I live in a city prone to hurricanes. Considering relocation isn't an option, I could use some guidance on prepping for food and evacuation planning. I live alone in a 3rd floor apartment with strict rules against storing flammable items (butane cookers), and I can't drive or ride long due to a medical condition. I take local ride shares for transportation. My diet is pretty restricted—I can't have gluten, sugar, processed stuff, or canned/dried foods because of allergies and histamine intolerance. My diet consists of cooking all meals - mostly rice, buckwheat, fresh & frozen produce, meat, legumes & beans. I've taken care of the essentials: I've got a military-grade 5 gallon water storage, a Styrofoam cooler, a mini freezer, LED lights, spare batteries, and small battery banks for my phone. Plus, I've prepped for health, safety, and finances. Any tips on what foods to stock up on and how to cook them, plus any advice on evacuation planning, would be a huge help. And if you know any cooking methods that won't break the apartment rules, or any community resources I should check out, I'm all ears!

When it comes to food, I am hopeless. I love cooking, I’m good at cooking, but in every other department, I’m falling short. I am bad at grocery shopping because I let stuff spoil, so I tend to only buy stuff that lasts for months. I don’t typically feel hungry until 3-4pm or later because of the adderall. I do take my meds with a protein shake in the morning, so at least there is that.
Otherwise, I am a snacker, and most of it is carbs. Pasta, Mac n cheese, rice, stuff that is easy to make. I have to be in the mood to cook, and usually when I’m finally hungry by dinner time, I’m also exhausted. If I buy healthy food it goes bad because I really have to be in the mood to eat it, or else it makes me feel nauseous. I can’t meal prep or plan out meals for the same reason. Since I often don’t have viable groceries, I find myself getting carry out a lot.
I’m just sick of feeling so unhealthy, my stomach hurts all the time, I absolutely need more fiber in my diet. It just feels like an impossible struggle for me to win, I have not been able to think of a good solution. Not to mention the insane cost of most food right now, because ya girl is broke.

Trauma? “I’m sorry” and “love” mean nothing to me.
When I was younger my parents we’re together but only for us, my dad was normally working and my mom had a job but was also a stay at home mom, he cheated on her with woman way older than her… (drug addicts aswell) he’s 32 ish years older than her. Growing up my mom would do everything. Clean,cook,work laundry, mow the lawn, garden, etc. my dad would only work and watch us sometimes… he was away a lot because his job needed him to be in different states and cities for the job. Anytime he would be home though we would get disciplined and whooped, on school nights if we were “bad” we would have to stand in the corner until he felt like we deserved to go to sleep for school in the morning, on one of those school days he had us on our knees on rice. My mom caught my dad cheating so she got really upset and was screaming and him (alot) and he punched her in the face and beat her infront of all of me and my little siblings and we tore his shirt trying to pull him off of her we were like (8-10), she had blood everywhere, he proceeded to pick her up, put her in the bath tub, and started washing off the blood that was on her body and I was listening to him tell her how sorry he was and that he’d never do it again, he got her out of the bathroom and took her straight into their bedroom, we didn’t get to say goodnight to her or anything after that tragic situation, he took her to the room and they had sex, I definitely knew what they were doing, so many other times my mom would be sleeping and my dad would be having sex with her and we’d walk in and get yelled at.. yes sleeping she was raising 4 kids by herself with another parent present… but he was only ever present to discipline us. I’m bringing this up because someone keeps saying sorry to me and I take that from anyone with a grain of salt and it has me thinking about my childhood and hearing the words “I’m sorry” from my dad while his actions never changed, aswell as love. Anytime someone says they love me I just say it back because I feel nothing when that word is on my mind, I ask myself all the time how do I love someone? What is love? It’s very cringey but I actually feel no emotion when it comes to the word love, which makes me question why I hate when people say sorry to me even when I expect it. So much more but I’d have to write a book, I haven’t gotten a therapist yet because I don’t think anyone wants to even get paid to hear this bs of a life. (I don’t go to therapy because the idea of talking to someone face to face about something I will never be able to forget about no matter how many obstacles I’ve overcome is more scary then soothing.) I also cry when talking about childhood because I look back and see how much me and my siblings deserved better people and influences in that period. Can someone explain to me why I feel like when people say “I’m sorry” it means nothing but a waste of breathe… maybe why I’m okay with apologizing to people I don’t like because I’m not actually sorry?

I have been eating a good amount of junk food for the last year. Sometimes I do really good with eating healthy, but I always end up going back to eating unhealthy because I'm never satisfied after I eat. I'm sad to say that I can easily eat a whole chocolate bar or a whole sleve of biscoff cookies. Now that being said, I'm not overweight. I burn an average of 1,500+ calories a day from walking at work. If I eat stir fry (with veggies and tofu) cooked in olive oil with rice, it doesn't fill me up. Even sometimes advocado toast isn't enough to hold me over for more than two hours. When I ssy that I'm not satisfied, I'm not eating out of boredom, i'm genuienly hungry. Even if I eat 3 healthy meals a day. I drink a good amount of water so I don't feel like it's from beong dehydrated. I'm also on zoloft if it matters.

A little background: I had to give up gluten last year August. And since then I have accidentally ingested gluten twice. It made me sick for about a week and a half. And by sick I mean fever and threw my lady hormones off for 2-3 weeks.
Throughout the time I have been avoiding gluten, I continued to consume things like rice, grits, oats, and gluten free pasta/noodles, etc. Never had a problem. I stopped eating grains at the beginning of February and began my 40 day water fast at around the first week of March of this year. I broke my fast and stupidly ate some rice on day 3 and 4 of re-feeding. It didn’t catch up with me until around re-feed day 5. I was sick for about 48 hours. I assumed I ate too much and I had an electrolyte imbalance. I laid off grains for another 2-3 weeks but rice is my weakness and I wanted to see how my body reacted with weight gain if I ate the amount of rice I wanted to within reason. I ate rice and grits in different meals, days apart, and with both I ate plenty of protein and what I thought was enough fiber. On both occasions, my intestines felt like they were boring a hole through my flesh. A river of hot magma in my stomach. This sensation persisted for 24 hours and the feeling of indigestion for 24 hours more.
I adjusted the amount of rice I eat to less than half a cup cooked rice and my stomach was fine. I have since experimented with an increased amount of rice but I make sure I eat a good amount of beans with it. Black, red, pinto, etc. Stomach felt fine. I was a bit too full, but that’s it. Full, not bloated.
Maybe, I just re-fed grains waaaaaay too soon. But I have considered the fact that legumes have a 2nd and 3rd meal effect. I won’t go into detail, but from my understanding, legumes create an effect in humans like a cow or goat’s cud, if you’re familiar. So I’ve been making sure to have some beans daily so I can enjoy grains before this next prolonged fast. Because after I break this next prolonged fast, I’m laying off grains for at least another year.
Does anyone share a similar experience? I’m not ruling out that the grains may have been cross contaminated with wheat and I also plan on cross-posting this to one of the gluten free subs, but I just wanted to see if anyone here had something similar occur with the added knowledge of fasting. Any foods you seemingly didn’t have any problems with before a prolonged fast and now you do?
Thanks in advance for your non judgmental input. 😊

I don't know where else to post this.
Its just regular long grain brown rice. Total ripoff! Just bought it at my local Indian grocery in Coastal GA. I don't know if this is a known issue or if it was a mixup at the facility this one time. But for comparison i bought Laxmi brand brown basmati before, and still had some left. Comparing the two even looking at it uncooked, yeah. It's not the same at all. There's no fragrance in the DEEP brand after cooking either.
Buyer beware!

