Today, we are celebrating International Sushi Day here at Nino’s. We are big fans and so are our customers of this popular Japanese delight that sees over $30 billion in sales between restaurants and grocery stores. Sushi can be a great addition to a healthy diet and is an easy, portable option when on the go. Whether it’s for packing a lunch for your kids or for the adults in your family to take to work, it makes for a great alternative to the everyday sandwich.

It can even be a great after-school snack or pre-sports mini meal filled with carbohydrates, protein and healthy fats. It’s also a great way to sneak veggies in if you choose rolls that are filled with foods such as carrots, asparagus, pickled radish, cucumber and more. 

Here are some of our tips for making healthy choices when it comes to sushi at Nino’s!

• Choose sushi rolls that are filled with healthy fats such as salmon, tuna and avocado. The American Heart Association recommends eating two servings of fatty fish per week in this article titled “Fish and Omega 3 Fatty Acids”. Not only will rolls filled with salmon, tuna and avocado be tasty but they will make you feel more satisfied and full!
• Experiment with options made with brown rice, not just white rice or even rice blends that contain wild rice, quinoa or other grains. In addition, many rolls are offered today wrapped in cucumber, rice paper, soy paper or other alternatives to rice. 
• Limit rolls that are filled with mayo, creamy sauces, tempura flakes or fried seafood. This can add extra calories, saturated fats and take the place of healthy nutrients that can fill your rolls
• Slow down on the soy sauce! While we know that soy sauce can enhance the flavor of your sushi, it can also add a large amount of sodium to your healthy choices. Opt for low sodium soy sauce or experiment with coconut aminos as an alternative to soy sauce. 
• Fill up on fiber before your sushi meal or snack. Kicking off your sushi with a healthy appetizer such as edamame, a cup of miso soup, or a seaweed or ginger salad is always a great way to add nutrition and volume to your meal. Often sushi can have a large amount of carbohydrates depending on the number of rolls you eat. So ensuring you fill up on veggies and protein before the sushi is a great way to achieve more balance with your sushi meal. 
• Limiting your carbs? Order pieces of sashimi and limit the amount of rice or eliminate the rice altogether. You can still gain the benefits of the fish without the carbs.
• Experiment with veggie rolls. As mentioned above, sushi is a great way to get veggies in your diet. Also, many sushi rolls have Japanese vegetables that you have never tried. This could include pickled radish, spinach, mushrooms, kanpyo (dried gourd), and of course, seaweed! 
• It makes for a great appetizer or even main entree for your next party or family get together. Be sure to check out our selection of sushi in our stores and our Sushi Roll Platters available through Nino’s Catering Department! 

Our vegetable rolls are the ultimate in sushi healthiness!

Are you familiar with the various types of sushi? We don’t carry them all, but given the holiday and that our sushi chefs are often asked the questions, we thought we’d share a list:

1. Nigiri
   Hand-formed oblong mounds of vinegared rice topped with slices of raw or cooked fish, seafood, or egg. Sometimes tied with a thin strip of seaweed (nori).
2. Sashimi
   While not technically sushi (it lacks rice), sashimi consists of thinly sliced raw fish or seafood, often served with soy sauce, wasabi, and garnishes.
3. Maki (Makizushi)
   Sushi rolls made by layering rice and fillings (like fish or vegetables) on a sheet of seaweed, then rolling it into a cylinder and slicing it.
   • Hosomaki: Thin rolls with one filling.
   • Futomaki: Thick rolls with multiple ingredients.
4. Uramaki
   Also called "inside-out rolls," where the rice is on the outside and the seaweed wraps around the filling. Often topped with sesame seeds or roe.
5. Temaki (Hand Roll)
   Cone-shaped rolls made with seaweed on the outside and filled with rice, fish, and vegetables. Eaten with hands rather than chopsticks.
6. Chirashi (Chirashizushi)
   A bowl of sushi rice topped with a colorful variety of sashimi, vegetables, and garnishes. It's a more casual, deconstructed version of sushi.
7. Gunkan (Gunkanmaki)
   "Battleship" sushi: a ball of rice wrapped with a strip of seaweed to form a vessel, then topped with loose or soft ingredients like salmon roe or sea urchin.
8. Inari (Inarizushi)
   Sushi rice stuffed inside seasoned, fried tofu pouches (aburaage). Sweet and savory, often vegetarian.

Sushi is diverse, can be super healthy and definitely is among the most popular of international cuisines in the U.S., so it’s been a delight for us to carry it for many years, offering up a quick and easy way to take it home.

 Check out this Nino’s Blog Article “Gain The Power of Protein Beyond Traditional Meats”

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