Lunch of demon?! My cousin's Baon

I would like introduce this cute Baon made by my cousin. She made this Baon for her 4 years old son to response for son's request.

Her son's request is a demon. This demon is Japanese traditional style. 

Face: Rice mixed salmon flakes

Eyes and fang : Kamaboko* and dried laver seaweed

Hair : Scrambled egg 

*Kamaboko: Boiled fish past

My cousin makes lunch box once a week and she usually responses to her son's request. (He requested "Dog" for his Baon last week.)

I will introduce Japanese style lunch box made by my relatives and friends also!!

 

In Japan, we have an event on February 3 called "Setsubun". Setsubun means " division of seasons". However, "setsubun" has now come to mean the day before the first day of spring only. We throw roasted beans while saying "Oni wa soto. Fuku wa uchi". Oni means Demon in Japanese. On this day, someone play a role of demon wearing the demon mask, we throw roasted beans to hit against the demon. After throwing the beans, people customarily eat one roasted soy bean, for each year of their age, and pray for happiness throughout the year. 

Become smarter, chewing well! (Benefit of chewing part 2)

I will describe two benefits of chewing following the previous posting.

( Part 1 is from here → Benefit of chewing, Part 1)

3. Development of brain

Do you believe the brain is developed by chewing?! It is true.

We need many kind of stimulation for developing the brain. The stimulation  fall into 2 major groups. One of 2 groups is the stimulation obtained from many experiences through five senses (touch, taste, smell, hearing, and eyesight). And another one is the stimulation obtained from motion, the chewing is one of the motion.

We do various motion in our life. Do you think the chewing is a little and not so important motion for stimulation to develop the brain? Hang on to your hut, it is said that the stimulation obtained from chewing is 50% of the stimulation which the brain receives from motion during a day !! The muscles related the chewing locates near the brain, so the brain receives highly-intensive and large amounts stimulates from chewing. Blood flow of the brain increase by chewing, it is a factor for development of brain. It helps to prevent someone from going senile also.

Do you know "DHA" or "EPA" which are known good constituent for the brain. These are important materials for making the cell of brain, called " synapse". The synapse needs to  connect with other synapses for signaling, and synapses aren't able to connect each other without the stimulation. If children take a supplement of DHA of EPA, it is no meaning without chewing.  Eating fish includes natural DHA with chewing well is perfect to develop the brain, isn't it ?!

My children had eaten dried small fish as afternoon snack!! 

4. Correct pronunciation 

Do you wonder that the chewing relates to correct pronunciation? Bones and muscles of around mouth are developed by chewing. The developed bone constitutes balanced framework of oral.  The balanced framework of oral has an enough space to move tongue, it is very important factor of correct pronunciation. Of course, the developed muscles are important for the correct pronunciation also. (For your information, the developed muscles are able to maintain youthful face!!)

If I start to eat with the chewing well, will my pronunciation (especially L and R!) be overcome? Hehehe. 

Filipino food (Lino's Baon version)

I tried to cook Lino's Baon version "Tortang Dulong ( Filipino food )" this morning. The Tortang Dulong is like omelette which includes whitebait. Lino's Baon version added chopped vegetables (Carrot and green leaks) and cheese. The cheese become crispy and it's so delicious!! Let's try to cook Lino's Baon version Tortang Dulong♪

Philippines is an island nation and blessed with an abundance of seafood. The whitebait is one of seafood and it has great nutrition for children's growing. As you may know, the main nutrition of whitebait is Calcium. 

Do you know that the organic acids such as malic acid and citric acid contained in vinegar or citrus, helps to carry and absorb the calcium into the our body very well by being bound to the calcium? 

Water + whitebait 13% absolute

Vinegar + Whitebait 78% absolute

Citrus + Whiyebait 89% absolute!!

So it's good to eat the Tortang Dulong with vinegar or calamansi!! 

（Reference: Calcium absorption from a new calcium delivery system.

