If you've ever had Sushi, you know that it's an acquired taste that soon becomes an addiction. In terms of a healthy meal, sushi is just about as perfect as it gets. Portions are small and manageable, most rolls contain a precise balance of carbs (rice), protein (fish), healthy fats (avocado), vitamins and minerals (veggies and seaweed). These ingredients make sushi an ideal food if you are interested in losing weight, building muscle and sustaining your energy levels.
Brown rice sushi!

The only downside to consuming sushi on a regular basis if you are trying to drop a few extra pounds of body fat is the white rice in traditional sushi rolls. White rice contains far less vitamins, minerals and fiber than brown rice. Fiber is the nutrient that slows digestion- thus providing a more desired timed release energy that sustains that "full" feeling much longer. Brown rice has a more positive affect on blood sugar because of its fiber content which means you are less apt to feel the crash and burn that you may feel after eating white rice or any other low fiber food.

Health Benefits of Brown Rice :

- Provides all necessary carbohydrates requirements.
- Rich in fibers
- Helps control blood sugar
- Helps control cholesterol
- Beneficial for stomach and intestinal ulcers and for diarrhea. It is easily digested starch food.
- Because of the mineral content, it supplies important nutrient for the hair, teeth, nails, muscles and bones.

Health Benefits of Seaweeds :

- Kelps correct mineral deficiencies.
- A good protective food, valuable in overcoming poor digestion, preventing and overcoming goiter (because it is the richest source of iodine), and rebuilding and maintaining the proper function of all glands.
- Reported to aid in brain development.
- Offsets deficiencies of an inferior diet.
- Kelp helps prevent osteoporosis.
- Beneficial for those suffering from impotence, anemia and emaciation.
- Helps to detoxify the body.
- Helps to increase metabolism.

So the next time you need to get your sushi fix, try the healthier brown rice version:

Ingredients

1 package of dried seaweed
1 c brown rice, cooked
avocado
cucumber
imitation crab meat
rice vinegar
soy sauce
wasabi

Directions

Cook the rice slow and long so it becomes sticky and somewhat mushy. Cool.

Peel and then cut the cucumbers in long thin strips and then soak them in 1 tbsp rice vinegar and 1 cup of water.

Cut avocado into long strips.

Spread vinegar and water mixture over a square piece of foil. Slide a piece of dried seawead through a square dish of water bigger than the seaweed. Just dampen it. You don't want to get it too wet. Lay it flat on the foil. Spread rice across top half of seaweed. Lay 1 strip of cucumber, 1 strip of avocado, and crab across top part of rice. Using the foil to help you roll but not rolling the foil up into the sushi, roll the sushi as tight as you can. Lay a second dampened seaweed sheet down and roll a second time. Let it set and dry out in a covered container in the fridge until ready to serve. Cut with a sharp knife into 1 inch strips and serve with soy sauce and wasabi (if you're brave enough).

Number of Servings: 5