14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (2024)

Modified: by TheDiabetesCouncil Team · This post may contain affiliate links ·

14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (1)

If you’re a lover of Japanese food, you know that there is an impressive balance between protein, vegetables, and starch, making this one of the healthier cuisines to indulge in on a regular basis. But we’re not just talking sushi, sashimi, and chicken teriyaki. Low in calories and extremely nutritious, Japanese dishes don’t use a lot of processed foods or sugar, so if you are trying to focus more on fresh, whole foods, adding a few Japanese recipes to your weekly repertoire is in your best interest. If you do want to make Japanese food a staple in your household, stocking up on a few ingredients that can be used in just about every recipe is important; soy sauce, miso paste, kombu, sake, mirin, and rice vinegar are all easy to find in most grocery stores, and will provide all the flavor and balance you need in any recipe you whip up.

From a humble bowl of miso soup to a deeply flavored pot of marinated beef, Japanese cooking is all about making the protein the star of the show, while using fresh vegetables, pickled vegetables, and rice to prop it up. If you’ve struggled to find a cuisine that fits into your weight loss goals, check out our list of 14 healthy Japanese recipes that are high in protein, low in calories, and bursting with flavor.

Miso Soup

14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (2)

Credit: pickledplum.com

A simple soup of onion, water, dashi, and miso paste make this not only an easy soup to make, but a healthy one too.

14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (3) 15 minutes14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (4) 75 calories14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (5) Easy

14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (6) Healthy

Visit the page to learn more: Miso Soup.

Baked Chicken Katsu

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Credit: pickledplum.com

Baking the chicken in this katsu recipe instead of frying it means less oil, but the same amount of flavor and crunch.

14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (8) 30 minutes14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (9) 300 calories14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (10) Easy

14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (11) Healthy

Visit the page to learn more: Baked Chicken Katsu.

Ginger Rice

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Credit: www.justonecookbook.com

Flavorful and simple to make, this ginger rice can be served with the protein of your choice or even on its own.

14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (13) 50 minutes14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (14) 150 calories14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (15) Easy

V Vegetarian 14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (16) Healthy

Visit the page to learn more: Ginger Rice.

Onigirazu

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Credit: fifthfloor.kitchen

Liven up your office lunch with colorful onigirazu, which can be filled to the brim with just about any protein or vegetable you can imagine.

14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (18) 30 minutes14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (19) 175 calories14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (20) Easy

14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (21) Healthy

Visit the page to learn more: Onigirazu.

Shabu Shabu

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Credit: themissinglokness.com

Cook your dinner right at the table in this flavorful, boiling broth, that allows you to choose just about any meat and protein you want.

14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (23) 10 minutes14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (24) 100 calories14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (25) Easy

14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (26) Healthy

Visit the page to learn more: Shabu Shabu.

Yakitori

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Credit: www.chopstickchronicles.com

The deeply flavorful Teriyaki sauce in this recipe takes the standard grilled chicken to a whole new place.

14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (28) 30 minutes14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (29) 150 calories14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (30) Easy

14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (31) Healthy

Visit the page to learn more: Yakitori.

Oyakodon

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Credit: rasamalaysia.com

Packed with protein, this simple rice dish with eggs and chicken is a perfect main course for dinner any night of the week.

14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (33) 10 minutes14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (34) 380 calories14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (35) Easy

14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (36) Healthy

Visit the page to learn more: Oyakodon.

Goma-ae Japanese Greens

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Credit: www.bbcgoodfood.com

Serve these flavorful greens on the side of grilled chicken and warm Japanese sticky rice for a perfectly well-rounded meal.

14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (38) 15 minutes14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (39) 120 calories14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (40) Easy

V Vegetarian 14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (41) Healthy

Visit the page to learn more: Goma-ae Japanese Greens.

Instant Pot Chawanmushi

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Credit: www.justonecookbook.com

While chawanmushi, a traditional Japanese egg custard, is typically made in a steamer or hot water bath, using an Instant Pot cuts down on the time and effort.

14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (43) 40 minutes14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (44) 200 calories14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (45) Easy

14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (46) Healthy

Visit the page to learn more: Instant Pot Chawanmushi.

Japanese Chicken Curry

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Credit: dishnthekitchen.com

Unlike Indian curry, Japanese curry is sweet and savory, and not at all spicy. Make this with the protein and veggies of your choice and serve over a bowl of warm rice.

14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (48) 30 minutes14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (49) 250 calories14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (50) Easy

14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (51) Healthy

Visit the page to learn more: Japanese Chicken Curry.

Yasai Itame

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Credit: www.greedygourmet.com

Yasai Itame, or vegetable stir fry, is simple to throw together on a weeknight and destined to become a weekly favorite.