Hi,
Heads up - this is going to be a long post. I am posting for those that have followed my situation as well as any newbies that pop up. I am NOT insinuating that what is working for me will work for others - but I am posting in hopes that others can glean nuggets from my story that might help them. (which is what I did to get to this point!)
Also, I wanted to show how critical trial and error is when it comes to this nasty disorder.
My LPR started a week out from a major surgery that required the use of both narcotics and extensive muscle relaxers. I woke up one night with stridor that had me googling like crazy. LPR and stridor were linked closely together. I vaguely remember it dissipating for a while, but I was also loaded on so many drugs that I can't say for sure.
Over the course of my surgical recovery, I would get distinct LPR / pepsin gurgles in my throat. These often woke me up or wouldn't allow me to sleep. It was getting annoying.
I turned to reddit and started doing some of the common anecdotal stuff - alginate therapy + high dose PPI's. Neither did a thing for me at that time. (alginate therapy still barely does, but I still take it) I rotated PPI's and tried H2 blockers. I remained on the PPI for about 2 months, saw no difference and weaned myself off. The pepsin throat gurgles were inconvenient but they didn't feel life destroying at that time. It should also be noted that I was unable to change my diet at that time - I could barely walk, much less get to the grocery store and cook in my kitchen. I am a healthy eater, but definitely wasn't a low acid diet.
So I'm getting closer to healed from my surgery and suddenly I notice that I have a major bloated belly going on. I was also having crazy blood sugar crashes. I had just spent the last year in recovery trying to lose the surgery weight, so I was doing a lot of intermittent fasting. I have had SIBO previously and probably should have made the connection in my head, but I was focused on the blood sugar issue. I had weaned off of metformin before surgery and was now convinced my pre-diabetes was rearing its head. (Spoiler alert - I was wrong)
I start taking metformin again and immediately had severe stomach issues - even on a low dose. The bloating was intense but I kept thinking I would adjust. I had used the medication previously for a good year or so, so I assumed it was still okay. (Spoiler alert- it was not) It felt like my entire GI system came to a halt. No stomach gurgles, no motility, etc etc.
After about two weeks of this, it was like a dam broke inside of me. Suddenly in addition to the constant throat gurgling, I was having what I now know to be "water brash." It would only happen as I was falling asleep but literally happened all night long. I remember going 2-3 nights without any sleep at all because as soon as I was drifting off I would get that horrible rush in my throat.
I immediately started the low acid diet - going as hardcore as possible. I have had gastritis previously so I knew the drill. Plain baked chicken. Plain rice. Sweet potatoes, etc. I also elevated my head and bought a crazy expensive wedge pillow to see if it would help - it did not. In fact, even if I were sleeping completely upright it would happen. I immediately began to lose my mind.
I started taking medication to sleep at night just to get some sleep - but then had to deal with the groggy after effects every day. It was crushing me. (Keep in mind, the brash happens every time I start to nod off. This includes when I would take naps.)
I go to the Doctor and get an endoscopy done. (Nothing found) They prescribe PPI's - I am desperate. I try them again. My constipation gets immediately worse as does the bloating. I continue to lose my mind.
Eventually I wean off the PPIs and try HCL - that was a no-go. But at least I knew it wasn't low acid that was the problem! From there, I try famotidine again. (H2 blocker) While the water brash remains consistently bad, I notice that the pepsin related throat gurgles die down. I up the dose to twice a day - but after about 3 days it immediately begins to become ineffective.
Around this time, I start a very simple SIBO treatment. I was resistant to the idea that I had it again. I had been through that insanity before and was in no way ready to spend the money and energy on it. I went with Vital Planet's detox kit. I had considered it too "non-specific" the last time i had SIBO, but this time around I went with it. I also found some ethromyocin in my cabinet from my dog who has since passed. It is known to be used off label to stimulate the GI tract - perfect! I assume I found my cure. (Spoiler - I was wrong, although it did help!)
Meanwhile, I do more research. I try a different H2 blocker. (Cimetidine) I notice the throat gurgles and zaps at night are diminished.
I also discover that hyper salivation is a symptom of seasonal allergies. (This was also compounded into the problem. I was never able to discern if it was the water brash causing the hypersalivation or the other way around) I reluctantly start treating my allergies again. Hypersalivation magically goes away. (for the most part)
By this point, I know that i most likely have a leaky valve issue. I'm guessing the muscle relaxers started it and then the bloating from metformin exacerbated it. I'm praying inside that it's fixable without surgical intervention. I start doing every LES / UES strengthening exercise I could think of. (even weird shit! Like eating bent over)
I research some more. Apparently magnesium can help LPR. Something to do with it helping the pyloric sphincter opening up. Suddenly this makes sense to me. I typically never liked mag because it always gave me headaches. I am now so desperate that I no longer care.
This brings me to today. I still have water brash. I am still on a low acid diet. HOWEVER - knock on wood, the symptoms are sloooowly getting better. (Remember, all the literature states that LPR can require a long time to heal and symptomatic relief can lag.)
I can nod off here or there and have no water brash at all! Yesterday, I caved and wanted to celebrate so I ordered a bunch of carrot cake muffins. While I could tell my acid increased a little, it didn't throw me into a crazy wild flare like it would have previously. (When it was really bad, the brash would rise up even as I was awake!)
I also noticed this morning that as I was lying there, I felt a little brash rising up but this time I was able to swallow it down before it hit my actual throat. (I'm guessing that is thanks to the UES strengthening exercises)
I am no where near out of the woods - especially if the efficacy of the cimetidine begins to wear off again. However, this was the first morning where I woke up feeling / knowing that I was making progress. I was getting closer to relief.
Knock on wood it continues for me! If you read this far, thank you. As I mentioned, my intention is to try and help someone else that is navigating this awful thing.
TLDR: tried a bunch of stuff, several times, and some of it appears to be working

Traditional Spanish cuisine is rich and diverse, reflecting the country's varied geography and cultural history. Here are some iconic dishes that define Spanish culinary tradition:
Paella:
Origin: Valencia
Description: A flavorful rice dish cooked in a wide, shallow pan, typically featuring saffron, vegetables, and a variety of proteins like chicken, rabbit, and seafood.
Tapas:
Description: Small savory dishes often served as appetizers or snacks. Common examples include patatas bravas (fried potatoes with a spicy tomato sauce), gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp), and jamón ibérico (cured Iberian ham).
Gazpacho:
Origin: Andalusia
Description: A cold tomato-based soup blended with cucumbers, peppers, onions, garlic, and olive oil. It's especially popular in the hot summer months.
Tortilla Española:
Description: A thick omelet made with eggs, potatoes, and onions, sometimes enhanced with chorizo or other ingredients. It's typically served at room temperature and can be found in tapas bars and homes across Spain.
Churros con Chocolate:
Description: Deep-fried dough pastries dusted with sugar, served with a thick, rich hot chocolate for dipping. This is a popular breakfast or snack item.
Pimientos de Padrón:
Origin: Galicia
Description: Small green peppers fried in olive oil and sprinkled with coarse salt. Most are mild, but occasionally one is quite spicy, making for an exciting eating experience.
Cocido:
Description: A traditional hearty stew consisting of various types of meat (typically including pork, chicken, and beef), chickpeas, and vegetables. It's often served in multiple courses.
Pulpo a la Gallega (Polbo á Feira):
Origin: Galicia
Description: Boiled octopus served on a wooden platter, drizzled with olive oil, and sprinkled with paprika and coarse sea salt. It's often accompanied by potatoes.
Fabada Asturiana:
Origin: Asturias
Description: A rich bean stew made with large white beans, chorizo, morcilla (blood sausage), and pork. It's a comforting dish, particularly in the colder months.
Bocadillos:
Description: Spanish sandwiches are typically made with crusty bread and filled with a variety of ingredients, such as cured meats, cheeses, and tortilla española.
These dishes reflect Spain's regional diversity, utilizing fresh, local ingredients and traditional cooking methods that have been passed down through generations. Whether enjoyed in a bustling city or a quiet village, traditional Spanish food offers a delicious glimpse into the country's vibrant culinary heritage.

Hello! I have been following this sub for a while but this is my first time interacting with it.
I’m thinking about joining you guys to balance out my nutrition and improve energy. I do have a few questions though.

1. Is the point of this just to eat Whole Foods instead of processed foods? I know it’s called “animal” based but a lot of people seem to include fruit and veggies, and a carb source such as rice or potatoes in their posts.
   
2. Does method of cooking affect healthiness? For example, is it bad to eat meat that was cooked on a charcoal kettle grill once or twice a week? I hear charcoal cooking can increase odds of cancer. Is it better to use a gas grill or air fryer instead?
   
3. My current situation has me eating only one meal a day as well as a snack here and there. I have a job that begins very early morning (5AM) and ends in the early afternoon. I tend to not eat breakfast so I can maximize sleep, and I also don’t pack a lunch. I’ll normally just eat one huge meal after work and call it a day. Is this sustainable with wanting to build muscle? Any good snack ideas or breakfast ideas that might be compatible with this lifestyle?
   

Thank you!

• Fungal infested Icecream (88 Lt) worth of Rs. 39,600/- and rotten eggs stored in the refrigerator were discarded.
  
• Synthetic Food Colours are used in Food Preparation.
  
• Biryani (8kg), Mandi Rice (10kg), Synthetic Food colour Lemon Yellow (0.5kg) was discarded.
  
• Improper storage of semi-prepared and raw food articles in refridgerator. Temperature not maintained.
  
• Food handlers found without Haircaps, Gloves and Aprons.
  
• Medical fitness certificates for food handlers and pest control records not found with the FBO.
  
• Water analysis report not available with FBO for RO water used for cooking and drinking.
  
• The Kitchen premises found open to outside environment without proper mesh/ barrier to avoid entry of pests or flies and Dustbins found open without lids.
  

Source: https://x.com/cfs_telangana/status/1795332064507752504

What's your favorite Thanksgiving food? For many people, it's the turkey, and that's understandable. But if you're looking to mix things up and try something new.
So, consider some of these options of Thanksgiving foods that start with S. They might be your new favorites.

