1. Different diet choices
A traditional home cooked Japanese meal includes fish, steamed rice or noodles low in fat made from ingredients like buckwheat or mung beans, and simmered vegetables. The meal can also be accompanied by a bowl of miso soup. Afterwards, a cup of green tea is enjoyed and the meal is concluded with fresh fruit.
2. Small portions
Japanese food culture places an emphasis on presentation and despite smaller portions, offers a satiating meal. The Japanese follow the principle of enjoying food slowly. Each dish has its own plate and the food is arranged to show off its natural beauty. They also make sure not to fill each plate completely and stop eating once they are 80% full, avoiding any urge to continue eating for the sake of it. This portion control allows them to keep off extra weight.
3. Power up for the day with miso soup
Japanese breakfasts are no small affair and include a variety of small dishes. One of these servings is a bowl of miso soup, which is rich in probiotics. While it might be considered unusual in the West, this delicious soup offers energy to get you going for the day.
4. Light cooking
When the Japanese cook they choose healthy cooking methods including heart friendly oils, and not exposing the raw ingredients to overly high temperatures for long periods. Choice methods include pan grilling, stir-frying in a wok, steaming, sautéing and simmering foods. Fresh foods, light on dressings are also preferred. Overall this cooking style leaves you with a light, fulfilled feeling in your stomach.
5. No bread. Just rice.
The Japanese traditionally did not eat bread. Instead, they served rice with every meal, traditionally steamed. Without bread, their diet remained free from refined wheat flour. You can go a step further in adding healthy choices to your diet and opt for brown rice, a healthier option than white rice.
6. Less desserts
Sugary and processed desserts are so ubiquitous in Japan. Instead of using puddings, cakes, tarts or ice cream for a sweet ending to a meal, the Japanese serve small helpings of fresh fruit, or small portions of desserts, but not daily. Fruit is rich in antioxidants and other essential nutrients, and less sugar prevents diabetes, excess fat and weight gain.
7. A different attitude
The Japanese devote less time to dieting and are raised to enjoy food. This also means they eat a wide choice of foods. In addition to their healthy attitude to food, they spend a lot of time involved in incidental exercise such as bicycling. Together with smart diet choices, being active allows for Japanese people to remain slim and contributes towards their longevity.
Testing 10 Weird Japanese Food Gadgets
Some of these Japanese food gadgets had us scratching our heads!
Fruits That Ripen After Picking and Fruits That Don't
Pick the best produce with these tips, and some hints on how to preserve produce longer
Does Our Stomach SHRINK When We Eat Less? Our Answer
Eat less, and your stomach will shrink over time.. is that the truth?
Keep Your Eyes Young With These 5 Important Nutrients
Having the right diet can go a long way to helping your eyes cope with age-related deterioration. Here are 5 vital vitamins you need, and where to find them.
Slow Metabolism? 10 Ways to Make it Hurry Up!
If everything you're doing to lose weight doesn't seem to make a difference, you may have a slow metabolism. Here are 10 remedies to get over your problem.
In the Future, We Might Change Our DNA With Food
The diet of the future is nothing like you've ever tried or heard of before. It will be custom-made to edit your DNA. Would you eat it?
How to Shorten Jeans by Hand and Preserve the Hem Too
Hemming jeans has never been easier than this!
Make Your Life Easier With 20 Brilliant Tips!
A collection of brilliant tips that you can find use for every single day.
I Never Imagined You Can Use Coca-Cola to Do These Things!
A bottle of Coca-Cola goes a loong way, it turns out! From tenderizing meat, to cleaning jewelry & repelling bugs, the magic drink can do it all!
Keep Your Garbage Disposal Clean with This Neat Trick
If your sink's garbage disposal has started to smell, this is how you can eradicate it.
Your Ultimate Guide to Growing Herbs in Water All Year
This guide will teach you how to grow your own herbs in water.
After Watching This, You'll Stop Pouring Fat Down the Sink
Pouring grease down your drain can do real damage to your pipes and the sewer system. Here's what you need to know.
Struggling to Wake Up Early? Here are 8 Habits to Avoid
Do you do any of these bad habits in the mornings?
WARNING: These 11 Carcinogens are Lurking in Your Home
There are many things lurking in our home that are dangerous to us, but these 11 items are the most surprising!
I Bet You've Never Thought of Using Wax Paper Like This!
There's so much you can do with wax paper. Here are 11 surprising uses.
Say Goodbye to Rotten Fruits & Veggies with These 12 Tips
The way you store your groceries can affect their shelf life. These 12 tips will help keep your fruits and vegetables fresh for longer.
