What's On The Menu?

Miso soup, California rolls with some ginger and wasabi and a box of Pocky for dessert. Now doesn’t that sound good? Hey there everyone, in case you haven’t already guessed, we’re talking about the Otaku diet today. Now sushi is not everyone’s preferred meal but when it comes to Otaku’s: Japanese and Chinese cuisine is a regular favorite among many. It’s hard to truly describe what it is exactly that makes Otaku pallets water for such uniquely styled food but one thing is for sure – we just can’t get enough of it.

It really makes no difference if the reason we eat these oriental styled dishes is for the psychological motive that watching our favorite anime/manga characters eating the stuff will makes us crave it or the sheer deliciousness of the food itself because in the end we’ll still eat it anyway. That may sound bad that many of us Otaku’s are falling victim to animated subliminal messaging but in reality doing this provides consumers with something many fast food commercials do not: providing a healthy choice to what we’re eating. That’s right; sushi is incredibly healthy for you!

The eating of sushi can offer you an alternative healthy choice to your usual take out meal. Many people know that fish is good for you due to its low levels of cholesterol and saturated fats but few know that many fish used for sushi, such as salmon and tuna, also contain high levels of omega-3 fatty acids which provide a variety of healthy improvements to your body. The same goes with the rest of the ingredients used to make sushi. From the full of minerals, green pieces of seaweed used to wrap sushi to the rice that surrounds it that stops you from over eating due to its expansion in the stomach, all of the ingredients used to make these dishes provide a very healthy alternative to the typical greasy burger and fries.

Now many squirm away from the idea of sushi because many of the more popular sushi dishes contain raw fish. Now before you think I’ve gone crazy and log off for saying that eating raw fish is good for you I’d like you to pause and look at these safety tips and health facts everyone should know before eating (or thinking of not trying) sushi:

• The most important rule is to eat wisely and use your common sense. Never eat at a sushi restaurant that looks dirty or where you can see that the chefs are not wearing gloves. Many sushi restaurants prepare their rolls in the open where you can see them. If you can’t see an area where the chef is working perhaps you should choose a different place to eat.

• Mercury level is another issue to be concerned about when it comes to the eating of raw fish. This isn’t a major issue for the healthy individual but if you’re pregnant or have a young child perhaps it is better to stick with the more vegetarian meals provided at many sushi restaurants.

• If you don’t like raw fish (or even cooked fish) there are still many other dishes out there you can try. Perhaps a yummy vegetable tempura? Miso soup? Edamame? The possibilities are endless.

So don’t be afraid, go out today and try something new! Until next time, Dewa mata!

Comments

[Alex Davis]

meggin, since you like sushi, i felt it was important for you too see this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXjxHQQxcLw

this is the best sushi ever made. hands down.