Foods

Sushi is one of my absolute favorite foods but I'm not so sure how it stacks up as a diet food.  I've been trying to lose weight for about 2 months now and I'm down about 7 or 8 lbs, but I have almost entirely cut sushi out of my diet, and I'm always dying to have some.  I know a place that makes rolls and sushi with brown rice instead of white.  Would brown rice sushi be considered a good diet meal? 

Everything can be a part of your diet if you have it in moderation!

Brown rice sushi will provide more nutrients with the rice than white rice - so go give it a try! Just be aware of how much you eat - don't go too nuts and have like 3 rolls yourself!!!

Good things about sushi:

• it isn't very processed = higher nutrients
• as long as you stay away from tempura based things & rolls you are getting fresh unfried items
• fish = good fats your body needs & iron
• green tea to drink = consider it calorie free! and good antioxidants

Go ahead! Have some sushi! Just be aware of fitting it into your daily calories - and like most restaurant servings it will likely be larger servings than you need! Share with a friend!

As long as you go light on the soy sauce (high in sodium, hence water retention) and avoid the rolls with fried foods, cream cheese, or "spicy mayo" (high fat), you should be able to eat sushi pretty much without guilt.  Maybe, if you're worried about the white rice being sort of "empty" carbs, go for half sushi/half sashimi (just the fish).  With all the omegas and the fiber and nutrients in the nori, fish, veggies, ginger, and tea, you should be OK. 

Have fun!!

Thanks guys, i think I will treat myself tonight to the sushi I've been so dying to have. 

Outside Sumo wrestling contests, how many morbidly obese Japanese people do you see?....   Go to the sushi bar and enjoy your favourite items.  Don't fret over a little soy sauce, mayonnaise or worry if the rice is 'empty carbs' because it'll spoil the experience... just be sensible with the portions and have a great time.

i have to disagree - a little.  i love sushi, but i don't generally think of it as health food.

when people talk about sushi as if it's a single thing, they're usually talking about california and dynamite rolls, that kind of thing, which tend to be low in protein, high in starch (sushi rice is a highly processed carb.  brown sushi rice is probably moderately better, but it still has to be starchy to stick together), and high in fat (fried shrimp, mayo, avacado, tempura, etc).  then you soak up a teaspoon or so of soya sauce with every bite - no, not health food.

sashimi on the other hand - yum, and very good for you.  nigiri at least has more protein for amount of rice you get.

i'm not saying don't eat sushi.  just don't eat loads of sushi, and don't do it too often.  you're safer to think of it as a treat - a healthier alternative than a burger and fries, for sure, but not "diet food."

pgeorgian- BOO!!!

Sushi can be VERY VERY VERY healthy!

Rule of thumb: say NO to tempura

say YES to brown rice

say NO to anything crispy (some sushi rolls are deep fried for texture and then covered with mustard like mayo sauces) steer clear for these are the evil sushi's (but I still eat em. eh)

California rolls are not high in cal. and with brown rice can be VERY filling! They DO have nutrients and are natural antioxidants.

Also- brown rice. It may be more difficult to eat with chop-sticks (because they do tend to fall apart because the brown rice isn't so sticky)

And fyi- people of Japanese culture rarely eat soy sauce on their sushi (from what I've read, I'm not Japanese so..) try eating sushi the way it is made without adding the extra sodium.

AND AVOCADO IS GOOD FAT.

Original Post by kankan213:

pgeorgian- BOO!!! 

haha - i knew i'd get a response to that ;)

i know it can  be healthy, but i think generally when people talk about sushi in a generic way like that, they're not talking about the healthiest varieties - they're talking about cocktail-party sushi.  you know what i mean.

I'm going for sushi tonight. I've been twice since being on CC. The first time on a diet day off day, where I refuse to feel guilty for what I want/eat.  But logged it anyway and was pleasantly surprised. I didn't overeat. Perhaps it is because I don't eat sushi quickly and did not try to gorge myself.

I use the low sodium Soy sauce and lots of wasabi!! I like the idea of a sashimi side and tea--I'll try it tonight.

haha my post is not useful, but I needed to say:

I love sushi! It's great to know that it may be healthy.

