You Should Never Order The Dragon Roll At A Sushi Restaurant. Here's Why
If you thought choosing sushi over burgers was the healthiest option for girl's night out, think again. Rice and fish might seem healthy at first glance, but when you add in salty, sugary sauces and multiple rolls, sushi is not as healthy as you may think. And, if you're ordering rolls that involve mayo or fried toppings, the calorie and fat counts will continue to rise.
According to Eat This, Not That!, the dragon roll (an eel roll topped with avocado, and drizzled with sweet sauce) is the absolute worst dish you can order at a sushi restaurant. A dragon roll with avocado and sweet sauce typically contains 570 calories, 20 grams of fat, 81 grams of carbs, and 1,100 milligrams of sodium. But what makes it so bad? Carb-packed, nutrient-stripped white rice is the first evil lurking in most sushi rolls, including this one. Sushi rice is prepared using rice vinegar and sugar (generally, two tablespoons of sugar per two cups of uncooked rice, according to Chopstick Chronicles). If you guessed that soy sauce was next, with its 902 milligrams of sodium per tablespoon, you'd be right. Rounding out the dragon roll's negative score is that sweet-drizzle sugar bomb.
Sushi alternatives that are healthier than the dragon roll
Not to fear. There's no reason to give up sushi altogether. There are plenty of healthier sushi options and swaps you can make, according to Livestrong. Most sushi restaurants offer the option to replace the white sushi rice with brown rice, so start there. Then, avoid rolls that have descriptions that mention sauces, dressings, cream cheese, or mayo.
Opt for vegetarian or California rolls, which, according to Livestrong, are fairly healthy. One California roll (1 ounce) has about 28 calories, 5.5 grams of carbs, 0.2 grams of fat, 0.8 grams of protein, and 129 milligrams of sodium. Then, keep the sodium at a low roar by using the low-sodium soy sauce or by trying a bite or two without it (you might like the taste). And, if you're watching your waistline, don't even think about following that sushi bake trend. With its layers of sushi rice, mayo, and sour cream, you might as well belly up to the burger bar!