Sauerkraut

True to its German heritage, Sauerkraut is salty and tangy (or sour, if you prefer). It has a pleasant crunch that makes it an excellent addition to any meal.
However, Try adding some sauerkraut to your turkey sandwich or tossing it into your favorite chicken soup recipe. Making your Sauerkraut for Thanksgiving foods that start with S is simple and inexpensive.
So, clean a head of cabbage, chop it finely and place it in an airtight container with salt. Add additional salt over time, and you'll have delicious homemade Sauerkraut within two weeks.

Sausage

The only thing better than roasted turkey on Thanksgiving is sausage. While burning a turkey, whip up some Italian-style links and stuff them with your favorite cheeses. Stuffing is critical to delicious thanksgiving food that starts with s.
In addition, cheese, chestnuts, and sage are a winning combination. Suppose you prefer your stuffing sweeter than savory.
Mix apples and dried cranberries into your bread dough, then bake into one side of a dinner roll. The apples are an addition because they add some natural sweetness to balance out any spiciness in your sausage.

Spinach

Spinach is one of those holiday foods that no one ever seems to get sick of. In addition to being easy on your wallet, it's also easy on your time. Unlike most leafy greens, spinach only takes 10 minutes to cook.
In addition, throw it in with some lemon juice and olive oil, and you're good to go. Spinach is a great side dish for any meal, especially on a turkey day.
However, it goes well with potatoes (especially mashed) and cranberry sauce. This part of Thanksgiving, foods that start with S tastes excellent when combined with foods like; cheese or eggs.
However, if you want to make a tasty breakfast casserole, try mixing eggs and bacon. Whatever way you choose to eat it, there's no denying that spinach tastes delicious.

Sage

The herb sage has an earthy and woodsy flavor that pairs well with many Thanksgiving dishes. Turkey, stuffing, potatoes, and cranberry sauce all taste better with some sage added in.
It's easy to forget about herbs when planning your holiday "thanksgiving foods that start with s" menu. But, never let them slip by remembering to add some sage to your table. Sage is also great with poultry, pork, and chicken dishes.

Scalloped Potatoes

Scalloped potatoes are delicious Thanksgiving foods that start with S and can be used as a meal. However, some families like to make scalloped potatoes more of a main dish and incorporate ham and cheese.
Scalloped potatoes taste great in any form but are careful with your portion because they can get very fattening quickly.
Furthermore, one good thing about scalloped potatoes is that they are easy to make. So, you don't have to worry about spending hours slaving over a hot stove for your family holiday meal.
There are many ways to incorporate other ingredients into scalloped potatoes, such as onions, peppers, or bacon bits.

Squash

If you're craving something sweet but without all of that sugar, there's a good chance your taste buds will appreciate squash. It tastes similar to pumpkin pie but without that sentimental feeling.
Moreover, there are different types of squash, including acorn and spaghetti squash. We can't dislike pumpkin pie, and it might be time to opt for its more straightforward to eat cousin: acorn squash. It is simple to cook (just cut in half and roast it).
However, squash is part of Thanksgiving foods that start with S. It has a sweeter flavor with less of that earthy pumpkin flavor many people don't like.

Strawberries

Look no further than strawberries if you're looking for delicious, antioxidant-rich fruits to kick off your family dinner. Strawberries are a delightful addition to any holiday menu, loaded with vitamin C and fiber.
Opt for fresh berries if you can—they taste better than frozen or dried options. So, enjoy them with a dash of sugar on top and whipped cream as a side dish alongside ham/ turkey.
Moreover, if guests prefer tart cranberries over sweet desserts, consider serving these berries as part of an appetizer spread with other seasonal favorites like cantaloupe and honeydew melon balls. In either case, they'll be your guests' first pick at dessert time of Thanksgiving foods that start with S.

Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes should be your first stop if you're looking for a healthy side dish that tastes great too. They are packed with fiber and nutrients such as vitamin C, beta-carotene, manganese, and B vitamins.

Scallion

There's nothing better than a perfectly cooked scallion. Add to rice, use it as a garnish for soups and stews, or sauté it for use in fried rice.
However, scallions are flavorful and delicious with just about any meal. Make sure not to overcook them; they become tough and not as lovely as thanksgiving foods that start with S.
So, cooking them over medium heat with a splash of oil is all needed for perfect results. When serving scallions on an appetizer platter, slice them into circles rather than rings (they look fancier that way).

Stuffed Peppers

The delicious Thanksgiving food dish that starts with S has been around for a long time. There are several varieties of stuffed peppers, and most people prefer to use green bell peppers.
Moreover, this is what we're going to focus on here. These peppers are stuffed with ground beef mixed with chopped onions, cheese, bread crumbs, and parsley.
The mixture is poured into peppers that have been sliced in half lengthwise and baked until tender. You can add some chopped carrots or potatoes to make it more interesting. Don't forget dessert; sliced apples sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and served over ice cream are always a treat.

Stuffing

If you're looking for a great Thanksgiving side dish, try stuffing. Stuffing recipes can range from sweet to savory, depending on your tastes.
Although, in general, they're loaded with savory ingredients like herbs and veggies that add tons of flavor to your meal. Plus, stuffing has been part of thanksgiving foods that start with S classic for ages.
So, starting with one of these recipes is a good idea. Each is unique and delicious—we guarantee your family will love them all!

Succotash

There's nothing quite like succotash and getting it for thanksgiving foods that start with S for the guest—often made with limas, butter beans, corn, and other veggies.
Moreso, it combines a variety of textures and tastes. It also provides colors—to create an eye-pleasing medley of flavors that won't disappoint.
It's guaranteed that everyone at your dinner table will love it (if they don't, they won't hate it). Make sure you have enough, though. No one wants to go into Thanksgiving day starving!

Salmon

To get a tasty/ healthy meal of thanksgiving foods that start with S and are low in calories, try 'salmon.' This fish is high in omega-3 fatty acids, which helps your body burn fat more efficiently.
A study from Harvard University found that by increasing your omega-3 intake. You can lose two pounds every three months without changing how much you eat or your exercise habits. On top of being delicious, there are plenty of ways to cook salmon so that it won't be boring.
However, try grilling as an alternative to frying if you like to use oil when cooking. Baking or broiling with herbs also allows for different flavor profiles depending on what spices you add.

Salad

Everyone knows that eating vegetables is a good idea, and no one understands it better than vegans. Salads are easy to throw together, especially in vegan form, with staples like lettuce and tomatoes.
Salads are one of the thanksgiving foods that start with S and can be made of almost anything. Don't just look at salad ingredients like leafy greens; try some savory items to spice things up.
However, don't overdo it—all that healthy stuff doesn't mean you can eat as much as you'd like. Excess calories on top of an already nutritious meal can add up. Make sure you stick with healthy portions and don't overeat.

Sake

Suppose you're looking for a great complement to turkey and stuffing or want to try something new. Sake is a safe bet among the Thanksgiving foods that start with S. It's made from fermented rice, and sake has a slightly sweet flavor and can be served either hot or cold.
However, If you're going to have alcohol on Turkey Day, stick with wine or champagne. Liquor will give you less satiety and will cause your blood sugar levels to spike dramatically.

Saffron

There's a reason saffron is one of the most expensive spices. A little goes a long way, but it adds an incredible depth of flavor to dishes like rice and paella. It also tastes great with turkey, either used as part of a spice rub or sprinkled on your stuffing.
Also, saffron loses its flavor as the best thanksgiving foods that start with S when cooked for too long. However, add to dishes at least 10 minutes before serving time for best results.
However, store saffron in airtight containers away from heat and light. If possible, use new threads rather than powdered saffron or saffron that's been sitting around for years.

Sardines

Spices, stuffing, and sweet potatoes are all common Thanksgiving foods that start with S. One seafood option that's equally as traditional is sardines. This tasty little fish is packed with omega-3 fatty acids, lowering blood pressure and reducing heart disease risk.
However, If you're still not convinced to give sardines a try, then we have another motivation, they taste delicious. (They're also convenient to keep on hand because they can last up to two years).
To make sure you make them appropriately for your holiday feast, follow these simple instructions for sardine preparation.

Sandwich

Once you've got a festive, fall-flavored sandwich on your plate, top it off with a dessert that will make any sweet tooth smile. Satisfy those cravings for something sweet and pumpkin-y with these mouthwatering recipes.
However, whether you have them for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, select from three categories of tasty Thanksgiving foods that start with S: salads, sides, and desserts.

Spatchcock

This one is delicious, but if you want to make it easy during preparation, always get an instant pot. There's something about enjoying chicken immediately out of the oven (or crockpot) that makes it taste much better.
Although maybe it's all in my head, it tastes better for Thanksgiving foods that start with S anyway. If you choose traditional cooking methods, here's how to spatchcock a turkey or any other bird.
Moreso, After removing all giblets and neck from inside the cavity. Use poultry shears or sharp kitchen scissors to cut along both sides of the backbone; discard the backbone. Flatten breastbone with a meat mallet or rolling pin; trim away rib cage and extra skin.

