When we lived in the city, my husband got his fill of sushi -- his favorite treat -- every weekend at the restaurant around the corner from our apartment. But when we moved to the small town where we currently live, there wasn't a sushi bar in sight. Poor guy. Over the last few years, however, two or three restaurants have opened in the area, and when our local grocer even started carrying prepared versions, I knew sushi had officially gone mainstream.

When it comes to alternatives to fried and fatty fast foods, sushi can't be beat. It's loaded with low-fat protein and filled with omega-3 fatty acids, and is also low in calories. Fish lovers will go for the sashimi, or raw fish pieces. But cooked and vegetarian versions are available for those (like me) who might be squeamish about eating raw fish too. Check out this brief history of sushi, to learn more about it and even how to prepare your own at home.

Martha wrote recently about the calories in sushi, and I was surprised to find out how many calories sushi rolls have. If you're watching your weight, you may want to limit the number of rolls you eat and stick to the fish, but over all sushi is a quick and nutritious alternative to a burger and fries!