Smith KT, et al. Calcif Tissue Int. 1987）

Today's Baon

• Decorated rice ball (hotdog and carrot)

• Toryang Dulong (Lino's Baon version)

• Boild Okra mixed with katsuobushi and soy sauce

• Boiled bean sprout, sweet potato leaves, and carrot mixed with sesame oil and salt

• Grapes

☆ Procedure of decorated rice ball ☆

1. Boil thinly sliced hotdog and carrot. After boiling, cut the hotdog into half and make small circle of carrot using straw.

2. Roll the rice into a small ball using cling wrap.

3. Decorate the hotdog and carrot on the rice ball.

4. Fix the decoration by holding.

It's so cute isn't it?!

Benefits of chewing - Part 1 -

Have you ever been counted how many times do you chew per 1 bite?
Do you know that you can receive great benefits by chewing each mouthful a minimum of 30 times!

Chewing is very important in life because it is relating for our health deeply.

There are 8 kinds of benefits of chewing, I will describe about 2 benefits of these today.

1. Prevention of obesity
We have a satiety center that is one of the brain function. The satiety center is stimulated by chewing well and it works to prevent overeating and becoming fat body. We can feel satiety with smaller amount food by chewing well. Currently, there are a lot of kinds of fast food includes some factors of becoming fat body and it is easy to eat without chewing well. When you eat the fast food, please remember this.

2. Development of sense of taste
We can feel better true taste of food by chewing well. It helps to develop of sense of taste. As previous article （Who have many taste buds?), the foundation of sense of taste is formed until 5 years old. If you provide formula milk in place of meal to your children who want to continue playing at meal, your children will lost an opportunity to chew. Please teach your children to eat with chewing well. Your children will be able to enjoy eating verity food with a developed sense of taste!!

Today's Baon

• Fried rice ball
• Boiled vegetables and crushed Tofu, flavored with use of soy sauce, Dashi and Sake.
• Boiled Okra
• Rolled egg
• Pomelo

I forgot to take a picture of today's Baon. This picture was taken by father in law!! Thank you po papa!!

The complete dish? (Vegetable stuffed Meat roll recipe)

I will describe the recipe of "Vegetable stuffed meat roll".

It is a dish in which kidney beans (you can use any vegetables), boiled beforehand, is wrapped with thinly sliced meat such as beef and pork, fried in a frying pan, dressed with seasonings like soy sauce, salt, pepper, and so on.

My mother in law said "complete dish", when she ate the vegetables stuffed meat roll at first time, because we can eat both of meat and vegetable. But do you remember the ratio of perfect nutrition balance? The ratio of meat and vegetable are 1:2, and you know that the vegetable stuffed meat roll is not enough vegetables. So, the vegetable stuffed meat roll is not complete dish.

The vegetable stuffed meat roll is good for children's challenging to eat vegetable who don't like to eat vegetables.

The vegetable stuffed meat roll is so delicious and taste good cold too. The procedure is so easy. These are important point for making lunch box.

✳︎Ingredients✳︎

•Thinly sliced meat (beef or pork for Sukiyaki, Shabu-shabu, or bacon cut)

• Vegetables (any vegetables, I recommend a zucchini, kidney beans, carrot, asparagus, and mushroom)

• Salt and pepper, soy sauce

• Sake or your favorite alcohol (It is not indispensable.)

✳︎Procedure✳︎

1. Boile and cut vegetars. (The Zucchini, Asparagus, and Mushroom are no need to boile.)

2. Put vegetables on the thinly sliced meat.

3. Roll it.

4. Dressed with salt and pepper and fry with a little oil. It is a important point that fry the end of roll at first.

5. Add a little bit Sake and Soy sauce.

6. Let's eat!!

Today's Baon

• Rice with Furikake 

• Vegetable stuffed meat roll

• Rolled egg

• Pomelo and grapes

Obesity child is ill-treated child?

The title was turned into radical expression. However, I think that obesity child is ill-treated child.

I'm on leave to take care my daughter today. I reminded obesity children who living this area while watching lunch time TV show. (The famous girl on TV is one of the obesity child.)

I often see the obesity children at supermarkets near my house. Usually, their cart is full with snacks, soft drinks, can of meat, hotdog, and sweets, they are shopping while eating something!! The parents have delighted look because they can buy all food desired by their children. At restaurant, their foods are white and brown. After meal, a staff bring great amount sweets for them. At restaurant, the parents also have delighted look.