Schnitzel

If you're looking for tasty Thanksgiving foods that start with S. An economical dish to make for the next family get-together, look no further than schnitzel.
Moreover, schnitzel is a traditional meat dish that is often breaded and pan-fried. Serve it with fresh veggies or potatoes and gravy on the side.
Another benefit of schnitzel is that It can be prepared in advance. You can make a big batch ahead of time and freeze some to have on hand when you need them. Furthermore, leftovers can be reheated in a skillet or oven before serving time.

Shallots

Delicious Thanksgiving foods that start with s include shallots. Shallots are one of my favorite ingredients to work with if you are not familiar with shallots.
Although they can be a bit tricky to find, once you do, they're a great addition to many dishes. They add tons of flavor and nutrition and are delicious in practically anything savory. My favorite recipe: Pan-Roasted Chicken Breast Stuffed with Shallots and Fontina Cheese.

Soup

Even though it's technically a starter, soup is delicious and filling enough to be the main course. Try starting your Thanksgiving foods that begin with S dinner, with creamy potato soup or tomato bisque.
Perhaps split between two different kinds of soup. Just don't forget to make room for all those other delicious Thanksgiving foods that start with S.
Conclusion
The 22 best Thanksgiving foods that start with S are merely a holiday starter list. However, It might be time for the new best Thanksgiving food.

Especially in the popular & fancy ones. The other day I ordered a Nasi Goreng Daging Kicap at an ordinary Siamese restaurant, the place was packed though. When I received the dish in such a short time, I noticed that the rice coloring was something that you see like in nasi tomato. It didn't have that wok hei, the taste was a bit bland and it felt like it was scooped from a rice cooker or something.
Don't tell me they just mix the nasi goreng seasonings into a huge portion of rice, then cook it in a rice cooker to save time and energy & then call it a day. If that's the case, then what's the point of calling it Nasi Goreng? It defeats the whole purpose.

I have many Taiwanese cookbooks already, and I have spent a long time searching on the internet for more Taiwanese recipes. But even though I am a pretty good cook, it just does not taste as good. One of my favorites is a teahouse in Maokong that made tea fried rice and braised eggplant. Both these dishes were so flavorful, and even if I follow another recipe perfectly there is still some difference in flavor.
What are some of the BEST Traditional Taiwanese Cookbooks out there? Even if they are in Traditional Mandarin, I am very desperate for some deeper-level flavor here.
I imagine it starts with the ingredients too so if there's some Taiwanese-specific ingredient brands that are highly recommended (such as Taiwanese soy sauce, shiaoxing wine, vinegar, oyster sauce, etc.) then please let me know!
Thanks Reddit!

It's that dreaded weather again, the sun seems to have someone pissing in his cereal these past few weeks, must be the moon. Outside is like a lower level of hell, scorching heat is covering every plane, ever inch of the city. You can't go outside without feeling your heart speeding up or your brain turning into over cooked rice. It's summer and I'm mourning the loss of freedom of movement I had in winter. I'm stuck in the same tiny room as 4 other people, 4 tables, 2 floor mattresses and a bed. My brain feels as cluttered as this room is.
I feel like something in me will burst any time, lathering every near surface with a thick neon pink goo.
I can't go outside, I can't go to another room without sweating like a pig, I'm stuck in the same room as 4 other people who've never thought of making their space clean. There's no library,no cafe ,no public space for me to escape this house and that damned heat.
I'm sick of this house, I want to put it on fire the moment I decide to leave and never return
Then I wonder why I've not been learning, reading or making art since years. Why I've wasted years of summer not doing a single thing Yeah because I can barely fking breathe for like 9 months, winter comes and goes with a blink, autumn and spring have left long time ago.

Chicken Biryani

Leave a Comment / Uncategorized / By Sanjay

Chicken Biryani Delights: Spice Up Your Meal

With is flavorful spicy and soft meat is considered to the pinnacle of Indian cooking. This aromatic meal has won over the hearts and palates of foodies everywhere with its layers of juicy chicken and a symphony of spices over fragrant basmati rice. We explore the fascinating history, mouthwatering flavors, and gastronomic secrets of chicken biryani in this culinary adventure, uncovering the explanations for its enduring popularity as a comfort food staple for millions of people.
http://hahachickenz.infinityfreeapp.com /http://hahachickenz.infinityfreeapp.com/

A Culinary Heritage:

Chicken biryani history dates back hundreds of years to India’s royal kitchens, where it was cooked as a sumptuous meal for kings and nobility.
The Mughal emperors imported the technique of cooking rice with meat and spices from Persia to the Indian subcontinent.
which led to the development of this royal cuisine.
In the course of time and biryani earned a reputation as a dish that is loved by, all ages and grew to be associated.
With festivities and festivals, and special occasions.

Chicken Biryani The Art of Making Biryani:

• Carefully crafted preparation is the foundation of chicken biryani.

Every element is done from the chicken marinating in a fragrant mixture of spices. A symphony of aromas and textures that entice the senses and create a memorable taste is the end product.
To become a great biryani makerand you need to have patience, talent and a thorough understanding of the complex.
Spice balance that makes this dish so delicious.

Regional Variations:

• Hyderabadi biryani
• chicken biryani
  
• The Indian home to a plethora of regional variations for chicken biryani, which is one of its most noteworthy features.
  
• Each region puts its own distinct spin on this age-old staple, from the spicy Hyderabadi biryani
  
• Loaded with powerful spices and served with sour mirchi ka salan, to the fragrant Lucknowi biryani,
  
• Enhanced with saffron and topped with fried onions and mint. Every palette can find a chicken variant they enjoy, whether they lean toward the bold flavors.
  
• The North or the delicate undertones of the South.
  

Chicken Biryani A Spectacular Experience:

Savoring a hot plate of chicken is like having a feast for the senses. Every part of eating biryani is a sensory feast:

• the sound of sizzling as you reveal layers of flavor, the sight of golden chicken pieces nestled amid grains of fragrant rice soaked with saffron, and the perfume of spices combining with fragrant rice.
• when eaten with crisp papad and tart pickle or with refreshing raita.

The Ideal Combination of Taste and Texture:

The ideal combination of taste and texture in chicken biryani is what distinguishes it from other rice meals. A harmonious blend of flavors – mildly sweet, salty, and spicy – is present in every bite, counterbalanced by the rich, fragrant rice and the soft, succulent chicken,from the softness of the rice to the crunch of fried onions and the blast of flavor from entire spices.

Health Benefits of Chicken Biryani:

• Although it is definitely a decadent dish and cooked in moderation.
• with healthy ingredients and chicken biryani has a number of health advantages.
• While the spices that are frequently used in biryani
• including turmeric
• cumin
• coriander.
• In addition of complex carbohydrates in basmati rice support healthy digestion and give long-lasting energy.
• You may enjoy the flavor of chicken and provide your body with necessary nutrients by including it in a balanced diet.

In summary:

To sum up, chicken biryani is honors the vivid tastes and rich history of Indian cuisine not just a meal. Around the world, biryani has won over the hearts and palates of foodies with its myriad regional variations and regal beginnings. As a representation of luxury, festivity, and culinary brilliance. Why then wait? Serve yourself a warm platter of to add some spice to your meal and witness the miracle for yourself.Chicken Biryani
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What makes cooking difficult for me right now is not being able to afford meat in my grocery budget. I’m a little picky too but I have overcome a few foods I previously refused to eat. I’m also not very experienced with cooking either but I can follow a recipe of course.
Now, I have made meals that include rice, eggs and veggies, but honestly I just don’t feel full, that’s my issue. I don’t know if I’m just that used to having a side of meat with my food. Perhaps I can consider deli meats and sausages to add a little more to the dishes?
Veggies I have used are carrots, potatoes, long beans, broccoli, cauliflower & asparagus.
I also like kimchi and the sort.
I’m also lactose intolerant with the worst impact coming from butter (sadly), then of course yoghurts, cheese, milk and cream are out of the picture.
I am allergic to mushrooms and I don’t like beans.
Feel free to ask questions 🥹

Hello,
I have a Tefal One Pot and want to cook small chicken pieces (like 20 grams each) and then very briefly sautee them in a Wok for a Chinese style fried rice.
What pressure level and duration I need considering that the pot needs like 8 minutes to reach it's initial pressure and that those are not whole chicken breasts, but tiny pieces?
Do I need to velvet them or since they won't go through much frying it's not needed?
How much water I need to place inside the pot? What I've noticed is that if I place 2 cups when the chicken is done around 1.5-2 cups of water are still inside. I don't like the taste of boiled chicken, as it's far different that that of fried/sauteed chicken, so I suppose I can try with using only 1 cup of water?
What is the minimum amount of water to use if 2 cups are making it boil instead of cook? Can I try with half a cup or it might be dangerous? Keep in mind that the pot is 6 liters spacious and most recipes are intended for 4 people and not just me.

