How Many Calories Are In Sushi? (And Everything Else You've Ever Wanted to Know About It)

Sushi seems like an ideal summer food: it’s cool, it’s delicious, and it won’t ruin your amazing bikini bod. Right? Though sushi is generally thought of as healthy, it’s hard to know exactly what nutrients you’re getting when you order that BBQ eel roll (my personal favorite), and it’s definitely difficult to know how much sushi you should be eating. So to help you navigate that daunting sushi list, we’ve got the nutritional breakdown of some your favorite rolls and sushi side dishes.
 

 
But first, here are some sushi basics you should know so you don’t embarrass yourself in front of the cute guy at the sushi bar (or your date!).
 
Sushi or Sashimi?
We all throw around the term sushi, but what exactly is it? And what’s that other stuff, sashimi, that always appears next to it on the menu?  Sushi is fish, seafood and/or vegetables PLUS rice; sashimi is just fish or seafood without rice. Sushi can be served as a roll (sushi rolls are called “maki”) or as fish over rice, but the important thing is that there’s always rice with sushi. Watching carbs? Go for sashimi instead.
 
Is this stuff really raw?
 
Yes, a lot of sushi is served raw—but not all of it is, so there are plenty of options if the thought of raw fish freaks you out.  Eel is always served cooked, and shrimp and crab are usually served cooked as well. Also, look for anything served “tempura” style; that means the seafood’s been battered and fried. But if none of those appeal to you and you want to avoid anything raw, there are plenty of vegetarian sushi options as well.
 
Can I really eat raw fish?
Raw fish used in sushi is usually safe to eat because restaurants take special precautions, like freezing the fish, which kills parasites that might otherwise be found on raw fish. Still, eating raw fish carries with it a slightly higher risk of getting bacteria stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting than eating cooked food. Also, note that some raw fish (like tuna) has high mercury levels—but this shouldn’t be a problem unless you’re eating raw sushi for a few meals a week.
 
Where’s my fork?
Sushi always comes with chopsticks, so you’ll want to know how to use them. Here’s a three-step how-to:

1. Hold one chopstick between your thumb and middle finger. It should lie on your thumb joint and against the bottom of your middle finger, without touching the forefinger.
2. Lie the other chopstick against your forefinger, holding it with the tip of your thumb. It should be parallel to the first chopstick.
3. Keeping the first chopstick stationary, pick up your food by moving the second chopstick towards the stationary one.

 
Still lost? Check out this video how-to.

 
And don’t feel embarrassed if you can’t use them! Just pick up it with your fingers. You can also ask for a fork, but using your fingers is actually the correct etiquette, so why pass up the opportunity to eat with your fingers and be classy?