Japanese Food Art: Not Just a Tasty Meal

Japanese chefs pride themselves not only on the flavor and texture of their food, but also on the attractive presentation of a meal. In Japan, the presentation of a meal is as important as the taste and texture of the food. Japanese chefs pride themselves on the creative, artistic nature of dish, as well as the flavors within the meal.

Rice Art

By coloring the rice and then shaping it, these creative chefs have created comical, edible characters. Most of these dishes have been designed for the delight of children, but are also enjoyed by adults. The chef uses other foodstuffs in the dish, such as seaweed, to give the character more personality.


Sushi Food Art

Sushi is one of Japan’s most famous and internationally appreciated foods. Sushi is well-known foe being not only delicious, but an attractive, healthy meal. These chefs have taken the artistic food a step further, using colored sushi rice, fish roe (fish eggs), seaweed sheets and different vegetables to create patterns and pictures with the sushi.

Watermelon Art

These chefs have used watermelons as a canvas for their designs. Cutting into the fruit at different depths allows them to utilize a specific color layer within the fruit. The green portions of the picture are the skin, the white is found below the skin and the pinks are found at the centre of the melon. By carefully cutting around the green portions, the artistic chef can create an artwork from the simple fruit.

Japanese food is more than just sustenance. Each meal can be appreciated for its flavor, texture and aesthetic value. This artistic nation can turn any drab, plain food stuff into an exciting edible art work to excite artistic palettes.


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Bacon is Good for You

Bacon, when eaten in moderation, has a number of health benefits.

Bacon, a smoked pork product, is often labeled by the health conscious as being one of the most unhealthy foods available. The truth is that bacon contains many healthy fats, vitamins and minerals. When eaten in moderation as part of a balanced diet, bacon is good for you.

Fats

Bacon contains monounsaturated fat, oliec acid, which is also found in olive oil. Nearly half of the fat found in bacon is made up of monounsaturated fat. Studies have shown that starting the day with a high fat, high protein breakfast such as bacon and eggs improves the metabolism. Eating such an energy-rich breakfast also means that the digestive system takes longer to digest the morning meal, so that snacking between lunch and breakfast isn’t necessary.

Vitamins and Minerals

Bacon contains Niacin, which is good for the skin and essential for good circulation and nervous system functioning. B vitamins, B-12 and Thiamin, improve metabolism, digestion and circulation. Phosphorous is present in bacon, assisting in heart and kidney functioning and the healthy formation of teeth and bones. Iron that is found in bacon improves the immune system and encourages the production of hemoglobin in the blood. Selenium is good for the immune system and is an antioxidant, preventing the oxidation of fats in the body. Bacon contains omega-3 fatty acids which improve circulation, lower cholesterol and decrease the risk of heart disease.

Healthy Bacon Choices

Bacon has a high sodium content, and should be served with foods that have a low salt content, to balance the amount of sodium being absorbed into the body. A breakfast of boiled or poached eggs, bacon and fresh fruit is healthier than a breakfast of fried eggs, bacon and fried bread.

Bacon contains nitrites and nitrates. These alone aren’t bad for your health, when eaten in moderation, but the by-products of nitrites, nitrosamines, are bad for you. Luckily, nitrosamines are only found in overcooked bacon, so avoid cooking your bacon until it is crisp.

Moderate the amount of bacon that you eat. A few slices with breakfast every other day is a healthier way to enjoy bacon than scoffing down a pack of bacon each day. Although bacon is good for you in many ways, it still has a high sodium, saturated fat and cholesterol content. These are only good for you if you eat bacon in moderation.

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