Japanese Women Don't Get Old or Fat.

It's true. Just like our French friend Mireille Guiliano & her life enhancing literature of a similar title; French Women Don't Get Fat, this book is written to impart valuable knowledge on how to live your best, healthiest, most attractive, energetic & pleasurable life.

I discovered this Asian food bible while staying with my fabulous friend Kayla in her gorgeous federation-style Neutral Bay house, perusing the numerous bookshelves on offer. Here in this very home, we have already created some mouth-watering dishes and I am proud to say that we have followed some of both books' golden rules for healthy & delicious meals.

Straight from my memory bank, these important guidelines include:

• Fresh is best; buy what's in season
• Serve sensible portion sizes (a common mistake we make as Westerners is eating too much)
• Present the food in an aesthetically pleasing manner
• Quality, quality, quality! Be it spice, seaweed or saucepan
• Share & savour 
• Good doesn't have to mean a complicated nor a very lengthy affair
• !

My eye was firstly struck by the fluorescent green of the book's cover (green is the colour of the heart chakra & it seems to speak to me in soft, romantic tones). Then, upon reading the title Japanese Women Don't Get Old or Fat, my loving obsession for Japanese culture, philosophy & style sucked me right in to the awesomely hunger & taste provoking pages that make up this lovely piece of work.

Naomi Moriyama, you had me at Japanese! I thank both you and your esteemed mother for sharing your research on the obesity pandemic & how to make your own Tokyo Kitchen.

I am getting ready to move into my own place & will certainly be keeping all this advice in mind when I organise my kitchen space & go grocery shopping.

My only hope is that my new flat-mate won't spend too much of her time in the (unfortunately) shared kitchen. You know that saying about too many cooks! Then again if she is Japanese or French... well, MasterChef Richmond edition - eat your heart out!!

P.S. Of course both cultures don't just stay slim, healthy & good-looking by eating. Ha! You wish! No, no, both nations are a very active people, getting in lots of daily incidental exercise like cycling & walking as well working up a sweat intentionally on a regular basis.

So, there you have it: the secret recipe to eternal youth & making sure your jeans always fit. K.I.S.S.

Easy Peasy Japanesey!

You're welcome ; )