These Great Design Tips Will Make Your Home Outstanding!
If you've decided you want to make a change to your home, then here's how you can give it an up-to-date look.
Ten Things You Can Do With Sugar You Never Knew About
Sugar can do a whole lot more than just make things sweet.
Learn to Make a Chocolate Bowl in 2 Minutes Flat!
let's learn how to quickly and easily make chocolate bowls that'll make everyone's day.
Cucumbers Are Incredibly Versatile: 7 Ways to Use Them
Cucumbers may be nutritious, but they are incredibly versatile too! Here's how you can use cucumbers outside of your salad.
These Handy Tools Are On a Whole Other Level!
Watch some of the most brilliant and helpful tools out there.
Give Your Shoes a New Life with These Clever Hacks
Everyone should know these life-changing shoe hacks.
Spruce Up Your Dinner Table With These Napkin Techniques
Holidays are always a time of cheer. Spruce up your dining table with these 8 easy-to-try napkin techniques.
9 Ultimate Methods for Stain Removal around the House
Things we;ve had for a long time tend to lose their fresh-out-the-box look but this can be remedied! These methods will help you remove those stubborn stains!
14 Creative Uses For Old Wire Coat Hangers
Coat Hangers are not just useful for hanging your favorite clothes in the closet, they are handy in so many other ways too!
9 Ways of Telling Branded Perfume From a Fake
Do you know how to tell a branded perfume from a fake? Well, you're going to be able to after you read these 9 handy tips.
How to Develop a Green Thumb For Home Plants
The following houseplant cheat sheet summarizes the essentials you need to know about growing your own houseplants.
13 Mistakes You’re Making in the Shower!
Do you take a shower every day? If so, you're already making one of the 13 shower mistakes most people aren't aware of. Discover them all in the next article.
These 10 Fantastic Life Hacks Will Make Your Life Easier
These life hacks will allow you to get things done quicker and generally make your life easier. Watch this informative video now.
Avoid These 13 Domestic Chemical Reactions and Be Safe
There are certain chemicals and substances that shouldn't mix together, because the result could be catastrophic. Make note of these 13 combinations now.
Is Your Dryer Getting Slow? These Tips May Help!
There are a number of common reasons why a dryer might stop working efficiently. Here are 5 of them!
What is Your MBTI Personality? Discover Now!
A great way to find out what kind of personality you have, using a scientific personality test.
Guide: How to Use Rising Interest Rates to Your Benefit
Consider these tips to meet your investment goals when rates are rising.
25 Ways to Keep Your Garden Healthy and Thriving
We've collected some great tips for maintaining a healthy garden that will help you every day.
10 Amazing Beauty Uses for Banana Peels
Everyone knows that bananas are great for your health, but not many people know that the peel can be beneficial too and should be added to your beauty regime.
Going Gray? Add These 7 Foods to Your Shopping List!
Adds these foods to your weekly shopping list to prevent your hair from turning gray.
6 Humane Ways to Keep Stray Cats off Your Property
If you have a problem with stray cats, this article will provide you with 6 humane ways toy can keep unwanted cats out of your property.
50 Great Kitchen Hack That Everyone Should Know About
Spending time in the kitchen makes you realize that you can do things a lot quicker than you thought possible. Let me share my tips with you.
Here's What You Do With Your Leftover Plastic Spoons!
I never thought there was so much to do with this simple single-use utensil.
12 Ways to Remove Odors from a Microwave
If your microwave has lingering smells despite regular cleaning, here are 12 DIY solutions to neutralize those odors effectively.
Have You Ever Tried These Nifty Tips in the Kitchen?
These helpful tips and tricks will save you time and money.
Guide: The Alternative Uses of 21 Common Food Products
This guide will give you the useful tips and helpful information you need to find alternative uses for most of your common food products. You'll be amazed at the surprising uses for some of these common food items.
Some Tips You Might Not Know About Whisky
If you're a lover of whisky and would like to know how best to drink it, the guide will cover everything you need to know!
A Must Have Kitchen Cheat Sheet to Help With Any Recipe!
Simple fact sheets that will turn any cooking job easier to understand.
The 7 Biggest Mistakes People Make With Their Wills
Make sure your heirs get what you want them to get by not making these mistakes.
Learn the Banana Tricks You Always Wanted to Know
You're Going to Love This Handy Banana Trick
Learn This Amazing Two-Step Fix For Scratched Furniture
You can give your scratched furniture a whole new lease of life by learning this super-easy two-step solution. Take a look.