In this discussion of typical Japanese diet foods, we are going to look at the kinds of foods that are eaten daily all across Japan. You may have heard that the Japanese have the longest life expectancy in the world. The foods that they eat are a contributing factor to their longevity. Of course, other factors also come into play, such as a low incidence of poverty and an effective social security framework.
However, when you see the sorts of foods that are popular in Japan, it is pretty easy to see why they are, on average, healthier than Americans. There is much more to Japanese cooking than sushi and chopsticks. Let’s look a bit more deeply at what dieting Japanese style has to offer.
Japan’s most Important Food – Rice
For Japanese people, rice is almost a sacred food. It is something that is eaten on a daily basis. In fact, many people will eat rice three times a day. You may feel that this is a little bit strange. However, breads and potatoes are of much less importance in Japan than in the States. It is not that rice is necessarily better than breads and potatoes, although in some circumstances, it can be. Just to be clear, rice is very low in fat, practically nil, it provides abundant carbohydrates for energy and also contains some important proteins.
There is much more to this grain than simply boiled rice. Much as we have lots of different ways to prepare potatoes, the Japanese have a lot of different ways to serve rice. It can be eaten both hot and cold. Now a days, it is actually very easy for Westerners to make rice too. Lots of stores now sell these kitchen appliances.
Fishing Culture
Japan has a huge coastline and as such it is not surprising that fishing plays an important role in their culture and diet. We all know that Japanese fishermen land whales. This is something that many Westerners campaign against which is something that Japanese people find hard to comprehend. From the cold waters round Hokkaido to the north all the way to the warmer waters of the Pacific ocean off the southern parts of Japan, there are lots of different varieties of fish that can be found.
Fish provide a high quality source of protein that is also high in “good” fats while being low in the “bad” fats associated with eating meat. It is not that the Japanese don’t eat meat, they do. However, they consume much more fish than the average American.
Lots of Vegetables
There is very little fuss about vegetarianism and veganism in Japan. There are less vegetarians and vegans, as a percentage of the population, in Japan than in America. Although overall, Japanese people probably consume more vegetables than Americans. This might seem a little bit odd. However, it probably explains why people don’t feel the need to eat vegetables exclusively.
As a matter of course, Japanese people eat a wide range of fruits and vegetables throughout the day. In fact, vegetables more than fruit make up a sizable fraction of Japanese meals. It is pretty standard to have a small side dish of some kind of greens, often spinach at meal times.
Nice Balance
As we have seen, the Japanese diet is not really lacking in anything. Well, unless you could all the empty calories that are to be found in carbonated soft drinks and fatty fast foods. Again, Japanese people do eat these sorts of foods, but they do so in moderation. The way that Japanese people eat is a perfect example of a balanced diet.
