A friend of mine is a sushi connoisseur. Every time we go out to eat, I'm tempted to join him. But so far, I've only tasted what I fondly call "wimpy sushi" -- the vegetarian California rolls and fully cooked shrimp sushi. Maybe someday I'll get braver!

As far as sushi's nutritional value, they're pretty much winners across the board when it comes to calories. 12 pieces of California roll have roughly 361 calories and also provide some beneficial monounsaturated fat from avocado. 12 pieces of salmon roll may have up to 500 calories, but they're so loaded with heart-healthy omega-3's it's a good trade off. 12 pieces of tuna roll have around 450 calories. (All calorie counts may change based on ingredients and preparation, of course.) The sticky rice is refined, so it doesn't offer much nutritional value at all. But the nori (seaweed) is rich in nutrients such as iodine, vitamin A, calcium, and vitamin C.

Pair a plate of sushi with some green tea and you've got a healthy meal. I guess my friend is on to something.