by T.Yeap

Created on: August 14, 2009   Last Updated: August 15, 2009

According to the World Health Organization,the Japanese has the longest life expectancy in the world. Japanese Men and Women are expected to live till 79 and 86 years old respectively, compared to 75 and 80 years of age for average Americans. Many of you may attribute this to their good genes but there's more to their secret of longevity and healthy living. The Japanese diet and cuisine play a key role in their healthy lifestyle. I was fortunate enough to live with two Japanese housemate during college and learned a lot about their culture, diets and cooking style. The Japanese emphasize a variety of foods, simple cooking methods and the freshness of their ingredients. Here's a quick view at what the Japanese diet is all about.

FOOD PRESENTATION / PORTIONS

Japanese cuisine stresses the importance of their food presentation. Their creations generally presented in small delicate dishes and in small portions. Japanese also believed that if the food served on the table can't be admired by their guest, then it's better not to serve it at all. Visual stimulation is much more important than anything else. Visit the website to take a peak at how Japanese chefs presented their meals at japanesefoodcatering.com

RICE/ NOODLES

Rice is the main staple in but the Japanese rice is usually stickier, rounder and shorter in shape compared to the long grain rice American is used to. Rice is almost eaten at every meal and it's the main foundation of their diet. The rice is normally cooked without butter or oil. The Japanese uses rice for multiple purposes, they can be made into mochi (dessert rice cake), senbei (rice crackers), and sake (rice wine), which you can easily spot it if you visit an oriental store in the city. Noodles however in Japan are known as "Udon" and "Soba" . Udon (thick wheat noodles) are mainly served with soup and accompanied with vegetables and meat., whereas Soba are much thinner in shape and are made with buckwheat. It can be eaten hot with soup or cold with dipping sauce.

SOY PRODUCTS

Soy has been known to provide multiple health benefits and is a good source of protein. The Japanese also consume a large amount of soy products such as edamame (Soy Beans), miso (soybean paste), tofu and natto (feremented soy beans). Edamame usually cooked in boiling water and then seasoned with a pinch of sea salt. Miso will either be used as a soup base or marinating ingredient for fish or other meat products. Tofu can be included in many dishes

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