Warning
Hello, I just want to preface a warning before I share my story and the things I've done to get me to this point in my journey. The symptoms that I have and the things I've done may not give you the same outcomes as I have as we are all different people with different symptoms, and different severities of our LPGERD, but I definitely have been wanting to share my findings in hopes to the people who feel lost and depressed to a path that may be successful for them as well.
My Story
I didn't know it at the time, but as a 21 year old, my first encounter that is very bright in my mind about my first occurrence with LPR definitely happened when I was 14/15. It first started with a lump in my throat that I noticed one day. This led to anxiety in my young mind that I was dying and that something was stuck in my throat. Because of this anxiety, I didn't eat that much for a whole month and would cry when I ate food that was very "thick" and I could feel it going down my throat and getting stuck. I lost so much weight because of this. When I told my mom, she didn't believe me and just warded it off as me being dramatic. After a while, this feeling went away, but for years to come, I didn't realize it but I was slowly losing my intolerance to dairy. This realization struck me when I was about 18, when I would start running to the bathroom not even 20 minutes after I had something that had incredible amounts of lactose in it. As one would do, I chose to ignore it before I loved dairy, I loved mac and cheese, and it wasn't exactly harming me, and I continued eating like this.
Then at certain instances of the day, I would notice certain things. In the morning, I would wake up with crazy amounts of mucous in my throat that was yellow and thick. I didn't know why it was there, and didn't really care, so I paid not much attention to this observation. I would also notice that I would wake up with a stuffy nose every morning as well, but blamed it at the time as spring allergies. Another observation I had made was that for years, (I do singing as a hobby) I noticed my voice deteriorating to the point where up until I was 18, I noticed that if I had to scream, I physically was not able to. It was like my upper register was completely sealed away from me, blocked away from me like it was on a very long hiatus. This is when I became concerned so I went to the doctor and they referred me to laryngologist (or something similar) and they stuck a camera down my throat because I was completely positive that I had vocal nodules on my vocal chords and that was the reason why I lost my upper register. To my dismay, he told me my vocal cords looked healthy and had no nodules on them. He asked me what was bothering me and I told him my symptoms. He then diagnosed me with LPSilent GERD.
He then explained to me like it was a common illness and that it was SO easy to cure. He shoved a paper my way, told me to pick up PPI's and to stick to this bland diet outlined on said paper and told me that in about 6-8 weeks it should be gone. At the time, I was happy it was curable and that I could get my voice back and was eager to start. Long story short, it was not that easy. I gave up not even 2 weeks later even though I saw little improvement, noticing that my upper register still had not come back. I shortly went back to my terrible diet and lived my life as if I didn't have LPR. I continued to drink dairy with no worries.
A year later, I could not ignore it. This was last summer in May. Before May, I would get these little episodes where I had that "something is stuck in my throat feeling" accompanied with a new feeling; like my throat was going to close. This scared the living hell out of me and then realized I had to take this seriously. Another reason I decided to take it seriously was because now when I ate dairy, the 20 minutes signal that I had to use the bathroom turned into less than 3 minutes accompanied with a stomach ache and my stomach bubbling. I literally had basically lost all tolerance to dairy. I did so much research, feeling depressed because it didn't seem like it was curable but I was stubborn and was determined to heal myself because I had a huge motive. My dream is to be a singer and singing is a big part of my life and I haven't felt like myself since I lost my upper register slowly since I was 13/14. This is where I began my journey to healing.
Symptoms:
*****These were my symptoms for LPR. Most of them happening gradually.

• Constant Throat Clearing
• Excessive Mucous when waking up and throughout the day
• Lump or "Stuck in Throat" feeling
• Throating closing episodes (it wasn't actually closing though and anxiety made this worst)
• Lost of Vocal Registers (Upper Register in my case)
• Difficulty Swallowing (I could not swallow pills in fear of choking)
• Postnasal drip sometimes (because of the mucous)
• Excessive Burping

What I Did:
*****As soon as I promised myself to adhere to the diet and healing myself, I did extensive research. Here is a combination of everything I did with explanation if you would like to read. (Hopefully I don't forget anything)
1. First I Started off by taking PPIs (I took Omeprazole), Adhering to the bland diet, Alkaline Water, Baking Soda gargling morning and night, and a LES (Lower Esophageal Sphincter) daily exercise.
Bland Diet: I did the typically bland diet they tell you to do. But in this phase you may need to experiment with foods to see how you react to them. I've read numerous posts on Reddit where some Bland Diet Foods actually aggravated their LPR. I stuck to no coffee, no alcohol, no tomatoes (they triggered me), NO DAIRY (especially for me), no high acidic foods (vinegar based things, etc), etc. This was hell for me because at the time I was at college taking summer classes, so I had to buy groceries, and cook for myself everyday. Everything at school had dairy in it or wasn't "bland enough". I felt very depressed because of this because I'm a foodie and I love food and trying new foods. I stuck to bland rice cakes as snacks, these cracker (by Simple Mills they're so good still eat them even though they're bland). I would stick to fruits as sweet alternatives (I also eliminated processed sugars for a while since I heard that may aggravate LPR but it actually wasn't a trigger of me). In conclusion, it was just really hard to live a normal life on this diet. My mom didn't understand why I ate like this, told me that I can't eat like this for a long time, I told my friends about it and they were understanding but they would forget what triggered me (I mean who wouldn't though the list was long as hell), and I couldn't just hang out with friends and eat at some random restaurant we found. It was just chicken breast, rice, fruits and vegetables like this for like 3 months. It was really isolating, but know that you won't have to eat like that forever. You are doing this to let your body heal, and you need to attest to how long you need to be on this diet for.
Alkaline Water: I started drinking Essentia water aka alkaline water. Alkaline water is amazing for LPR and I drink it everyday and probably will for the majority of my life moving forward. Especially Essentia in my opinion, it has sodium bicarbonate (aka baking soda) which calms and neutralizes the acid in your stomach. The main reason I drunk/continue to drink it is because of my voice and to deactivate pepsin. What is pepsin you might ask? Pepsin is stomach enzyme that is found in the stomach that is used for digest proteins found in ingested foods. Yet, why would I be worried about this if it's a stomach enzyme which is mainly located in the stomach? Because when you have LPR, your LES becomes weak and it doesn't remain closed after you eat and drink like it's supposed to. It remains relaxed, and this stubborn enzyme can get trapped in your throat, causing that tightening, "lump or something is stuck in my throat feeling". It's actually so stubborn that it won't deactivate unless you're eating alkaline foods or water that is 9.5ph or higher. So, it makes sense why we are on this diet right? To deactivate the build up of pepsin and to give our body time to heal. By drinking alkaline water constantly, you don't give pepsin time to build up in your throat as your constantly deactivating it. (I won't explain more but there's YouTube videos and information online that's very helpful but I just gave you the reasoning). So, aka Alkaline Water is your LPR lifeline. Especially for me, since the build up of pepsin in my opinion was blocking my upper register this whole time. Also when you're constantly burping because of all the acid in your stomach, the burps have pepsin in them that floats all the way up to your throat causing the pepsin to reside here and weaken your LES. Alkaline Water is very important. I also drink a liter of water a day (The biggest bottle of Essentia water there is available. Not only do you need to drink water everyday, it helps dissolve the mucous in your throat.)
Baking Soda: Like mentioned in the above paragraph, baking soda neutralizes the acid in the stomach, calming down the amount of times you burp a day as well as helping your stomach settle down. When I first started I would gargle like a teaspoon of baking soda in a cup of warm water in my mouth day and night. When I was almost done with the cup for gargling, instead of gargling the 1/4 water remaining, I would just drink it, so I would start off my stomach I guess in a calm way. (I also saw this YouTube video where baking soda is good for LPR). After about a month, I stopped doing this but it definitely helped.
The LES Exercise: Truly, I believe this is by far one of the best ways I decreased my LPR and why I haven't had trouble with it for almost a year. Upon doing research, I found this government article about an experiment someone documented where they did this LES Exercise to strengthen it. From all the research I did online, everywhere was basically telling me that once you destroy your LES, you can no longer strengthen it unless you get this surgery or something. I was sad, yet I didn't give up. I read this article thoroughly (I will provide the link below if this sub will let me, but if I can't just look up "A Simple Exercise to Strengthen the Lower Esophageal Sphincter" and its the one that's by the National Library of Medicine the .gov website) and I decided to try it because even if it didn't work, at least I tried it. The goal of this exercise is to strengthen the LES by making it work harder than it usually does. You achieve this by essentially swallowing in an "upward" motion. The article is a bit confusing so I will explain the best I can.
First you want to find something where you can achieve a bit of height from off of the ground. You can be creative with this, you can stack pillows, sit on a box, sit on a plastic container, on the couch, just anything that can support your weight. Once you find this height that is off the ground, you must first kneel on this surface, then you will stretch your arms out and reach your arms to the ground so your body is in a sloped angle. The steeper the slope is though, the harder it will work your LES. Why are we sitting slopped? This will help you achieve this "antigravity" we need in order for your LES to work harder. Since it will be working against gravity, it should help strengthen it. Once you know how to position yourself, choose an easy simple meal to swallow when you are in this position. When I did this exercise daily, I used bananas, oatmeal and rice cakes to exercise my LES. I would chew the food in a normal upright position and then when I needed to swallow, kneel and stretch my arms out, and then swallowing. I did this throughout the time I was on my bland diet as well as a couple months out. The longer you do this exercise though, the better results you get. The person in the article did it for about a year, so I would definitely recommend that. 1-3 years would be best, and you wouldn't have to do the exercise everyday, you can do it once a week when you know that you have no issues with your LES (You'll notice a difference). If you have any questions about this, I will be happy to help.
Linke to Article: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9106553/

