As for dinner today..

 

I have prepared Buri Daikon and Petit Vert for the 'three' of us.

Buri is Japanese amberjack or yellowtail and I have also added in eggs into the mix to up on proteins. As for Petit Vert プチ ヴェール, it is a new type of vegetable we sampled in Takashimaya last weekend. It is supposed to be packed with vitamins and is a cross between the healthy kale and cabbage so it is very easy to eat and yummy too. By the way, since I got pregnant, I became a fan of kale juice (if you remember) and once in a while, I stir in a packet of kale I bought from Fancl into a drink. So far, I drink it neat but I can probably blend it with soya milk too but am too lazy. Oh, and I would take a picture of the food I cook but evenings are a super tight routine for me and I simply don't even have the time to snap a shot. Keina is especially cranky/fussy in the evenings so I wolf down my dinner and will rush to prepare the bathroom and bedroom for her bedtime routine. So far, I have managed to keep at the routine for more than a week and I can't tell if it is working yet but I guess it gives her some structure and something to look forward to. Once I bathed her too early and she seemed mad that the usual activities didn't follow and gave me a hard time. From the advice online and books, we have a warm shower, a quick massage (if she is not cranky), a Dr Seus book and then breastfeed her into dreamland hopefully. Of course, the end of her going into beauty sleep easily is always a hit and miss.

Anyway, I said I feed 3 of us cos that is what I always think about what I eat for Keina. I suspect some things in my diet do make her a bit gassy or fussy at times. Dairy products are usually the culprit and so far, I have absolutely stayed away from milk and caffeine. Chocolate is also a big sacrifice but I have sneaked in a nibble or two. 

My weekday lunches are very simple and I just make sure I have a meat, some dark green vegetables, maybe tomatoes/mushrooms with semi-polished rice. And I usually steam them together in a pot with some soya sauce or miso paste and then just pour over the rice. Dinners are a little bit more elaborate with 2-3 dishes but I really have to start brainstorming on the dish the night before and is hard sometimes cos my ingredients are a little limited. I have to work with whatever I'd bought as my week's worth of groceries in the fridge/freezer. Unfortunately, due to Keina's bedtime routine, I haven't had dinner on weekdays with Naoki in a long time. Weekends are good as we can share the load of carrying her as we eat. Which brings me to recall that I didn't blog about the balsamic vinegar pork chops I made for Valentine's! It was really easy and delicious. I used this recipe.

So you see, food is pretty much the only thing I look forward to every day. Once a week, I try to have at least 1 outing with Keina and I have dinner with the Aunt who lives nearby every Thur. It was much easier before as Keina was such a good girl but since she got bigger, she starts a crying fit if I weren't the one holding her so it gets a bit embarrassing. Gee, now I am thirsty. Going to get a drink. Ciao.