10 Secret Reasons Why The Japanese Never Seem To Get Old Or Fat

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5. Breakfast Power

As in America, breakfast is considered to be an important meal, and a variety of food is served in small dishes. Usually a bowl of miso soup, which is rich in healthy probiotics, is served along with a variety of other dishes. No one would dream of leaving home without breakfast nor would they consider a donut a decent breakfast! A typical breakfast would include miso soup, perhaps with some scallions and tofu, an egg omelet, and perhaps some steamed rice.

6. Emphasis is Not on What They Want

Japanese supermarkets are filled with whatever is in season and fresh, not whatever they feel like they want at the time. The Japanese buy their meat, fish, and vegetables with labels that tell them not just the day they were packaged, but by the half hour time frame that they were brought to the store! Americans are very used to having anything they want, which means that many of them do not appreciate having, say, strawberries in January. The Japanese eat and appreciate what is in season.

7. Few Desserts

Desserts, sugary and huge in size, are very uncommon in Japan. Although desserts can be served, they tend to be small in size and only consumed on special occasions. Most Japanese consume fresh fruit as snacks or after meals. This isn’t to say that you can’t find chocolate, ice cream and red-bean cakes — they are readily available. However, the Japanese seem to understand that these foods are addicting, and they are shown the respect that they deserve.

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