Itoh says that the traditional Japanese meal never includes a dessert course, and that the Japanese eat sweets, called wagashi, infrequently.

In an effort to nudge down my burgeoning BMI and broaden my culinary horizons, I decided to adopt this unorthodox approach to weight loss. I headed to a Japanese bakery near my office and bought a few wagashi.

They looked like round, fossilized sea creatures and tasted sort of like sweet, chewy potter's clay. "My palate doesn't even recognize this as edible," one of my colleagues lamented. I was amazed by the exotic texture.

The Japanese are not fond of cream, chocolate, butter, or the fattening ingredients that comprise the typical Western dessert. Their treats are made from rice flour and adzuki beans (Itoh includes several recipes on her blog if you have lots of free time on your hands) and are sometimes garnished with sesame seeds.

If you get the chance, try wagashi. They're an unusual taste treat. And once you chomp your way through one, your cravings for Western-style desserts—or anything else, for that matter—will be sated for hours.