other ingredients never really gets any healthier.

1. If you want to eat healthy, also pay attention to what you order as side dishes: these are often less healthy than a little rice with a piece of fish or vegetables. Think, for example, of ebi (fried shrimp) or gyoza (dumplings, also often fried). The soy sauce in which you dip the sushi may also be less healthy than you think. This consists of a lot of salt and sugar!

Japanese food for vegetarians

1. And what about if you want to eat vegetarian? At first glance, Japanese cuisine does not seem very suitable for vegetarians, due to the major role played by fish. After all, Japan is an island, so traditional cuisine mainly uses what can be caught.

1. Yet vegetarian Japanese food is not only very well possible, but also very tasty and healthy! For example, tofu is widely used in Japanese dishes. It is a versatile protein source that tastes neutral and can therefore give you any flavor you want. However, it is important that you marinate it well, otherwise it may taste too neutral.

1. Another option for vegetarian Japanese food that is growing in popularity is seaweed. All kinds of seaweed are used for different types of dishes. In the Netherlands, however, seaweed is not yet very popular as a meat substitute. If you want to cook with this, it is probably best to visit an Asian toko in the area.