In fact, most American fast food chicken nuggets are made up of an alarming 50% fillers and additives. Nutritionist Michiko Tomioka, who moved to the United States from Japan in 1994, emphasizes the importance of understanding food choices for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. In fact, as Tomioka points out, even chicken nuggets like those at McDonald’s are made with just 45% actual chicken meat. At the same time, this disturbing statistic underscores all the more why America is increasingly concerned about the nutritional quality of fast food.
As Tomioka explains, a single fast food meal, like chicken nuggets and a large soda, can easily exceed a day’s worth of empty calories. This powerful combination can provide enormous nutritional benefits. The effects of these dietary trends go far beyond calories eaten. She illustrates how coupling meals with sweet, creamy coffee drinks can sometimes increase the meal to a jaw dropping 800 calories and 100 grams of sugar. This overconsumption has contributed to chronic illnesses such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
The environmental consequences of fast food production is another angle that Tomioka calls attention to. One particularly striking example is that it requires about 1,800 gallons of water to make only a single pound of beef. This statistic serves to underscore the sustainability concerns that are frequently associated with fast food. It underscores the justification for providing people the tools to make healthier decisions regarding their diets.
Tomioka’s philosophy takes a holistic approach, emphasizing a plant-based diet focused on fresh, wholesome ingredients. She is originally from Nara, Japan. She prioritizes and is intentional about acknowledging the cultural differences for dietary habits between Japan and the United States. These days in her professional practice, she always encourages patients to aim for a minimum of five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. This simple habit does wonders for your health. She advises easy home-cooked meals and snacks. These meals need to be based around healthy staples such as rice, seasonal veggies, fermented foods, green tea, and fresh fruit for a well-rounded diet.
For her, balance should be the approach taken with decadent foods. For example, instead of eating a whole pizza, Tomioka encourages her clients to bring it down to one slice. This is a smart way of easily keeping track of all your calories. Don’t worry, you can still eat all your favorite foods and achieve your health goals!
For anyone looking for options beyond the drive-thru, Tomioka does have recommendations, like veggie tofu dumplings. These hearty dumplings provide an equally flavorful and healthier foray into this culinary delight. They can hit the spots you want without the negative health effects of regular fast food.
Tomioka’s wisdom doesn’t stop at what you should eat. She preaches a whole-body approach to healthy living. She challenges everyone to start caring about their food more. She encourages them to consider the implications of their daily food choices. High consumption of fast food is directly associated with increased risk of multiple health complications. These range from obesity, inflammation, to type 2 diabetes, even some types of cancer, making this an incredibly relevant issue in modern society.
She regularly shares her beauty secrets and healthy lifestyle advice on platforms like Instagram. You can get more of Michi’s wisdom by following her on Instagram @michian_rd! Tomioka, who is very active on Instagram/TikTok, uses her platform to teach others the importance of a healthy diet. She provides realistic substitutes for common favorites from fast food restaurants.