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I'm going to admit that one of my enduring pet peeves in Japan is listening to Japanese people prattle on about how "healthy" Japanese food is. The truth is that they are talking about theoretical diets, not the real diets that most people are eating unless you think noodles in salty broth with fat floating around in it and bits of pork (ramen), white bread, deep fried and breaded food (tempura, pork cutlets, croquettes), pasta, and pizza coupled along with copious amounts of white rice and alcoholic beverages and a dearth of fresh fruit "healthy". I'm not saying Japanese people don't eat a sufficient balance of healthy food to be the longest lived people in the world (at least in some areas), but just that they are hardly the paragons of food virtue that people (both foreign and Japanese) believe they are. The main virtue in my experience, is very good portion control. Eating a little seems to be more important than eating "perfectly" or even "well".
I was strolling through the deli section of Ito Yokado supermarket and looking at the options on hand when this bowl of shrimp tempura caught my eye. One reason why this particular market is more interesting than most is that they put calorie values on the food and this moderate sized bowl of shrimp tempura over rice with pickles packs a whopping 969 calories. I've talked to students before and they insist tempura isn't unhealthy because it's cooked at high temperatures. I remain dubious, especially after seeing things like this for sale.
i've heard that even in okinawa the "western" diet is slowly creeping up on the youth of that area which is so famed for its longevity; obesity is on the rise due to a new reliance on convenience/fast foods rather than traditional eating habits. even more so than the USA (where i live) it seems to me that japanese "prepared" foods are conveniently labelled in order to trick you into thinking that you are getting something healthier when in truth you are getting a calorie-bomb for the serving size that you (as a normal human being instead of an anorexic loser like me) is actually going to eat. i am often astonished at the calorie/fat content of some foods from the supposedly healthy-minded japan!
ReplyDeleteThe traditional Japanese diet of rice, fish, vegetables and soup is very healthy and one of the best in the world. Japan like many other Asian countries has slowly been westernized leading to more western style and influenced dishes appearing in the Japanese cuisine. There is even a word for this in Japanese "Yoshoku". Dishes like Tonkatsu, Omuraisu and Curry Rice are just three examples of Yoshoku that are very popular in Japan.
ReplyDeletewait what...I refuse to believe that is almost 1000 calories! My mind turns a blind switch when I see calorie counts that high: "Must ignore! Ignorance is bliss!"
ReplyDeleteI like what you said here though: "Eating a little seems to be more important than eating "perfectly" or even "well"." So true.
Anyway. I also wanted to give you a heartfelt thank you for your comment on my latest post...It really means a lot to me. I really wish I can meet you one day because I feel like you're a feeder of wisdom nuggets! So... once again, thank you. Arigato! :-)
I don't understand how cooking at high temperatures makes it any more healthy? Do you know their reasoning for that?
ReplyDeleteIt's true that when items are fried at the "correct" temperature, the item does not absorb as much oil and is relatively less terrible for you than an improperly-fried item. But it's a pretty empty line of reasoning either way...
ReplyDeleteI'm not saying Japanese people don't eat a sufficient balance of healthy food to be the longest lived people in the world (at least in some areas), but just that they are hardly the paragons of food virtue that people (both foreign and Japanese) believe they are.
ReplyDeletei guess perception and reality differ a ways.