How many times a day and at what time do Japanese people usually eat?

According to numerous international studies, Japan It is one of the countries with the highest longevity rate and the lowest obesity rate per inhabitant. This may have to do with your lifestyle, your culture, your genetics, but certainly also your own dietthe hours of the day when eat and in what timetables.

In general it can be said that the Japanese food It is far from fried foods, dairy products and ultra-processed preparations, and goes far beyond classic sushi. Steamed dishes, fresh produce, plenty of vegetables and a low level of added fat and sugar are the basis of almost all dishes.

So it’s not strange to have doubts how many times a day, at what time and what do the Japanese eat. In this note we will try to address these unknowns, even if only as a general overview that helps understand the secret of its success.

How many times a day, at what times and what do Japanese people usually eat?

THE Japanese They are famous throughout the world for their strict discipline, good education and ceremonious culture. And they also transfer that way of being into their diet, where they respect it timetables and very specific moments for every meal of the day.

The most of Japanese people usually eat 3 meals a day: Breakfast lunch and dinner. And in these three meals it is common to find preparations based on rice (which acts as bread), varieties of vegetables, seaweed and miso, a very popular condiment in Japan, China and Korea, which looks like a paste and is made based of soybeans fermented with koj mushroom. As for meat, its main source of protein is fish and seafoodalthough they also consume chicken, pork and, to a lesser extent, beef, with the Kobe as a star cut and with an extremely high value.

It is important to clarify that rice is commonly consumed Japan It is not the classic white rice, but there are different types of rice native to the country, with a diversity of textures, flavors and textures.

Now yes, these are the main Japanese meals of the day and respective times.

1. “Asa-gohan” or “in the morning.” The first meal of the day is usually ebetween 7 and 9 in the morning and may include coffee, eggs (grilled or boiled), bowl of rice, fish snacks, pickled vegetables and the classic miso soup.

2. “Hiru-gohan” or “at noon and in the afternoon”. It is usually the second meal of the day between 11.30pm and 2pm. Unlike breakfast, which is almost always eaten at home, lunch is eaten outside the home, whether you take food (called bento) or go to a restaurant. Rice is again present and may also include noodles, a variety of broths, some types of roasted meats, stir-fried vegetables, soy, miso, eggs, tofu and seaweed. Fruit is also the protagonist in the Japanese diet.

3. “Ban-gohan” or “at night” or “when the sun goes down.” Dinner is usually between 6 and 8 in the evening. In this case, larger and more varied portions are consumed, which may consist of rice, soups, curries, fish, sushi, tempura, sautéed meat, fermented vegetables, battered seafood, and meat or vegetable sandwiches.

The last drink of the day can be tea with a snack before going to sleep, around 10pm.