Compared to Western dishes, Japanese food is generally healthier. And compared to American serving sizes, Japanese portions are definitely smaller.

In the Philippines, because of the American influence, food portions in restaurants are usually quite big. A normal dinner in a hotel consists of a large chunk of grilled meat seasoned with lots of spices, and you can skip the vegetables but never the dessert.

In my first few weeks living in Japan, I went on a trip to Hakone with a friend. At the hotel, we were served a dinner of rice, fish and generous portions of vegetable side dishes. It was so healthy and delicious that I immediately had a sense of well-being. “This is it!” I thought. “I’m going to lose weight and maintain a well-sculpted body from now on.”

However, as the months passed by, I noticed that I was not getting leaner. I bought a bathroom scale and checked my weight. To my disappointment, I was almost 5 kilograms heavier than before! How on Earth could this happen?

After I calmed myself down, I contemplated what might have gone wrong. I opened my fridge and immediately found the answer. There, staring right back at me, were tubs of ice cream, bottles of soda and a half-finished cheesecake. Even though I was eating healthier than before, I had been snacking too much and gaining weight because of it.

I definitely learned my lesson. Now, I snack less and make sure to do so only when I truly deserve it.