1. Finding the Root of your problem

I believe this advice is also the best future wise so that if you have an LPR flare up in the future, you'll know how to deal with the underlying root of it. What I've realized is that LPR doesn't just suddenly happen, it's a build up of something. That something can be like what I have a lactose intolerant issue, the way you're eating, or the most important one that ties all of these together, gut health. I believe that the reason most of us even stumbled across this illness is because of our poor gut health. Our gut health is like its own environment, with its own rules and its own triggers. When you disturb the balance of good and bad bacteria (basically having more bad than good), especially for a long time, it will of course result into a stomach issue or LPR or something even similar. As you get older, your body can only handle so much and when I look back at the way I ate, it was horrible. I love sugar, I had ungodly amounts of sugar daily, I never drank water (it's so sad I know), and I wasn't eating enough healthy foods. This, as well as me ignoring my lactose intolerance, pushed me into the realms of LPR. Do I believe this is the case for everyone? No. But, as someone who has LPR, you need to be looking and taking care of your gut health as one of your most important goals. Probiotics are vital to LPR and overall gut health. In unison with everything else I was doing, I started taking probiotic supplements, and I noticed a huge improvement as well. Later on, I moved to Lactose supplements as well as just taking yogurt daily as my probiotic. Yogurt has live cultures that are beneficial with balancing the bacteria in your stomach (especially the bacteria lacto. acidophilus in yogurt. I recommend the Forager yogurts or the silk almond milk yogurts their really good). When I did all of this in unison, I started back incorporating dairy little by little around 5 months of my diet. I stopped having bland foods after 3 months, but I was still eating healthy those 2 months, just not as strict and still took no dairy. Yet, when I had dairy around the 5th month, I noticed that I could eat it easily. I'm not gonna say that I started having dairy everyday and was scarfing down ice cream day by day (I did not have ice cream or anything that had heavy dairy in it). But, I was able to get my life back and once in a while have things that I normally couldn't have. And I was content with that. (Also at this time I took this supplement on Amazon called "Lactose Freedom", it really did help and I recommend if you have an dairy intolerance as well)

1. DO NOT EAT FOOD OR DRINK ANYTHING 3-4 HOURS BEFORE YOU SLEEP

I recommend setting a daily cut off time for eating. Mine was 8pm but as long as you don't eat 3-4 hours before and don't lay down even for a nap after eating when your first starting off with your diet, you should be fine. Just listen to your body and adjust accordingly.
4. Sit Upright on your back at night
By laying completely down, you're giving that food an opportunity to come back up, especially if you're just starting off with healing. Only sleep upright on your back or on your left side. For some reason sleeping on your left side opposed to the right helps with reflux. Just don't sleep on your right side (I'm a side sleeper as well I know its hard.)

1. I stopped clearing my throat

Because of all the mucous in my throat, I would clear my throat multiple times a day so that it wasn't hoarse, ultimately growing a habit for clearing my throat. Clearing your throat isn't good for your vocal cords, so I just made a mental note in my head before I started to clear my throat to not clear it. Of course I wasn't perfect at the beginning of clearing it but after about 2 weeks I had completely stopped clearing my throat!
Conclusion
In conclusion, I believe this is all I did to heal my LPR. If I forgot something then I will reply to my post below (or edit my post). Also, when I say that I'm healed, it doesn't mean that I'm healed forever, I'm not sure how the future looks and what my eating habits will be like. LPR is unfortunately a long life battle that we'll have to struggle with for the rest of our lives. If you start eating bad again and forgo your diet or eating healthy 85% of the time, then you will get LPR back. It all depends on how you handle yourself and how strict you are. For me, I know if and when I start having an LPR flare up instantly before it even gets bad. I stick to what I know so that I don't have to go back to the bland diet I had at the beginning when I originally started healing myself. (I myself have been eating more dairy this month then I know I should have and am now facing the consequences). Since I continue to eat dairy sometimes, I still haven't gotten my full upper register back. Yes, I have access to it, but I have to let go of dairy for probably years, and that's what I'm trying to do as of currently. As much as I love dairy, I love my voice more and I can't wait to sing how I use to. I already know how it feels since I can reach high notes now, but the power in my voice isn't exactly back yet. I don't know how to describe it. I love food and I love dairy, yet even with my love for it, I love feeling healthy and being able control how my good my gut health is, and how I haven't have severe LPR symptoms in months since last summer. You just have to find foods in place of the ones you use to love. I found new restaurants that make me excited and okay with being lactose intolerant. And who knows, maybe in a few years when I have dairy again, maybe it won't affect me how it affects me now because of all the work I've done. I just wanted to share my experience between I know that LPR doesn't control me anymore. I can control it, and I know how to deal with it. I feel happy that I got my life back and can pretty much eat food with as much seasoning as I want. I can have coffee, I can have pasta, I can have almost anything I want, but of course in moderation though. I'm okay with eating healthy for most of my life if I now know that I don't have to give up some of the parts that I love about food. And I want you guys to be to that point as well. I hope you guys can learn from my journey and it may help your journey as well. You can heal from LPR. I might also post this to other subs regarding GERD/LPR because I really want this to reach as may people as I can, I wanna help people overcome this if it works for them! If you have any questions, please please let me know, I'll try my best to answer them all. Happy Healing! :)