Don't the parents of obesity children know that almost obesity children will be extremely fat person in the future? 

Don't they know that obesity children has 3 times risk than normal children to be lifestyle related diseases? Even child, obesity children have a possibility to be lifestyle related diseases.

The obesity adult became fat body by responsibility of themselves. (Including me. I have to slim down seriously.)

However, children have to be controlled their diet by the parents. The parents have to teach them that should not eat by lust.

The parents give up to teach their children that should not eat by lust, the parents help their children to become obese happily, I think these are a kind of ill-treated.

The children just love the parents' smiling faces and eat well to see the parents smiling faces without knowing that they will become unhealthy in the future. It's so poor.

If you have relatives or friends like this parents, please advice them.

Well, I start to go on diet!

Today's Baon

• Lumpiang Shanghai

• Fried rice

• Boiled broccoli and yang corn, mixed with dried laver seaweed and soy sauce

• Boiled egg

• Tomato

Molds for rice balls

I thank for everyone, the total preview number exceeded 1,000!!

Maraming salamat po. ありがとうございます。

Today's article is the 2nd of a tool for the preparation of lunch box.

Do you know how do I make rice balls shaped star, heart, bear, etc. The answer is easy, there are many kind of molds for rice balls.

Look the picture bellow.

These are the molds of rice ball all. Surprisingly, I bought these only ¥105 / 1 set. ( 1US$=¥102, ¥100=php43 ) 

These are very cheap but so useful!!

In here Philippines, there are no shop that sells the molds of rice ball maybe. ( Let me inform if you know the shop.)

Even if you don't have a mold of rice ball, you can make rice ball with cling wrap. To use the cling wrap for making rice ball helps to handle food in a very hygienic way.

Rice ball is one of the traditional Japanese food culture. Shall we enjoy the traditional Japanese food culture?

My mother checks Lino's Baon every time. It is her comment for the basketball rice ball.

『I didn't know what rice balls were these before read the content of the blog.』

That's for sure. The quality of basketball rice ball was not good. I will try to pursue more high quality. 

Today's Baon

• Star shaped rice ball

• Tuna steak

• Rolled egg

• Marinated cucumber

• Tomato

The basketball rice ball

I was able to make a cute lunch box today, so the first is introduction of Today's Baon.

Today's Baon

• Basketball rice balls

• Karaage (Japanese bone less fried chicken)

• Boiled broccoli 

• Orange and tomato

The ingredients of basketballs are  ketchup and dried laver seaweed. The hot rice is mixed with ketchup and roll it into a ball. When you roll it into a ball, it is easier to use cling wrap. Cut a dried laver seaweed into thin strips and decorate it on the rice ball like basketball.

It's good for boy's lunch box! Try it!

Next up is how to store the green leaf lettuce.

The green-leaf lettuce is used for decoration of food also other than salad. The food becomes look more delicious by decoration of lettuce. The lettuce is ingredient essential for the Japanese style lunch box.

The lettuce is delicate and it often becomes stale when I buy it at supermarket. 

However, you can restore the lettuce's crispness and maintain freshness by proper treatment.

1. A wet paper towel put in the large size plastic container.

2. Wash the lettuce carefully and separate the lettuce.

3. Put the lettuce on the wet paper towel in the plastic container.

4. Cover with a wet paper towel and put plastic cover. Keep it in refrigerator.

After one to two hours, it is just right to delicious salad. For salad, it is also effective to keep the lettuce in cold water with ice after washing. 

You can keep freshness about a week in the refrigerator. You can use fresh lettuce anytime!

Who have many taste buds? Adult or child?

Do you know what is the taste buds?

We sense taste by the taste buds on the surface of the tongue.

The answer of title is child!!

The peak of taste buds amount is after 3 months of giving birth and 3 months baby have the taste buds 1.3 times than adult.

It is told that there are 5 types of taste, and these are Sweet, Sour, Bitter, Salty, and Umami.

The breast milk or formula milk include 3 kinds of taste,Sweet, Salty, and Umami.

The baby love these 3 tastes instinctively.

