Five Reasons to Start Your Day with a Japanese Breakfast

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. The Japanese breakfast is a combination of healthy foods that make a complete meal, and delivers a large dose of healthy vitamins and minerals that provide a great deal of health benefits.

The Japanese are some of the healthiest people in the world, and they can also claim to be some of the longest living as well. Both these attributes are directly related to the Japanese diet. Consisting of a variety of fresh and extremely healthy foods and ingredients, the Japanese diet certainly packs a lot of nutrition. And just like in America, the emphasis is placed on the importance of breakfast in Japanese culture.

1. Breakfast is a complete meal

Many in America don’t take the time to have a complete breakfast, fast-paced and always on the go, many opt for quick breakfast solutions, such as smoothies, protein bars, cereal and other easy-to-make and easy-to-consume options. While some of these may provide some essential vitamins and minerals, they certainly don’t make up a full meal. Additionally, they may leave you feeling hungry, with the tendency to eat more than you should throughout the day.

The Japanese breakfast is a combination of healthy foods that make a complete meal, yet isn’t too heavy. Miso soup is often on the menu, along with rice, a side of pickled vegetables or cooked vegetables and something high in protein, such as fish or fermented soybeans, known as natto. It may seem odd eating these things for breakfast instead of dinner, but the lasting effects of such a healthy meal cannot be denied.

2. Easy preparation than you think

You might think that preparing all that food each morning can take up too much time, but you’d be wrong. You can purchase or prepare many of the dishes, such as the soup, rice and side items the evening before. That way, you can have the equivalent of a Japanese power breakfast and save time in the morning as well.

3. It’s fresh, balanced and nutritious

A Japanese breakfast typically provides you with a balanced meal that leaves you fulfilled, but not overly full. Additionally, the combination of different foods delivers a large dose of healthy vitamins and minerals that provide a great deal of health benefits. Miso soup itself is extremely healthy, as are pickled vegetables and fermented soybeans. Getting a good amount of protein each morning also provides lasting energy and focus throughout the day.

4. A Japanese breakfast contributes to overall health

Eating fresh, healthy ingredients each morning, in proper portions, will help to contribute to your overall health and well-being. From improved digestion to low blood pressure, there are many health benefits garnered from the Japanese breakfast that aid in longevity and better health throughout your life. Beans and legumes, seafood, vegetables, seaweed, fermented products, and foods high in fiber but low in calories all contribute to better health.

5. It teaches portion control

An important component of the Japanese diet isn’t just the food, but also the size of the portions. Eating the right size portions of the right foods is better for your health and your weight. Starting your day with the proper portions will teach you how to properly portion your other meals as well.

You might need to think about breakfast food a little differently in order to fully embrace a Japanese breakfast meal. However, if you can manage it for at least a week, you may find that it’s not only normal, but the only way you want to eat breakfast in the future!