Nurture Your Wealth

This post is part of Sara’s Sunny Sundays. Click Here if you would like to view all of Sara’s Sunny Sunday.

  I don’t know if you can tell from the picture below, just how delectable those little treats look, but in person they were amazing. Ricardo and I dined at a local Sushi Restaurant this evening as we try to do several times a month. I had to snap a quick picture of our plated meals because they looked simply irresistible. The atmosphere was a dimly lit, hibachi and sushi restaurant so the quality of the camera phone picture was not exactly what it was in person.

  Sushi is a Japanese style of prepared food. It includes mostly raw, but some cooked fish severed several different ways. The style pictured above is called Makis. There are also handrolls, sashimi, sushi and more. As a child my family ate an eclectic variety of cultured cuisine. From Korean kimchi, handmade Ukrainian pidhi (pierogies), Hungarian goulash and dobos cake, Japanese sushi, Portuguese frango and calde verde soup, various Jewish breads, and much more. You name it, we ate. I couldn’t be more thankful to have had the experience of different foods at such a young age because now, as an adult, my taste buds are complex and ready for anything.

  Sushi, however, is amongst one of the most complete and healthiest meal out there. As a child sushi was very expensive and only eaten on special occasions. Occasionally, I would bring left over sushi with me to school. Boy did I get funny faces on those days! Now, it seems sushi is more common than ever. It is eaten throughout the U.S. and the amount of sushi facilities opening is on the rise. Just what makes sushi so special, and why is it suddenly so popular?

  Sushi contains many heart healthy fatty fish. Fish like Mackerel, Salmon, Eel, and Tuna all contain Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. These fatty acids within the fish help to reduce inflammation amongst the body, increase proper blood circulation within the heart, strengthen our brains, and keep skin supple. The seaweed in which much of the fish lies in is full of Iron and vitamin B-12 which also help with blood production. The rice, which is now being often brown rice if ordered, helps to satiate us. The combination of starch to protein makes sushi a complete protein. The only factor to be aware of when dining out for Japanese, is the sodium content. Japanese cuisine tends to be on the salty side, and must be monitored. A good rule of thumb is “No added salt.” In other words, learn to enjoy the meal as it is! Take a moment to really taste the food, savor the creamy texture of the specially cut fish. Don’t just add soy sauce, you’ll hardly taste what you are paying for!

  Ricardo was quite a skeptic when it came to Sushi for the first few years of our relationship. I enjoyed eating it whenever I could, and often times, prepared it at home to lessen costs. However, we would always end up making him something different because he just could not stomach the idea of raw fish. After several tries he gave it up. Then, a few years later he tried a very common, and basic roll which does not include any raw fish, a California roll. He tried it at his own will one day, and it seemed it was not as bad as he remembered. Soon after, he tried it again. Then, the next day, oh, and the next. After a while he would not stop bugging me about sushi! My being a veteran to the cuisine, did not want to eat it everyday as he wanted to! The point is, he is an extremely picky eater, and never in 100 years would I had ever thought we would be dining at a Sushi restaurant, together, both eating sushi.

  It has been said that the taste buds may take up to 10 times to eat a new food item and decide if they truly like the item or not. I guess in Ricardo’s case this was exactly it. It may even be the same for you if you are weary. The health benefits are worth giving it a try. I encourage all to explore the many cultural food experiences that are out there. By increasing your knowledge, and experience you will be adding to your established completely rich lifestyle.

Warmly,
Sara Dawn

Health Coordinator @ NYW
Nutrition Specialist
TriVita Business Affiliate
Aspiring Yogi

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