How to Order a Healthy Meal at ANY Japanese Restaurant

Imagine if you could have a nutrition-angel on your shoulder every time you head to a Japanese resto? Now you can! Here's what I recommend:

Appetizer Recommendations

• Miso soup (if you are not salt sensitive)

• Mixed green salad with half a serving of the ginger dressing.

Entree Choices

• Chicken or salmon teriyaki with double steamed veggies (no rice)

• Six-piece maki roll with four pieces of sashimi

• Six pieces of sashimi and a side order of oshitashi (spinach).

Chicken Teriyaki w/ Steamed Veggies

Maki Roll

Tuna Sashimi

Oshitashi

Avoid

• Dishes described as Agemono or tempura, both of which are deep fried

• Spider, dynamite, spicy rolls, and eel.

• Sushi rolls made with cream cheese and too much avocado

Shrimp Tempura

Spicy Tuna Roll

Dynamite Roll

More Suggestions

• Look for rolls wrapped in cucumber instead of rice (naruto style).

• Edamame usually comes salted it is soybeans, so this works best for vegetarians or slower eaters who will only have a few pieces.

• You can also always sub the rice in a hand roll for cucumber.

• Always request lite soy sauce and add wasabi and ice cubes to help dilute it and no refills.

• Eat with chopsticks to help slow you down.

• Be careful with sake. It is more calories than you think. Six ounces of sake is about 240 calories versus 150 calories for six ounces of wine.