• Two California rolls and an appetizer contain more calories than a Big Mac.
• Nigiri and sashimi offer lower calorie options.
• Why not swap white rice for brown rice?
A sushi dinner can taste light and refreshing, but if you're not conscious about your meal, the calories can rack up pretty quick.
Consider a seemingly innocuous California roll: It averages about 255 calories and 38 grams of carbohydrates. These numbers are perfectly fine, but if you order a couple, plus an appetizer and/or drink, you may not be eating the light meal you perhaps intended. In fact, two California rolls and an app puts you over the 510 calories of a Big Mac.
But there are a handful of tricks to ensure sushi night is as delicious as it is healthy. In fact, the Japanese food menu is already packed with smart, heart-healthy options -- you just have to know what you're doing. For example, instead of the standard sushi roll, why not try ordering sashimi or a "naruto style" roll, which wraps the fish in thin cucumber slices? Both forgo rice and focus on fish, cutting down on carbs and calories.
For rice lovers, many restaurants will happily swap white for brown rice, which has more fiber and will keep you fuller for longer.
This handy infographic from Cleveland Clinic below should help you order smart the next time you choose Japanese for dinner:
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