We did a little research and identified the countries with the most and least healthy foods

Knowing the culture of another country is only possible when we know its cuisine. Many people tend to avoid restaurants with an international menu when traveling to learn more about local habits, customs and seasonings. Some tourists are admittedly crazy about food tourism and ensure that impressions of local dishes are the main component of any trip. But what are the most typical dishes of each country?

We made two lists with some examples. The first includes countries with unhealthy dishes. The second, countries with healthy dishes. Check it out now and pack your bags!

As a criterion, we used the food table developed in 1992 by nutritionists at the Harvard School of Nutrition, in the United States. It shows which products and what proportions of them so that a diet is balanced. According to scientists, the basis of the daily menu should include fresh vegetables and complex carbohydrates (whole-wheat pasta, whole-grain bread, oatmeal, brown rice).

Then come red meats, fish, chicken (preferably thin and fat-free), eggs, milk and low-fat dairy products. Fruit also plays an important role in a healthy diet. Consumption of animal fat, sweets and white bread should be kept to a minimum. Some of these foods should be completely excluded from the diet for good health.

A few centuries ago, when the main national cuisines were forming, no one knew this diagram. That’s why many traditional dishes make nutritionists stand on end.

German cuisine is reputed to be very heavy, greasy and high in calories. The sausages, the fried ribs, the potent soup (Eintopf) with meat, the different pork meats and many other dishes are very popular in the country and leave anyone ‘rolling over’ after a meal.

The smoked ham accompanied by a great beer is a gastronomic experience must for anyone visiting the country. The traditional menu also comes with fatty meat and sauces, bread, potatoes, pancakes, sausages, etc. It is not surprising when we read that 33% of the population suffers from obesity.

Hungary is not far behind, with a 25% rate of overweight people. It is probably the fault of the delicious goulash and other similarly caloric dishes of Hungarian cuisine, which uses a lot of fat. To try to fight this reality, the Hungarian government imposes a higher tax on unhealthy foods, and has raised the price of canned snacks and soft drinks.

But people don’t live on meat alone in Europe. We cannot forget the wonderful desserts, such as waffles with frosting and cream ice cream, and a huge variety of chocolates. Belgium is famous for these delicacies and that’s why it was also placed on this list.

The country is the world leader in potato consumption, a product known for its large amount of starch, which tends to make you fat and affect the state of blood vessels. Traditional pancakes, known as dranikicombined with dairy products, meats and a wide variety of breads, were key for Belarus to be included in the list of countries with a heavy cuisine.

Argentines, like Brazilians, love meat. But they also use a lot of flour in their cooking. The country is one of the main meat exporters in the world, and people in general tend to prefer red meat – which, let’s face it, for those who like a steak, is delicious. In addition, empanadas are a registered trademark of the country.

Many people claim that the United States simply does not have a national cuisine. However, it is impossible not to think about the many restaurants with fast food when we think of the country. In general, these foods are the ones that do the most damage to our health, which is why, predictably, the country is on the list.

The basis of Japanese cuisine is fish, seaweed, seafood, vegetables, soy and rice. On the other hand, meat, milk, animal fat and carbohydrates are rarely consumed in the country (with the exception of rice). In general, foods are subjected to minimal heat treatment, which allows for greater retention of the good components. Even sweets are good, as they are prepared with rice flour, fruit juice and seaweed derivatives. Just don’t abuse soy sauce (shoyu) which contains a lot of sodium.

The country’s national cuisine is characterized by an abundance of herbs and spices (coriander, basil, mint, chile, etc.), fresh vegetables and seafood, and rice and rice flour dishes (the famous pasta and rice cake). The food preparation includes very little fat which is why the country is on this list.

The large amount of spices (turmeric, ginger, egg whites, cloves, etc.) not only give the dishes an intense and delicious flavor, but also have health benefits: spices are allies in the fight against cancer and Alzheimer’s disease, for example. In addition, they have an anti-inflammatory effect and help with digestion.

Ethiopia’s national cuisine does not usually attract the attention of gourmet chefs, which is very difficult to understand, after all it is super original (starting with the way the dishes are served on a bun that covers the table) and very healthy.

They often eat vegetables, fresh fruits, fish, meat, sheep’s, goat’s and even camel’s milk. The products are usually very ecological and are only good for the body.

In the traditional cuisine of Israel, everything that is obtained in its lands and waters is very popular: a wide variety of fish, poultry, vegetables, vegetables, spices and honey. The ingredients for the dishes are chosen with great care, mainly due to some religious prohibitions, and their small variety is compensated by an enormous originality. One of the highlights is the falafel, a delicious fried chickpea dumpling.

Finnish cuisine is known for its huge consumption of fish, lake and sea, wild animal meat and berries. On the menu you can find elk, venison and bear meat. Sauces are usually made with fruits, such as blackberries. There is never a shortage of vegetables or salads. In addition, Finns do not dispense with durum wheat or rice pasta.

Tasty Finnish soups are well known, such as creamy salmon soup. At first glance, it may seem that Finns eat a lot of bread, but it is usually wholegrain. Desserts include soups and fruit mousses, also healthy.

Yes, our list does not end with one country, but with a large region: the Mediterranean Sea. The different cuisines bathed in it are known as healthy and balanced, which is why many people speak of the Mediterranean Diet as one of the best.

The advantages of this cuisine are many: lots of seafood, vegetables (tomatoes, peppers, zucchinis, eggplants, artichokes, etc.) and fresh fruits. In addition, the cuisines of these countries (Greece, southern Italy and France, Portugal and Spain) use honey and herbs, as well as many spices. Basil, rosemary and oregano are almost mandatory. The main source of fat is in cheeses, nuts, olive oil and beans. Cooking techniques are very simple and always strive to preserve the flavor and aroma of the products.

As you can see, the different healthy cuisines have a lot in common. In them, there is a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables, light dishes with fish, simple and nutritious side dishes. In addition, they use a lot of spices, don’t abuse meat and milk, and the dessert is usually made with fruits. In general, there is a preference for raw and natural foods.

What did you think of the two lists? Would you like to include a country? Do you think you’re taking a healthy cooking step to see if you like it?