Sweet: Energy （carbohydrate）

Umami: Protein (amino acid)

Salty: Mineral （natrium)

The baby hate sour and bitter instinctively also. It is important for the baby because it helps to avoid rotten food (sour) and poison(bitter).

The formation of sense of taste is started from baby food and the foundation of the sense of taste has been formed until 5 years old by experience.

Do you provide for your baby or children a wide variety food? The baby and children really need the experience to eat a wide variety food for the formation of sense of taste.

If you provide the food that only children's favorite, your children's sense of taste will be limited. Aren't you relying too much on the formula milk in the case of little children meal? The formula milk includes only baby's favorite taste, and the formula milk is easy to provide perfect nutrition. However, the formula milk is not able to give to children the experience of variety taste. Please provide a wide variety food for your children and please supplement a deficient nutrition of meal with formula milk.

Also the meal for 6 years old or older, please provide a wide variety foods of course. Please guide them to become habitual to eat variety food  before the foundation of sense of taste that has been formed until 5 years old is firmed up.

Don't forget that your children's sense of taste are depending on parents.

(Last time, my husband pointed out many mistakes of my English. I would like to apologize about my English. I hope that you can understand what I want to say. I wish My English will become well through this blog.)

Today's Baon

・Yaki-udon 

・Boiled green beans mixed with ground sesame and sweet soy sauce
・Boiled egg
・Tomato  

A recipe of Tofu Nuggets

I will provide you healthy recipe of Tofu today.

Tofu Nuggets

《Ingredients》

＊Tofu Nuggets＊

• Tofu 500g

• Vegetables, as much as you want

( You can use any vegetables.  I used Carrot, Broccoli, Green bean, Onion leeks, and Corn this time. You should use Carrot and Onion leeks (or spring onion).)

• Salt 1/3 tea spoon

• Juice of ginger 1 tea spoon

＊Sauce (if needed)＊

• Salt 1/3 tea spoon

• Soy Sauce 2 tea spoons

• Water 2cups

• Corn starch  moderate amounts

It is yummy to eat with a "sweet and sour sauce" or "soy sauce and vinegar" also.

《Procedure》

1. Cut vegetables like picture below.

2. Put the vegetables and Tofu into a bowl, then mix well.

3. Put the ginger juice and salt in the bowl and mix well again.

4. Roll into small balls and flatten it.

5. Fry it until it turns golden and is crisp both side. (The tofu nuggets become more crispy to coat with flour before frying.)

6. All ingredients of sauce put into another pan, and heat to boil while stirring.

7. Mix the tofu nuggets and the sauce.

Try it!!

Today's Baon

• Rice balls with Furikake 

• Tofu Nuggets

• Boiled Okura mixed with mayonnaise 

• Corn and Tomato

Shokuiku at home

In previous blog 『My experience of Shokuiku 2』, I described that "The most important activity of Shokuiku is daily meal!! You can start your Shokuiku from today!!".

I would like to describe about Shokuiku at home in concrete terms.

1. Enjoy meal with the whole family

Do your family have a meal with whole family at least one meal/day? Do your family enjoy a meal with an amusing conversation? If children want to continue playing, you should not allow and please teach them an importance to have a meal with family.

2. Cooking with children

I cook with my son sometimes. He peel carrot, remove a strings from a green beans, mix an ingredient of cup cake etc. He has been interested in food through cooking. Enjoy cooking with your children♪

3. Eat all

Please teach your children to eat all food provided. Of course,except when their feeling is not good, we should avoid an over eating. If your children have a least favorite food (vegetables etc), please recommend to eat only 1 bite at first. Please show your eating that food with the word "yummy".

If they can overcome the least favorite food, they can eat a verity meals and enjoy eating more!!

Last year, I tried to overcome to eat a fresh coriander and succeeded! Now I really like to eat Asian food (Thai, Vietnam, etc). But I do not like a liver still now... Hehehe...

If you have a episode related to Shokuiku at home, shall we share for everyone?  How do you enjoy your meal with your children or grand children? If you have a question for Shokuiku, we should share also. Let me know about these by sending comment or E-mail.

