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Healthiest Cuisines Around the World

Who says eating healthy is boring? Eating healthy doesn’t have to be a dull affair — especially when you go international with your meals. Here’s how.

For many people, eating healthy seems like a "boring" lifestyle change. You swap out the good junk food for "bland" vegetables. Goodbye to all the burgers and fries you've loved before. Now is the time to eat "rabbit food."

On the contrary, eating healthy doesn't have to be boring - especially when you go international with your dishes. Across the world, many people eat delicious meals that promote their health and fitness. That's because many international dishes use natural and unprocessed ingredients to cook up healthy meals.

From the delicious raw fish of Japan to the use of local ingredients in Barrio Fiesta Philippines products, here are some countries that put health first. Read them, get inspired and visit a local restaurant, buy a cookbook or plan your version of these international delicacies.

Japanese

Japan's diet is rich in fresh vegetables and seafood, both good sources of vitamins and minerals, as well as protein. Because of this, the Japanese experience lower rates of chronic disease. In fact, Japan ranks second in the list of countries with the longest life spans (life expectancy: 85.3 years).

Japan's cuisine is considered healthy because, apart from the ingredients, the Japanese use healthy cooking techniques such as a quick stir-fry or light steam. Also, they eat edamame, uncooked sea vegetables and raw fish. If you want to eat healthily, eat Japanese!

Just steer clear of unhealthy Japanese meals like oily noodle dishes, fried tempura and white rice.

Mexican

When you think of Mexican cuisine, you might automatically think about Taco Bell and Chipotle. These fast-food burritos and tacos are not good for your health but traditional Mexican food.

For instance, beans are big in Mexican cuisine. Fruit is also a staple in most Mexican treats, especially mango and lime. As a result, many Mexican dishes are rich in fiber, which promotes a healthy digestive system.

Authenticity is key to cooking healthy Mexican dishes. Refrain from preparing processed Mexican foods. Instead, cook vegetable-heavy dishes with as little to no oil as possible. Also, avoid fried foods like chimichangas and flautas, and go light on dishes with heavy sour cream and cheese, as well as chips and nachos.

Thai

The best thing about Thai food is that it challenges and amuses your taste buds without spending much on meats and fats. Thailand uses spices to make seemingly "dull" vegetables come to life. The spices often used in Thai cuisine include lemongrass, ginger, coriander, turmeric and chili peppers.

If you want to go Thai with your meals, cook or buy authentic dishes that include lightly cooked vegetables and seafood. Skip the fried rice and fried spring rolls. If you're looking for something sweat or creamy, indulge in coconut milk dishes now and then.

Korean

Korean food is gaining more popularity in the United States. While notable Korean dishes include grilled meat, the menu also includes delicious and healthy dishes rich in vegetables. One of the healthiest foods in Korean cuisine is kimchi, a fermented vegetable dish often paired with other dishes. Kimchi is rich in anti-cancer and anti-obesity ingredients like garlic, red pepper and other vegetables.

Korean cuisine has a simple mantra: more on vegetables, not much fat. But since Korean foods often include fermentation, watch out for high-sodium meals.

Filipino

Filipino dishes are a fusion of different cultures in one melted pot. Although the Philippines is known for sumptuous yet unhealthy dishes like lechon, the country also boasts of delicious yet health-boosting meals.

Vegetables feature heavily in most Filipino dishes. For instance, the dish gising gising is made from winged beans with coconut milk, chili and shrimp paste. The spicy dish can have ground pork or seafood, but if you're staying away from meat, you don't have to add either.

Another dish called sinigang is a sour tamarind-base soup that is also rich in vegetables. Also, if you're not a big fan of adding pork or beef, add chicken instead.

Greek

The Mediterranean diet actually originated from Crete, a Greek island. It's no wonder that the Greek diet is known for being healthy; it uses plenty of olive oil, fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and garlic. It doesn't need much meat to make the meal delicious. The simplest dishes are often meat-free and rich in vegetables, like souvlaki, grilled fish and louvi (black-eyed bean salad).

Steer clear of high-fat Greek dishes like baklava, spinach pie and moussaka.

Who says eating healthy means you're stuck to eating salads and grilled chicken forever? Expand your food adventure the right way by going global with your meals.