Original Post by pgeorgian:

Original Post by kankan213:

pgeorgian- BOO!!! 

haha - i knew i'd get a response to that ;)

i know it can  be healthy, but i think generally when people talk about sushi in a generic way like that, they're not talking about the healthiest varieties - they're talking about cocktail-party sushi.  you know what i mean.

 Yeah, I really wasn't talking about the cocktail party variety (boring california roll and nothing else).  I like to try new things and always try and have different varieties such as eel, octopus, different kinds of salmon, tuna, etc.  I usually try to have sashimi but I don't find it filling enough without rice.  So I usually just go for regular sushi pieces because they give you a good amount of fish compared to the amount of rice you eat, as opposed to maki (rolls) which have almost no fish. 

I'm not big on the fish-based roll. Last salmon roll I had turned my stomach upside-down, but I really do hate salmon. I should give tuna a try.

My favorite Sushi comes in its own sauce, and it's something I never have to add extra soy sauce to. Unagi (boiled freshwater eel)!! Comes in a sauce that basically consists of sake, mirin, sugar, water, and soy sauce, and it's all very lightly glazed where I get my sushi locally and in NYC.

I have been dying to try the sweet shrimp nigiri or the eel nigiri but I'm a little nervous, i'm so used to eating it in bite sized amounts I'm scared I wouldn't like it haha. Especially becuase you're not supposed to eat nigiri in bites...

I generally only get the sushi (on rice, no roll).  Two orders are 4 pieces.  I'm so sloppy that I never get all the rice in my mouth.  I think it's great!

Ahhhhh  Unagi!  I'm coming for you.....

sashimi is delicious and great for you.

Try this out:  has all sorts of good info, even if you sneak in a cocktail Cali roll now and then :-)  Count your protein too!

http://www.sushifaq.com/sushi-calories.htm

Original Post by pgeorgian:

Original Post by kankan213:

pgeorgian- BOO!!! 

haha - i knew i'd get a response to that ;)

i know it can  be healthy, but i think generally when people talk about sushi in a generic way like that, they're not talking about the healthiest varieties - they're talking about cocktail-party sushi.  you know what i mean.

 lol. I don't know how to spell it but I'll sound it out so we all know what I'm talking about...

TOO-SHAY!

Original Post by kankan213:

Original Post by pgeorgian:

Original Post by kankan213:

pgeorgian- BOO!!! 

haha - i knew i'd get a response to that ;)

i know it can  be healthy, but i think generally when people talk about sushi in a generic way like that, they're not talking about the healthiest varieties - they're talking about cocktail-party sushi.  you know what i mean.

 lol. I don't know how to spell it but I'll sound it out so we all know what I'm talking about...

TOO-SHAY!

Haha just for future reference "touché."

there, you learned something today :)

Original Post by pezzle:

I'm not big on the fish-based roll. Last salmon roll I had turned my stomach upside-down, but I really do hate salmon. I should give tuna a try.

My favorite Sushi comes in its own sauce, and it's something I never have to add extra soy sauce to. Unagi (boiled freshwater eel)!! Comes in a sauce that basically consists of sake, mirin, sugar, water, and soy sauce, and it's all very lightly glazed where I get my sushi locally and in NYC.

I have been dying to try the sweet shrimp nigiri or the eel nigiri but I'm a little nervous, i'm so used to eating it in bite sized amounts I'm scared I wouldn't like it haha. Especially becuase you're not supposed to eat nigiri in bites...

Oh Yay! I'm fairly new to NYC and have been looking for a quality sushi restaurant on Long Island, and in Manhattan as well...do you have any suggestions? The quality of the meal, the decor, the atmosphere, and the helpfulness of the staff are things I look for in a good restaurant.

well I happen to love all you can eat sushi, and go for the sashimi choice.  I never get fried things, but ocasionally I like to tell the sushi chef to surprise me, which is ALWAYS a good idea, you get some really fun things that way.

Hand rolls are fast becoming a favorite of mine! :)