When I lived to Hawaii, I found it one of the happiest places on earth. Our first house was on Hauoli Street in Kailua town - Hauʻoli means happy in Hawaiian. Keith recently remarked that his happiest times in Hawaii were walking with me along Lanikai Beach that was a block away. The song, White Sandy Beach of Hawaiʻi by Israel Kamakawiwoʻole still pulls us back to those times. Why is Hawaii a happy place? Maybe it is because so many people are there on vacation or maybe it is the spirit of Aloha. One of the things that delighted me in Hawaii was the Asian cuisine. I worked for Mike McKenna who was one of the first investors of Roy's Restaurants and friends with the founder, Roy Yamaguchi. We'd eat often at the original Roy's in Hawaii Kai where there is a tribute to Mike on the wall as you walk in. Whenever we would dine there, Roy would come to the table wearing a McKenna Windward Ford baseball cap and prepare some special new dish for us to try. Roy's blend of Asian and Hawaiian cuisine help me discover the Japanese diet.
The Japanese word for happiness is Kōfuku which means; euphoria, bliss, blessedness, satisfaction, beatitude. The Japanese diet is a focus on satisfaction. The Japanese Diet is the reason that Japan has some of the longest life expectancies in the world. But what is less well known is that Japanese women have the lowest rates of obesity (only 2.9%) in modern cultures. Naomi Moriyama writes in her book, Japanese Women Don’t Get Old or Fat that the basic elements of the Japanese approach to eating is “not a diet plan but a whole new way of falling in love with food”. The emphasis is on small portions of fresh seasonal food. We need to value quality over quantity and to eat slowly so as to appreciate the flavors of the food and reach a feeling of satisfaction with less food. I like to call my plan the ELF plan - or eat less food. I eat whatever I want, but less of it.
https://recipesofdisney.com/frushi/
Here are the basic plan of what I eat;
Fish - salmon. I prepare a nice salmon filet for our Sunday brunch and then use fresh wild canned salmon to make "tuna salad" with vegan mayo, mustard, celery, and pickles.
Vegetables - lots of kale and sweet potato that I grow organically in my yard.
Rice (preferably brown) but I also like sticky rice and risotto.
Soy (tofu, miso soup, soy sauce) and frozen vegan Gardein products made from soy, but I try to stick to more unprocessed food.
Fruit such as apples, grapes, and watermelon.
Green tea. It is hot in Florida, so each morning I brew 2 cups of green tea, add stevia, then pour into 6 Rubbermaid-BPA free 16 oz water bottles filled 90% with water, then put in the refrigerator to give me an all day source of water and green tea.
The diet also recommends noodles, but I haven't figure that out yet, but plan to add it later since I know it has lots of carbs and I'm still trying to burn fat with 10 more pounds to go. I avoid the 8 bad fats and use only olive, coconut, and avocado oil.
Dairy and bread are not part of my diet and when I do eat pork, beef and chicken they are regarded more as a special treat rather than the main focus of the meal. Fresh fruit is my preferred dessert however if a richer dessert is eaten it is in very small quantities. I often get the latest cupcake at Disney World to sample it, but I cut it open, then eat a few bites.
I am truly happy; probably the happiest I have been in my life. I run/walk each day, do yoga, and strength building exercises. I have lost 40 pounds and have 10 more to go. I think my diet and health are a big part of this, but more importantly, I have found my own bliss. I no longer look to others to make me happy for the day, I keep myself happy.
Visit my website for info on my books - https://www.sandijerome.com/
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