Jiro Dreams of Sushi

A wonderful bonus of having my parents visiting is the babysitting.  This gave us the ability to watch a real movie in an actual theatre!  We saw the movie, "Jiro Dreams of Sushi."  It is a documentary about the life of Jiro Ono.  He is an 85 year old sushi chef in Japan who was awarded 3 Michelin Stars.  He runs a sushi restaurant with only 10 seats in a subway station in Tokyo.  Hardly a place that one would consider to be Michelin "worthy."  

My husband and I spent our honeymoon in Tokyo.  Of all the places that I have been, I would still have to say that Japan was my favorite country to visit.  The culture is amazing and this movie brought back a lot of great memories.  The discipline and cleanliness of Japanese society is reflected throughout this movie.  Jiro still works nearly everyday and is upset when there is a holiday.  He learned from a young age that he needed to work hard.  He was told as a young boy that he "no longer had a home to go home to."  He realized that he didn't want to live on the streets so he made a conscious decision to work hard.  He was a rebellious child but turned his life around.  Today, if a child fails, their parents tell them that they can "return home" if "things do not work out."  He knew he did not have that option so he was determined to succeed.  Throughout the early part of his life (including when his children were young), they did not have a lot of money.  Through hard work and his drive to perfect his "craft," he now owns a restaurant which serves dinner (about 20 pieces of sushi) that is at least 30,000 yen per person (about $375/person).  People call months ahead for a reservation.

It takes 10 years to pass a sushi apprenticeship.  It truly is a "craft" that needs to be honed through years of experience.  You can go to college and medical school and it still wouldn't take you 10 years to complete.  Everything from preparing the rice to frying the eggs takes years of practice to master.  The discipline and attention to detail that Jiro possesses is amazing.  It really makes you think twice about buying "fast food" sushi or going to the all-you-can-eat sushi buffet.  The movie is a really interesting journey into this master's quest for the "perfect" sushi and his desire to pass on his knowledge to his two sons.  

A downside to him working hard was the lack of time he spent with his sons when they were growing up.  He went to work before they woke up and returned after they went to bed at night.  His son even thought he was a stranger when he slept in one morning.  The life of a sushi chef consists of long hours.  You have to wake up early to buy your fish at the fish market and stay up late to serve dinner guests.  A man like him is rare to come across today.  Even he pointed out that most people today want to make the most money in the least amount of time.    

An interesting side story in this movie are the "experts" that help make Jiro successful.  There is the expert in tuna, an expert in shrimp and even an expert in rice.  They all bring their expertise to Jiro to present him with their finest ingredients.  He is the first to acknowledge that he gets all the "credit" when he does the least amount of work (today he mainly puts the sushi together).  Much of the preparation done by his son and apprentices goes unnoticed.  For example, when you eat tako (octopus) in his restaurant, that octopus was vigorously massaged by an apprentice for 40-50 minutes to soften it up. 

A topic that I am happy they mentioned in the movie is the issue of sustainability.  Since Jiro has been doing this for 75 years, he has seen the effects of overfishing on his livelihood.  I'm glad the directors addressed this through Jiro and his son's view of sustainability.  Sushi was a delicacy which was prepared by skilled chefs.  Today, machines make sushi and it can be massed produced.  It really does make you think about quality vs. quantity.       

I do not like raw fish.  Can't stand the stuff really.  However, when I went to Japan, even I would have to admit that the fish is very delicious.  There is something about the care a master sushi chef takes with a fish that brings out the best qualities.  It is something that you won't find at the corner sushi bar here in the US.  I also cannot stand the wasabi here in the US.  I always found it to be a spicy nuisance.  However, in Japan, it was the first time I had fresh wasabi and it was tasty and completely unlike the pasty stuff we get here.  Not only does this movie make me want sushi (which I can't have until this baby is born) but it also makes me want to be more selective with the sushi I do eat.

This movie was not your typical action, blood and gore movie.  However, it was a great date night movie that will leave you talking about the many qualities of Jiro.  I would recommend it if you're looking to watch something different and something to make you think about what you would do to be successful.  

The video below was shot during our honeymoon when we went to the Tsukiji Fish Market and Auction (which was featured in the movie).  It is a place that I highly recommend and is worth waking up at 3 or 4 in the morning to see.   Most of the time if you're coming from the US, you'll be jetlagged and waking up at that hour isn't too difficult.  The fish auction is fun and just walking around the market is an interesting experience.  Vanity Fair published a great article about the fish market.  I've linked it here for your reference.

