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The nutritional low-down on sushi
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.
The scoop on sushi
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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!
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!