E-mail address: linosbaon@gmail.com

Today's Baon

Sushi

• Tamago (rolled egg sushi)

• Boiled Carrot and Potato, mixed with a little bit curry powder and salt

• Seasoning ground chicken and boiled broccoli

My son likes Sushi and he requested Sushi for his lunch. Of course I can not put raw fish in lunch box, so I made this.

A tool for the preparation of lunch box 1

I have still have many experience of Shokuiku. But I will stop once about Shokuiku, I will describe about a tool for the preparation of lunch box.

At first, let see today's Baon.

Do you know what ingredient did I use for white bear's face? I think everyone may know, the black one is dried laver seaweed used for the Maki (a kind of sushi).

The dried laver seaweed is seat-like and you can cut to the desired shape. It is much useful ingredient for preparation of Japanese style lunch box. The dried laver seaweed belongs black ingredient that is one  of the important 5 colors of lunch box. When you cut it, please prepare dedicated  scissor for food.

My mother also provided me very cute lunch box and my most favorite lunch was rice balls of girl and boy faces. She cut the dried laver seaweed to make the parts of face (eyes, hair, nose,etc) .

After 30 years, now it is my turn to make lunch box, the preparation procedure is easier than 30 years ago. Because I have great tool! This is a picture of that tool. Do you know what are these?

These are cutter for the dried laver seaweed like hole puncher!!

I never seen this cutter here in Philippines, but you can cut by scissor, and you can buy the dried laver seaweed at the foreign country food corner of any supermarket. Let's try to make a cute rice ball! Probably your children will feel great joy !  

I have another tools for preparation of lunch box. I will describe about these someday.

My experience of Shokuiku 2

Following the last post, I will describe Shokuiku that I had experienced when my son was between the ages of six months from three years old.

Check up (at 6 and 10 months, 1 and 2 years old):

The municipality conducts these checks up (of course free). We have to fill out and submit the record of 1 day life style as same as 3 months check up. The health nurse checks a progress of stage of baby food and gives us a lot of helpful advices. The mothers taste next step baby food cooked by the nutritionist at 6 and 10 months check up, so the mothers can learn how to prepare the next stage baby food and the right amount of the next stage baby food. The nutritionist checks that nutrition valance (especially the consume of vegetables) of children’s meal at 1 and 2 years old check up. The children eat some dishes at front of nutritionist and they check that can the children eat by themselves at 2 years old check up.

Check up (3 years old):

The procedure of check up is same as 2 years old check up. In addition, the health nurses explain about digestion system for the children using big doll prepared for this activity. The children can put some imitated food (of course perfect nutrition valance) in doll's mouth. And the doll's tummy can open and show how long intestine is!! The 3 years old children are capable to understand the importance of eating by this activity.

At pre-school:

In Japan, majority of children whose parents both have job go to pre-school or day-care, to hire a babysitter is a rare case. My son had gone to pre-school at the age of 2.5 years old from 1 year old in Japan. In his pre-school, children experience the harvest of vegetables, they can eat while harvesting such as tomato and cucumber. They can enjoy a fresh taste.

The pre-school provides lunch for children and display it to show the parents, so we can easily check what children ate at lunch. They give us a menu of one month lunch that includes the ingredients of all meals and some recipes, so we can avoid providing same meal of lunch at dinner.

Did you take an interest in Shokuiku? Do you want teach Shokuiku for your children? It is easy! Because, most important activity of Shokuiku is daily meal!! You can start your Shokuiku from today!!

Today's Baon

• Sandwich (cheese, Scrambled egg, and Letus)

• Boiled broccoli, Tomato, and Orange

《Orange Cut》

1. Peal an Orange using knife.

2. Separate Orange into section .

Separated Oranges are beautiful and good for lunch box♪ Try it!!

My experience of Shokuiku 1 - During pregnancy to after 3 month of giving birth -

I would like describe my experience of Shokuiku during pregnancy to after 3 month of giving birth.
Yes, Shokuiku is not only for children. All generation people are target (before giving birth also !!) of Shokuiku.

During pregnancy: 

A hospital for purpose of giving birth or municipality conducts mother class. The mother class has at least 3 programs, instructor explains about good diets for pregnant women and good diets for breast feeding in the one of this program. They give us a booklet included these information.  

