A Well Balance Diet

I just got back from taking my wife to the Japanese Food Store in Lexington. While she was shopping, I couldn't help but notice the young Japanese women (most were probably wives of the Japanese managers at the Toyota plant). I didn't take notice because they were young and pretty, although some of them were that, but because they all were so TALL!!

At least four of them had to have been 5 foot 10 inches tall if not taller, and every one of the 10 or 12 that were there were taller then I am at 5'6". So what you say, they are taller than ol' Grumpy, big deal. But I couldn't help but think of the difference between the young ladies i saw today and the population of Japanese people when i first went to Japan in early 1957.

On my first sight seeing trip to downtown Tokyo, as I walked down the street, I was taller then everyone one I passed, and a lot taller than most of the women. If I remember right, the average woman in those days was about 4'8" to 4'10" and the men were a couple of inches taller.

I have been back to (and stationed in) Japan several times since that first visit and I have previously noticed that the people have, over time, gotten taller and taller. From the many things I have heard and read, I know that the change is due to a vastly improved diet the Japanese people (and other countries) have had since the end of WWII. The difference between eating a few vegetables, some fish, and rice three times a day (if that) and the well balanced diet they have today has made them much healthier and TALLER.

For whatever its worth, I just wanted to share my thoughts so you will know that ol' Grumpy can think about something beside fishing and politics.

Grumpy