Apr 24, 2025

Things I'm grateful for in Japan: healthier sides

What do side dishes look like back in your home country? I know that in mine, especially when it comes to kids meals at restaurants, it’s usually fries, fries, and more fries. Don’t get me wrong, my household loves a good fried potato, but I think here it’s a lot more balanced and side dishes are more nutritious.

It’s not even at “fancier” chains or more upmarket restaurants that this is the case, you can see it at places like McDonalds. If my kids end up getting a Happy Set, I love that they can pick things like a side salad or edamame and corn instead of French fries to make their meal feel a bit more veggie-packed.

I feel like living here is a bit easier on parents in that sense! Kids are exposed to more varied dishes here than where I’m from, and since they’ve grown up eating them it’s very normal to opt for things like edamame over fries.

---