1 month check up of baby: 

One month check up is conducted at the hospital. Doctor and/or midwife provide advice to mother about breast feeding  and/or milk based on rate of weight increase of baby. 

Home visit by health nurse:
At municipality where I lived, the home visit by health nurse has been conducted. The health nurse checks body measurement of the baby and mother's daily meal. They also provide advice to mother about breast feeding  and/or milk and nutrition of mom's meal. 

3 months check up of baby: 

Three months check up is conducted by municipality. At first, every baby undergo clinical examination by Doctor. We must fill out and submit the record of 1 day life  (information of life cycle, the timing of the breast feeding (or milk), etc). The health nurse checks this record and provide us a lot of advice. The health nurse give us booklet about baby food. They explain how to start of baby food and the step of first stage of baby food. All mothers learn how to prepare the first stage of baby food in cooking practice by the nutritionist.  I received cooking tools of baby food (rice porridge) as a gift from municipality. 

How do you feel my experience? I could provide breast feeding and baby food for my children with  accurate and latest knowledge from Shokuiku. It was so helpful for me. 

Today's Baon

• Rice balls

• Gyoza

• Boiled Bok Choy and been sprout with soy sauce

• Tomato

• Orange

How to make the "Boiled Bok Choy and been sprout with soy sauce"

1. Boile Bok Choy and been sprout 1 minute.

2. Cut boiled Bok Choy into 1 to 2 cm.

3. Mix with 1/4 cube of Fish Broth Cubes (crush before mix), 2 to 3 tea spoons of soy sauce.

Try it!!

Shokuiku - Food and Nutrition education in Japan -

Have you ever heard the word "Shokuiku" ?

Shokuiku is Japanese and means food and nutrition education.

I have lived in Philippines for 1year 3 months. I am feeling poorly educated about food and nutrition in here Philippines.

The Basic Law on Shokuiku (food and nutrition education) came into force at 2005 in Japan. Japanese have undergone the food and nutrition education through Shokuiku project by government. I think Shokuiku is a great education and I really want to introduce the Shokuiku.

 Government of Japan (Office for Shokuiku Promotion Cabinet Office) published a booklet about Shokuiku in English to introduce this promotion. I attached a part of this booklet and here is URL of the booklet. 

http://www8.cao.go.jp/syokuiku/data/eng_pamph/index.html

I think the concept of Shokuiku is really needed for people all over the world. I hope you to feel empathy toward the Shokuiku and  I am grateful for sharing this article. 

I would like to publish my experience of Shokuiku in next blog.

What We Know From Shokuiku The Japanese Spirit

- Food and Nutrition Education in Japan -

There are a number of food, nutrition and health issues in Japan: lack of proper concern for food, an increase in irregular and nutritionally unbalanced meals, the rise in obesity and lifestyle-related diseases, excessive desire to be slim, especially among young females, a series of incidents related to food safety, over-dependence on food from abroad, and the loss of traditional food culture in this globalized world.

In response, the Shokuiku Basic Act was passed in 2005 to promote Shokuiku for all, throughout their lives to raise children and adults with adequate food and nutrition knowledge and food choice skills in order to practice healthy dietary habits. “Shokuiku” has long been accepted as a basis for intellectual, moral and physical education. The Shokuiku Promotion Basic Plan was implemented in 2006, by which various activities have been implemented not only by the national government, but also local govenments, schools, kindergartens, farmers and fishers, food industries, and other volunteer organizations, etc. School teachers, doctors, public health workers, and volunteers contributed to the activities as well.

As a result of these actions, the proportion of people who are interested in Shokuiku reached 70% or more, and the number of volunteers for Shokuiku increased to over 330,000 in 2009. For further promotion of Shokuiku in the world, communication with overseas countries would be productive. The purpose of this English booklet is to introduce our experiences of Shokuiku and some of its results to date. It would be helpful for other countries to know our activities, because food and health problems are shared throughout the world.

This brochure is written by well-respected experts on Shokuiku from various fields in Japan. We hope this booklet will help people inside and outside of Japan to get a better understanding of Japanese food culture. Last but not least, we appreciate Dr. Shaw Watanabe, a member of the Shokuiku Promotion Council, and those involved in producing this booklet.

