Japanese cuisine focuses on the food’s appearance. Small portions and colorful vegetables make meals visually appealing. The portion size of foods not only affects how much we eat (i.e. smaller servings means we eat less and feel full sooner), but it also affects how we respond to various sensory and cognitive cues, as well as to hunger and satiety. When you take the exact same meal but actually break it up into smaller bits, research shows that you will actually eat less! The use of chopsticks in both Chinese and Japanese cuisine allows for smaller bites compared to spoons and forks and more time between bites. Eating slowly and mindfully, with this extra time between bites, actually allows us to bring focus and attention to the present moment and limit distractions.