I always enjoy reading trip reports so I thought I would go ahead and share a report on my Golden Week trip with my parents.
Warning, long post!
This trip was from May 2nd to 15th. Some background, I (late 20's) am a foreign resident living in Hokkaido. I have also lived in Tokyo before so I am pretty comfortable with navigating the city and transit system, and speak intermediate Japanese. I have briefly visited Kyoto and Osaka but this was my first time in Hiroshima. This was my parents' (both 60) first time in Japan, and as it was probably one of few trips they will make to Japan, we decided to try and hit a lot of major sites for the first half before spending time in Hokkaido.
Obviously Golden Week isn't the most ideal time to travel in Japan, but as a resident, this was the best time I could travel without having to take too much time off work. My parents like travelling, but this was their first time in Asia and anywhere where English isn't widely spoken. They enjoyed their time here, but I am pretty sure if I weren't living here, it wouldn't have been a destination they would have travelled to on their own. I planned most of the trip myself. Parents weren’t too interested in pop-culture (anime, music, etc) so I was able to save time by cutting out a lot of the more touristy anime spots. They were pretty down for anything else, and Dad knew he wanted to see a baseball game and visit Hiroshima, so we made sure to make those two happen.
May 2nd-Arrival in Tokyo
(Hotel Sotetsu Fresa Inn Tokyo Tamachi-Two double bed rooms)
Parents flew from Vancouver to Narita and landed shortly before 3:00pm. I flew JetStar from Hokkaido and was set to land shortly after 3:00. I figured I would have time to get my bag and get from terminal 3 to 1 to meet them before they got through customs and baggage. However, my flight was a bit delayed and landed closer to 3:30. Not a big deal, but surprisingly my parents got through customs and baggage and were waiting for me before I even got my bag. We took the train directly to Mita Station in Minato, which was only a 10 minute walk to our hotel. It was around 6:00 by the time we checked in and got settled, and the parents didn't sleep on the plane, so we decided on dinner at the hotel restaurant before grabbing some conbini snacks and heading to bed by 9:00.
May 3rd (Constitution Memorial Day)-Tokyo
Taking advantage of their jetlag, we were up and ready to go at 7:00 am, but first dropped off our suitcases to be shipped to our Kyoto hotel. We had each brought a mid-size suitcase and backpack, so we shipped our suitcases and kept two days worth of stuff in our backpacks. It was a bit of a pain to have to rearrange all the bags so soon after arriving, but I wanted to send the bags earlier, as I was worried about delays due to Golden Week. It was very easy to do at the hotel, and so worth it to not have to haul bags all over.
We grabbed a conbini breakfast before heading to Asakusa and Sensoji. There were a fair amount of people there at around 8:00, but not crowded yet. Almost all of the shops were still closed but my parents really enjoyed seeing their first temple. After grabbing a goshuin paper (I forgot my goshuincho at home, I was so cheesed) we took a walk to the Sumida river and had coffee with a beautiful view of the Skytree. After that, we made our way back through Sensoji, towards Kappabashi Street. It was after 10:00 so all of the shops in front of the temple were open and crowds were in full swing. My parents didn’t mind the crowds too much but they were really happy we arrived early and had the chance to see things with less people. Mom was on the lookout for kitchen knives, hence the stop in Kappabashi. There were only a few shops open due to the holiday, but it was fine.
We headed back to the Minato area for one of our few food reservations, the Harry Potter cafe. (Booked through the official site a few weeks in advance.) I really wanted to drag my parents to a silly themed cafe, but I knew anything like the Kirby or Pokemon cafe would be totally lost on them, so I compromised with the Harry Potter cafe. I’ve been to enough themed cafes to know that you pay a lot for the experience and atmosphere and the quality of the food is secondary. That said, the food here was my least favourite of all the themed cafes I have been to in Japan. The decorations and restaurant were cool, but unless you’re a diehard fan, I would skip this one.
After lunch, we headed to Tokyo Tower. We didn’t go up, but we took a look at the shops, saw the Children’s Day carp streamers, and stopped at the beer garden. We were leaving to go have a break at the hotel when we saw a sign for the Japantique Show and decided to stop in. (Free admission) It was cool but everything was way out of our budgets, by like, thousands of dollars. After that, we bussed back to our hotel for a rest. We stopped for dinner at a Yakiniku Like near the station, which is a great option for budget yakiniku in my opinion, before heading to Ginza to window shop and look at more things we couldn’t afford. I also had to point out the Kabukiza theatre to mom and dad, as I am a big Kabuki fan. We didn’t have time for a show this trip but I definitely recommend seeing even just a single act if it’s something you might be interested in. Headed back to the hotel and was in bed by 9:00.
May 4th (Greenery Day)-Tokyo
Another early morning, we took the train and arrived at Harajuku station around 8:00 a.m. We had breakfast at Sarutahiko Coffee, above the station. After that we wandered towards Meiji Jingu. It was already warming up (high of 29 this day) so it was nice being under all the trees. As we passed the entrance to the garden, they were just about ready to open, so we decided to wait and go in. It was still too early for most of the flowers to bloom, but it was still a really nice spot. After the garden we made our way to the main shrine, followed by the Meiji Jingu Museum. They were having an exhibit on dresses of the Meiji era, particularly focused on Empress Shoken, so I thought it would be an interesting stop. There wasn’t much information in English, and the exhibit was pretty small, but seeing the dresses was cool.
I dragged mom and dad through Takeshita Street. It was very crowded, but my parents still got a kick out of seeing the stores and fashion, although they rolled their eyes everytime I offered to buy us matching platform shoes for some reason. After a stop in Uniqlo, we headed to Shinjuku for lunch. We stopped at a random izakaya near the station that I unfortunately forgot the name of. We snapped some pictures of Godzilla and the 3D cat billboard before heading to Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. Happy surprise that it was free admission for Greenery Day. There were a lot of people there, but it is a large park, so it wasn’t too crowded. Like the Meiji garden, most of the flowers weren’t in bloom yet, but it was still really pretty and nice to just be able to rest under the trees in the shade for a while.
After the garden, we head back towards Shibuya. We wandered around the scramble and main streets for a bit. I had a ticket to enter a pop up store at 5:15, so mom and dad had to wait outside while I got my goods. I got out with enough time for us to get to the Shibuya Sky building in time for our 6:20 entry. I would have liked to have gotten 6:00 tickets to see more of the sunset, but I was just happy to have gotten any tickets during dusk. It was still an incredible view, and it was a clear day so we could see Fuji in the distance. Mom and Dad were a bit overwhelmed by crowds at this point, so we headed back to the hotel and had dinner at a soba chain near the station, opposed to trying to find something in Shibuya. Mom and Dad were in bed before 9:00.
This was definitely the most crowded day we experienced during the trip. My parents said that while they don’t feel the need to ever go back to Shibuya or Shinjuku, they were happy that they had had the experience of seeing them, and don’t regret going, even with the crowds. I had originally planned Shibuya, then Shinjuku in the evening so we weren’t doubling back, but the garden closes late afternoon and it worked out with the evening Shibuya Sky tickets.
May 5th (Children’s Day)- Tokyo/Kyoto
(Hotel Sotetsu Fresa Inn Kyoto Kiyomizu Gojo-Connecting Twin Rooms)
Checked out of the hotel early and made our way to Tokyo Station. We had breakfast at a cafe in the basement, before dropping our backpacks in a locker and taking a walk around the Imperial Palace grounds. After we got our bags back, we grabbed some ekibens for lunch and caught the 10:30 shinkansen to Kyoto.
Because of the holiday and wanting us to be sitting on the Fuji side, these were the only shinkansen tickets I booked in advance. I booked through the JR west site, just under a month before. I had no problem using my Canadian mastercard to pay, and at that time there were still lots of seats available. It all worked out too as we had amazing weather and got a beautiful view of Fuji.
After arriving in Kyoto, we picked up my parents JR Kansai-Hiroshima passes. I am not eligible for one as a foreign resident, but they were definitely worth it for my parents, and if I planned better, we could have gotten more value out of them.
After dropping our stuff off at our hotel, we went to Kingaku-ji. The crowds weren’t as bad as I was expecting for mid afternoon during Golden Week and we thought the pavilion was very beautiful. After a vending machine ice cream we hopped on the bus to Arashiyama. The bamboo grove also was not nearly as crowded as I expected and we even had to empty spots to take pictures. Main street Arashiyama on the other hand, was very crowded, with a lot of tourists (foreign and local) having to walk on the road. We walked down to the Kimono Forest which was very cool and then head out after that.
We planned on finding a restaurant in Kyoto Station for dinner, but as we were on the train back, we were delayed due to Kyoto Station being temporarily shut down to investigate a suspicious item. It turned out to just be a forgotten backpack but I think most trains were delayed about two hours. The delay sucked, but I guess it’s to be safe than sorry. (That’s probably easier to say as someone already in Kyoto vs one of the people who would have been stuck on an inbound shinkansen.)
After catching a replacement bus that was enroute to go near our hotel, we decided to bail on dinner at the station and find something closer to us. We ended up in a small and smokey but still tasty yakitori place before calling it a night.
May 6th (Substitute Holiday)- Kyoto
Waking up early again, we caught the train to Fushimi Inari. There was a small family restaurant on the main street leading up to the shrine that had just opened. (I think this was just after 8:00 am) We stopped there for breakfast before going up to the shrine. We got pretty far before Dad’s knees started bothering him. Fortunately on the hike down we passed a shrine dedicated to back and knee health, so Mom and I bought an omamori for him.
After that we headed to Kiyomizudera. I think this temple was my parents' favourite of all the shrines and temples we went to, minus the hills. We didn’t find the streets too crowded at this point but the hills and stairs did not help my parents' feet and knees. They did really enjoy walking through the temple when we got there, and we could have spent a lot more time here, but we had a lunch plans.
I booked us a 12:30 lunch reservation at Yakinikugyusho Shin. Normally I don’t bother too much with reservations when I travel but I was worried about the Golden Week crowds and I wanted to make sure we had at least one nice meal somewhere in Kyoto. I booked this through TableCheck. We all had different beef rice bowls and they were all delicious. The restaurant had a really cool traditional atmosphere too.
After that we wandered the area for a bit before heading to the Samurai Museum. I personally thought it was a bit overpriced for what it is, but our guide was funny and had a lot of information. We did enjoy the throwing stars experience at the end as well. We weren’t too keen on the optional samurai dress up experience so we opted out of that. We headed back to the hotel for a rest before heading out for dinner at a nearby burger place called Burger Eleven, which we were pretty happy with. Headed back to the hotel to pack and have an early night.