Shokuiku Promotion Office
Cabinet Office, Government of Japan March 2010 

3 : 1 : 2

What do you think this number?

It is a ratio of good nutrition valance for a lunch box.

3 (50% of lunch box); Staple diet (Rice, bread, noodle, etc)

1 (less than 20% of lunch box); Main dishes (meat, fish, any protein)

2 (more than 30% of lunch box); Side dishes(vegetables, fruits, etc)

The ratio of good nutrition valance is not only for lunch box, it is also good for every meal. Please recall about your meal, how’s that for the nutrition valance of your meal? Do you consume enough vegetables? (A potato should not be count as a vegetable. I described about it in previous article " potato is vegetable?".)

The nutrition valance of your meal becomes better by recall this ratio at every meal.  

Today's Baon

• Fried rice (ground chicken, onion, carrot, green beans, garlic, and egg)
• Menudo (pork, carrot, potato, and raisin)
• Boiled broccoli
• Tomato

The nutrition valance of this lunch is perfect, isn't it?

Decoration cut of sausage

I think a lot of Japanese Mom tried the decoration cut of sausage at least once. Among many variations of the decoration cut of sausage, "Octopus", "Crab", and "Flower" are known well.
If you want to know more detail of the decoration cut of sausage, refer this URL (Japanese).
http://www.nipponham.co.jp/recipes/kazarigiri/
This is a HP of "Nippon Meat Packers, Inc" , one of the famouse manufacture of sausage in Japan.

I made "Crab shaped sausage" for today's lunch box.
I attached English version procedure " How to make the Crab shaped sausage" that has been prepared for my facebook in last part. Try it !!

―Today's Baon－

・Fried Rice ball

・Scrambled egg and boiled broccoli with mayonnaise

・Shredded potato, carrot, and cabbage salad (garlic and rosemary, olive oil, chicken consomme flavor)  

・Tomato

・Cheese

―　How to make the crab shaped sausage ―

Potato is vegetable?

The conversation of me and my friend at lunch time.

Me: What side dishes do you select?

My friend: Oh, I can select 2 side dishes! I select "mashed potato" and "macaroni salad".

Me: Really? It is not enough vegetable...

My friend: Why? I select "mashed potato" and the potato is vegetable right?

Yes, the potato is vegetable. However, potato's major source of nutrients is carbohydrate. So the potato should not be count as a vegetable.

Aren't you getting a little misconception ?

Color of lunch box 2

We attended a potluck party yesterday.

I made 2 pcs. Lasagna. And I made  Rice balls (flower and bear shaped) also because I heard that many children will attend the party.

Color of lunch box

In Japan, it is said that 5 colors are important and basic for preparation of lunch box.

Red: Tomato, Red pepper, Carrot, Bacon, Shrimp, Crab stick, Apple, Strawberry...

Yellow: Egg, Corn, Potato, Pumpkin, cheese, Orange...

Brown: Meat, Fish, Mushroom, Something fried, Something boiled with brown sauce...

Green: Broccoli, Spinach, Asparagus, Green beans, Cabbage, Lettuce, Chinese cabbage, Cucumber, Zucchini...

Black: Dried laver seaweed, Black beans, Black sesame...

Five colors are basic, but it is recommended that use the three colors of red, green, brown at least.

Of course, lunch box becomes colorful lunch box with using 5 colors (or 3 colors). The colorful lunch box will look delicious.

Most important thing is that the colorful lunch box is rich in nutrients and had balanced nutritional ingredients!!

Let's prepare colorful lunch box for your child!!

The first post

This blog will provide children's lunch of Japanese style for my son. Here are some sample pictures of my son's lunch. Are these interesting?
I would like to also provide information of children's food and nutrition, procedure of meal I cooked (not only Japanese food).

The "Baon" used for this blog's title is Tagalog (Filipino) and means "lunch box" in English.

I started to prepare lunch for my son from last June at here in Philippines.
I amazed that children's lunch in Philippines is not colorful and includes few vegetables. So, I started to upload the pictures of my son's lunch on FB.  And this blog is my new challenge of new year.

Please forgive my English for I'm still learning English...