14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (53) 35 minutes14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (54) 220 calories14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (55) Easy

14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (56) Healthy

Visit the page to learn more: Yasai Itame.

Omurice

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Credit: pickledplum.com

Omurice, or Japanese omelette rice, is simple and delicious for a breakfast, lunch, or dinner packed with protein.

14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (58) 25 minutes14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (59) 500 calories14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (60) Easy

14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (61) Healthy

Visit the page to learn more: Omurice.

Japanese Salmon with Mirin and Soy Sauce

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Credit: www.recipetineats.com

The simple, flavorful marinade for this salmon can be used time and time again for any meat or fish you like to make at home.

14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (63) 10 minutes14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (64) 300 calories14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (65) Easy

14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (66) Healthy

Visit the page to learn more: Japanese Salmon with Mirin and Soy Sauce.

Gyudon

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Credit: thewoksoflife.com

Beef over rice doesn’t have to be boring, and in this recipe, it absolutely isn’t. Soy sauce, mirin, and stock make for a simply delicious marinade for this simmered beef.

14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (68) 30 minutes14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (69) 600 calories14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (70) Easy

14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (71) Healthy

Visit the page to learn more: Gyudon.

14 Healthy Japanese Recipes for Weight Loss - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (2024)

FAQs

What is the ancient Japanese secret to weight loss? ›

We found a key secret to successful weight loss halfway around the world, in Okinawa, Japan. It's called Hara Hachi Bu and translated it means, Eat until you're 80 percent full. It's no gimmick. It's been proven effective since the times of Confucius.

What do Japanese eat daily to lose weight? ›

The main concepts of this diet are to eat more fish, fresh fruits, and vegetables; eat in smaller portions and do it slower; add rice or noodles, soy products (tofu, miso, edamame, soy sauce), fermented foods, and tea to your diet (1).

What is the Japanese ingredient in weight loss? ›

Konjac is made from the bulb of the konjac plant

Konjac, being high in dietary fiber and low in calories, is a popular ingredient for people who are dieting, wish to detoxify their body, or want beautiful skin.

What is the Japanese breakfast trick for weight loss? ›

The Japanese breakfast banana diet involves eating bananas for breakfast on an empty stomach and drinking plain water. The key point is that you can't have anything with the bananas, so your breakfast consists entirely of bananas. The bananas must be raw and preferably ripe.

What is the Japanese tea that shrink belly fat? ›

Green Tea (Matcha)

This can help to increase the rate at which your body burns calories.

What is the Japanese fat burning superfood? ›

Matcha is a Thermogenic food and helps to burn extra calories and promote fat burning. A 1999 study featured in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that consuming matcha green tea can increase thermogenesis from 8-10% to 35-43% of daily energy expenditure.

How do Japanese eat rice and stay thin? ›

There are several reasons why Japanese people can eat rice every day and still maintain a healthy weight: Portion sizes: The Japanese traditionally eat smaller portion sizes compared to many other cultures. They usually serve a small bowl of rice as a side dish, rather than as the main component of the meal.

How to eat like a Japanese woman for weight loss? ›

Eat 5 types of food per week

In Japan, the foundation of Japanese cuisine revolves around fish, beans, rice, vegetables, and fruits. Despite the simplicity of these ingredients, they can be skillfully combined to create a wide array of dishes, while maintaining relatively low calorie content.

What is Japan's main diet? ›

What is the traditional Japanese diet? The traditional Japanese diet is largely fresh and unprocessed, with very few refined ingredients and sugar. In fact, it isn't that dissimilar to a traditional Chinese diet, with staples including rice, cooked and pickled vegetables, fish and meat.

What Japanese herb is used for weight loss? ›

Dokudami is one of the best natural remedies to lose weight, reduce high blood pressure, intestinal disorders and reduces sugar & fat absorption.

What is the secret morning ritual to lose weight? ›

Regularly tracking your progress, drinking plenty of water, exercising in the morning, eating healthy foods consisting of high protein and fiber rich foods and getting morning sunlight are all important elements of any successful morning ritual for weight loss.

Is eating a banana before bed good for weight loss? ›

Around the issue of eating bananas before going to bed, experts say the fiber content in bananas can promote weight loss by increasing feelings of fullness and reducing cravings.

Does Japanese towel method really work for weight loss? ›

That said, towels may deserve a spot in your core workouts, but not in a viral-TikTok-hack way. Mallory Creveling, ACE CPT, a personal trainer, explained that while the five-minute Japanese towel exercise isn't necessarily bad for you, it's not going to whip you into shape as some claim it does.

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