May 7th- Kyoto/Hiroshima
(Hotel The Knot Hiroshima-Triple Room)
We checked out of the hotel early in the morning after having our suitcases shipped to our Osaka hotel. Once again, really easy and worthwhile. After that we head to Nishiki Market for breakfast of tempura and seafood. We arrived as things were starting to open and not too crowded. After pursuing all the shops we bussed to Kyoto Station to head off to Hiroshima.
I had no idea how to use my parents' JR passes at the ticket machines, and since we would need both shinkansen tickets and limited express Haruka tickets to Shin-Osaka, I just decided to go straight to the ticket office and have them do it. They had English speaking staff, so it was really easy. We were able to get reserved seats together on the next train out.
We arrived in Hiroshima at our hotel around 2:00 pm. We went to drop off our backpacks, but the hotel actually let us check in early which was great. Then we toured around Hiroshima Castle and then Shukkeien Gardens. I feel like I could have spent hours in the garden, but Mom was dealing with some pretty intense blisters, so we walked around for a bit and fed the carps before heading back to the hotel. We had a drink at the hotel’s rooftop bar before dinner. The original plan was to walk to Okonomimura for dinner, but Mom’s feet weren’t up for it. We found a nearby restaurant called Hazaya, which was a great alternative. After dinner we grabbed some snacks and called it a night.
May 8th- Hiroshima/Osaka
(Hotel WBF Namba Motomachi-Two Double Rooms)
Up early again to visit the Peace Memorial Park and Museum. Ticket sales the day of started at 8:30 and we were first in line. It seems you can enter earlier with an e-ticket, which we could have bought on the spot, but we decided to wait the 10ish minutes till the counter opened. I won’t say much about the Museum other than it was very heavy, but incredibly well done. I highly recommend it. We beat a lot of the crowd, including most of the school tours that were arriving as we were leaving. After a small breakfast at the museum cafe we walked through the park and to the dome, then grabbed our bags from the hotel and headed to Osaka. Once again, did not want to fiddle around with the JR passes and ticket machines, so we went to the ticket office. We could have been on the next train out, but waited for the one after so we had time to grab lunch at the station.
We arrived in Osaka, checked in to the hotel, and headed to the Tempozan Wheel. The view was great, but the wind was quite strong, which scared my parents who are terrified of heights. This was in the afternoon but I imagine the night view would be amazing. After a little stroll around the area, we headed to Dotonburi for dinner. Mom and Dad weren’t too keen on takoyaki, which I was surprised by. They both decided they favoured Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki. I’m more for Osaka-style but I won’t say no to either. Did a little bit of souvenir shopping before heading back to the hotel for the night.
May 9th-Osaka/Hokkaido
We set off early for Osaka Castle. Enjoyed walking around the grounds and the surrounding park. I took some of this subreddit’s advice and didn’t go inside the castle. We had gone inside the Hiroshima Castle, which is also pretty museum-like, so we weren’t upset to miss this one.
After enjoying the morning, we made our way back to the hotel to get our suitcases, then caught the bus from Namba OCAT station to KIX airport. We had time for lunch before checking in to our flight to Chitose. I don’t know about the international terminal, but the food options on the domestic side at KIX are pretty minimal. Had an easy flight to Chitose where I was reunited with my car and drove us to my house for the night.
May 10th- Sapporo
(Hotel Quintessa Hotel Susukino 63-One Queen Room and One Double)
From here out the trip was a much slower and relaxing pace. Had a lazy morning before making our way to Sapporo by car. Checked into our hotel and did a little shopping near Sapporo station. Attended a Fighters game that evening, which was a great time! ES Con Field is a beautiful brand new stadium and has a lot of great food options. I don’t follow baseball much but we still all really enjoyed the atmosphere. The Fighters won which I am sure helped a lot. I know they’re not one of the super popular teams in Japan, but if you’re a baseball fan with a free evening or afternoon in Hokkaido, I think the stadium alone is worth seeing a game here for.
May 11th- Jozankei
(Ryokan Hana Momiji-Comfort Japanese-style Room)
Checked out of our hotel just before 10 a.m.. We walked down to Shiawase-no-Pancake for a fluffy pancake breakfast, before driving an hour to Jozankei. We had a reservation at the Hana Momiji ryokan. My parents both have tattoos, but wanted to try an onsen. I looked at a few ryokan options in Jozankei before picking this one. Any room with a private onsen was out of our budget, but Hana Momiji has several private baths that guests can book, so this was the best option for us. We first arrived and parked at the ryokan before wandering around the town.
We came across a small temple that just so happened to have a small cave you could walk through that was full of Kannon statues. A bit strange but very cool. There were still carp streamers up so we enjoyed seeing them over the river. We had lunch at a small ramen shop, did a little more souvenir shopping, then headed back to the ryokan to check in. Mom and Dad enjoyed the private bath before dinner, and I used the public bath on the top floor after dinner. It was a little crowded for the shower stations but for a while I had the outdoor bath all to myself which was grand. The ryokan’s kaiseki dinner was amazing but we weren’t too hungry from lunch, and the food just kept coming. The sukiyaki was my favourite. After I visited the onsen we relaxed in our room for the rest of the night.
May 12th- Otaru (Mother’s Day)
We woke up and had the buffet breakfast at the ryokan. The buffet had a lot of options but was a bit underwhelming compared to the kaiseki dinner. We checked out at 10 a.m. and continued to Otaru. Since it was Mother’s Day, my siblings and I agreed I was to organise something nice for Mom. I decided to take us to a glass blowing workshop. This might seem random for Japan, but for some reason, Otaru is well known for glass blowing and music boxes. We had an 11 a.m. reservation at Studio J-45. The shop is more on the outskirts of the city, but it was a beautiful little store, and the staff were so friendly and helpful. There were only three staff members and one of them spoke English well enough to explain everything to my parents. My mom made a flower vase, my dad made a wind-chime, and I made a cup. It was a really fun and easy process and all of our pieces came out beautifully. I think the best way to access this place is by car, but if that's an option for you and you’re looking for a unique experience, I highly recommend this studio! One thing to keep in mind is that the pieces need to cook in the oven after, so you’ll either need to be able to pick them up another day, or have somewhere in Japan they can be shipped to (for a fee I believe). I could have shipped to my house but I wanted to make sure Mom and Dad had them before they left.
After that we headed into downtown Otaru to meet some of my friends. There was a cruise ship docked this day so it was a bit more crowded than usual. We stopped in at the music box museum and then we all went for lunch together and had some delicious gyukatsu. We strolled down the rest of main street to the canal. At this point it was late afternoon and starting to rain. Most things in Otaru close pretty early anyway so we said goodbye to my friends and drove back to my town for the night.
May 13th- Home
Didn’t do much today. I worked a half day to save some PTO. Dad wanted BBQ for lunch so we went to a yakiniku place in the next town over, and then met one of my friends at Hamasushi for dinner (our usual go-to spot).
May 14th- Sapporo
(Via Inn Prime Sapporo Odori-Triple Room)
Last full day in Japan for my parents. Worked another half day in the morning. Took a detour to Otaru on the way to Sapporo to collect our glassware. Arrived in Sapporo and checked into the hotel, then had tough time trying to find overnight parking. For our last dinner I booked a reservation in Kessel Hall at the Sapporo Beer Garden. (Booked online through their website.) Didn’t do all you can eat Ghenhis Khan (mutton), because as we were heading out my dad mentioned he doesn’t like lamb. 🤦So he had a seafood platter, mom had a sausage dish, and I ordered some lamb a la carte. Sure enough, he tried a piece of mine and made me order another plate of it. We enjoyed the beer and dessert as well, then went back to our hotel. The hotel had a public bath which I enjoyed that evening before heading to bed.
May 15th-Home
Woke up early to drive Mom and Dad to Shin-Chitose for their 10 a.m. flight to Narita. This would have given them plenty of time to get to their 4 p.m. flight to Vancouver, but just to be safe, AirCanada kindly delayed the flight till 8 p.m. so they could spend half a day in Narita.
Some closing thoughts:
Golden Week Crowds- I was really expecting the worst when it came to the crowds, especially in Kyoto, but I honestly didn’t find them to be that bad. Maybe I just got lucky but other than the day in Shinjuku and Shibuya, I never felt I was being “herded” anywhere. At Kinkakuji, we would maybe have to wait a minute to get a spot at the fence for pictures but it was never shoulder to shoulder like I was expecting. Kiyomizudera was really only crowded on the walk down, especially when cars were passing. We didn’t go to any viral restaurants, but we never had to wait more than 10ish minutes to be seated anywhere. It was probably more a case of right time, right place, but if you end up stuck with a Japan trip planned during Golden Week, I think as long as you’re patient and well planned, you can still have a really nice trip.
-Parents used Sakura mobile esims. It took us a couple tries to get the access point info input correctly but once we did, they had no problems.
-Didn’t want to deal with tracking down IC cards in Tokyo (we all have androids) so I brought two Kitaca cards from Hokkaido that they were able to use everywhere we went.
-Like I mentioned, I could have gotten more value out of the JR Kansai-Hiroshima pass had I planned better. Ex: I know you can use them on the express train from Osaka to KIX. Since our hotel was in Namba we weren’t anywhere convenient to catch it, and I was worried we would haul our luggage to Osaka station, only to not be able to find enough lockers to put our stuff in. It was just easier to leave our bags at the hotel, come back, then take the nearby limousine bus. If I did this again using these passes, I would have booked our hotel closer to Osaka station. That said, using the passes just to go from Kyoto to Hiroshima to Osaka already saved my parents about 5k yen each.
-Other than the ryokan, which I booked through their site, all our hotels were booked through Agoda.
-I mentioned Mom had blisters. She had gotten really good shoes, but it was her socks that caused all the problems with the toe seams rubbing the wrong way. Make sure if you’re investing in good shoes, you have some good socks to go with them.
-Overall I think it was a really good trip. It was tiring but fun to tour my parents around Japan. It looks like a lot very quickly, but we got through everything I had put on our itinerary, and didn’t feel rushed anywhere, other than our Kyoto lunch reservation. My parents enjoyed the peacefulness of Hiroshima the most, and we would have liked to see Miyajima if we had time, so should they come back, that is where they would probably visit again.
If you made it through this whole thing, thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed or found this helpful!