Job Discussion Forums

[fox1]

Is there any whole-grain bread in Japan? I have seen brownish-looking stuff , but it tastes kind of sweet and suspiciously unlike whole-grain. (It is nice, though! But I'm looking for whole-grain.)

What is "low-fat" or "fat-free" in Japanese? Also, I'm trying to get the lowest-fat yogurt and milk.

I've been poring over food labels lately, with minimal success. (kcal means calories, right? Although often in measurements of 100g, rather than the product...)

[azarashi sushi]

yes, there is whole grain bread in Japan... It's mediochre at best. You'll have to go to more upmarket bakery to find it though. You'll know it's whole grain when you see it.

As for low fat... Just check the percentages on the label.

[codedals]

Just get the whole fat stuff. If anything, it's actually more healthy for you. Don't buy into the 'low-fat' craze. I'm guessing you're into whole foods and the healthy life in general, so think about it, milk in its natural form is pretty high in fat.

I don't feel like explaining on the forum as to why it's more healthy, but you can PM me for the science.


(excuse the grammar....no time to clean it up, too distraught due to my being jobless)

[6810]

全粒粉　= Whole grain/whole meal

As for grain, you might want to look for bread that has XX種類　where XX = a number usually indicating how many types of seeds and grains are used.

"Fat" is usually written as 脂肪　("shibou"). Most low fat foods will use this word prominently on the packaging. It can also be found on the nutrition info usually measured in grams.

Low fat milk (retch, gag, vomit) has become more common lately. Depending on where you live, the brands might be a bit different. Nevertheless, Morinaga brand milk sells low fat milk in a light blue one liter pack.

As for low fat yogurt, maybe you have been sold down the river in the past. Most yogurt, in and out of Japan is made using the lowest fat (ie - cheapest) milk available and in most cases is therefore in principle, "low fat". So buy what you like. I'm quite partial to the new "Sono mama oishi" Bulgaria yogurt. Great flavour and no stupid little sugar pack to throw away.

Final work of advice. If you want good, flavorful bread that is also healthy, go for a sour dough campagne. This kind of bread can be bought at most up market supermarkets and/or health food stores/department stores. Go for any thing that has 天然酵母　in the ingredients (natural and/or sourdough fermenting agent).

[slodziak]

[Apsara]

codedals, are you serious when you say full fat milk is better for you? While some fat is definitely necessary in the diet, milk fat is saturated fat and high in bad cholesterol (LDL)- the less saturated fat you consume, the less clogged your arteries will get and the less likely you are to die of heart disease.

My father has suffered from high blood pressure and cholesterol almost his whole adult life in spite of being fairly fit and a healthy weight- he has been advised by his doctor to cut out dairy entirely.

Healthy fat is mono- or poly-unsaturated and comes from vegetable sources- olive oil, flax seed oil etc are good for you in moderation, but milk fat is about as good for you as chicken fat, i.e. not very.

As for brown bread- I love brown bread but short of a very few bakeries or the vacuum packed-type imported from Germany, I haven't found it in 9 years here.

I eat the rye bread or brown rice bread commonly available in supermarkets- it's not ideal but better than the cakey white bread.

Low fat milk is everywhere, non-fat milk not quite so common but available. You can also ask for either in Starbucks instead of whole milk, incidentally. For some reason Japanese characters don't come out properly when I type them on this forum, but low-fat milk is "tei-shibou-nyuu" and non-fat is "mu-shibou-nyuu" if you want to try asking at the supermarket.

You may find it written in small letters in English somewhere on the pack if you pick it up and have a look- I sometimes see it on the backs of packs.

[Temujin]

[6810]

I forgot to mention, since you are in Japan, why not do as they do? You can buy "multi grain/seed" packs anywhere rice is sold. You just add these to the rice you cook at home. Then, there is always 弦間　which is just brown rice. If genmai is too rough on yer innards, mix it 50/50 with white rice and a grain pack for a mega protein, low fat, high fiber daily staple as a substitute for bread!

[Apsara]

Good advice there. I do exactly what 6810 mentions with the 50/50 brown and white rice and extra grains, which is why I don't sweat the lack of brown bread. You have to find substitutes.

[codedals]