What is Washoku?

Photo Credit: Amy Weiss, @amyweissphotography

Eat the Rainbow for Vibrant Health!

Did you know that there's a secret to creating meals that are as healthy as they are delicious?

It's not magic, it's Washoku — the Japanese philosophy of using 5 colors, 5 tastes and 5 cooking techniques in every meal.

By following Washoku, we are able to create beautifully balanced meals that help you keep the commitments you’ve made to your health without sacrificing any flavor or enjoyment!

Here's why it works:

COLORS
A dish with many colors means lots of healthy nutrients! When you eat an array of colors with every meal, you get a full range of vitamins and minerals in your diet. Bonus: you eat with your eyes first, and bright pops of color add excitement to mealtime!

ELEMENTS/TECHNIQUES
A dish that showcases multiple cooking techniques has more texture, which ultimately makes it more satisfying. It also helps create a healthier meal overall because you are balancing the more calorie laden techniques (like frying) with lighter approaches (like blanching). Plus, adding a pickled or fermented component also helps build a healthy gut biome and aids digestion!

TASTES
When you stimulate all of your taste buds in one meal, it not only makes for a more exciting and satisfying dining experience, it also helps you stay full for longer because bitter & pungent flavors can actually help curb cravings for salty & sweet foods. Why settle for a single flavor when you can have a whole symphony of tastes at once?!

Washoku, which literally translates to ‘Harmony Food' (和食), is a creative way to think about putting together a beautiful meal that comes along with the reward of making you feel delighted and nourished.