Extended Breastfeeding Controversy

By now, I'm sure most people have seen the "controversial" cover of Time Magazine featuring a woman breastfeeding her nearly four year old son.  In case you missed the cover photo or accompanying photos, here they are:

I admit to not reading the article since I am not a fan of Dr. Sears' (the focus of the article) "attachment parenting" philosophy.  I believe in his breastfeeding and baby wearing views but do not believe in co-sleeping (too dangerous) or alternative vaccination schedules.  I could write whole other blog posts regarding those topics so I'll just leave it there for now.

The "controversy" surrounding this photo center around "extended breastfeeding."  "Extended breastfeeding" is considered breastfeeding your child beyond a year of age.  I happily admit to exclusively breastfeeding (no solid foods or liquids other than breastmilk) my child until he was 6 months old and breastfeeding him until he was 22 months.  I was a big believer in "baby led weaning" and just let the baby nurse until he was ready to stop.  He stopped by himself at 22 months when I was 20 weeks pregnant.  Had I not been pregnant, I think I would have been comfortable nursing him until he turned two years old.

If my baby had not quit nursing, I would have been doing what the woman on the right is doing.  She is doing "tandem nursing."  "Tandem nursing" is nursing children of two different ages.  I was prepared to do that if my older child refused to quit nursing.  I was prepared to nurse him until he was 2 years old.  I had read a lot of information and guidelines from organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics (who recommended "breastfeeding for 1 year or longer as mutually desired by mother and infant) and the World Health Organization which encouraged "breastfeeding until two years of age or beyond."  However, I personally used the two year old rule for myself since that was the age in which I could begin to remember things.  I wasn't comfortable with the idea of my son consciously remembering his breastfeeding experience.

With this in mind, does the cover photo make me uncomfortable?  I would have to say "yes."  As much of a proponent of breastfeeding as I am and as much as I tolerated comments from others saying my toddler was too old to breastfeed, I do find this a little unnerving and here's why.

Women are made to feel uncomfortable when they breastfeed in public.  Women are told to breastfeed in the bathroom or to hide in a corner.  Even facebook joined the controversy when they began removing photographs and freezing the accounts of women who posted pictures of themselves breastfeeding their children.  Mothers of "older" children are made to feel that this is "unnatural."  In other parts of the world, extended breastfeeding is considered the norm and even encouraged in areas where nutrition is poor.  However, in the US, extended breastfeeding is not considered the "norm" and such dramatic pictures only add to this "stereotype." Women are made to feel ashamed about a natural process that has been done for thousands of years.  I think if this photo shoot was done more "discreetly," it would lose it's shock value but lessen the vitriol the public has about public breastfeeding and extended breastfeeding.

I think pictures like the one on the cover of Time Magazine only help fuel the public's desire for women to be more discreet and to stop breastfeeding their "older" child.  I can understand as the mother of a little boy, the concern by some parents about their child witnessing public breastfeeding.  I can see myself being uncomfortable if he sees someone flagrantly nursing in public and asks me about it when he's a little older.  I can understand some people's concerns about someone doing it so openly.  I saw a woman openly breastfeeding her toddler (without a cover) in the middle of the grocery store while she continued grocery shopping.  I had come very close to asking the mother to cover up.  I think the "in your face" attitude of some breastfeeding mothers is what makes some people even downright hostile about a woman nursing an older child or nursing in public.

Public breastfeeding is also not even protected by law in some states.  I remember breastfeeding my baby in public (with a cover of course) in Nebraska.  I could have been arrested back then for indecency since a law protecting women nursing in public was not passed until 2011!  I'm all for "lactivism" in the sense of increasing a woman's ability to pump milk at work or increase time off for maternity leave to facilitate nursing.  However, I think images like the one above only add fuel to the fire to those that are adamantly opposed to it.  What do you think?  Do you agree or disagree?

RIP Maurice Sendak

I started reading about Maurice Sendak's passing and found some interesting things from around the web paying tribute to him.  I always liked the book "Where the Wild Things Are" but had no idea he also illustrated the "Little Bear" series.  Here are some of the tributes that I liked:

10 Things You Might Not Know About Maurice Sendak

Stephen Colbert's Uncensored - Maurice Sendak Tribute

Christopher Walken reading "Where the Wild Things Are"

My two year old reading Where the Wild Things Are

What does an expiration date on a product mean?

Today's post was inspired by my mother.  Over the last few days, she has very lovingly helped me clean out my kitchen.  Being 28 weeks pregnant with a 2 year old toddler and working a full 40 hours a week, this has been a tremendous help and I am very grateful.  However, in the process of going through my "stuff," we got into a discussion regarding expiration dates.  She is of the notion that if something has an "expiration" date on it, it should not be used beyond that date.  Period.  However, I believe that as long as a product looks OK (no mold or discoloration), does not have any noticeable odor (like rotting flesh or sour smell), then it is OK to use beyond the "expiration date."  I especially believe this to be true with "non-perishable" items such as spices or dried rice or beans.  I would, however, generally not think this of medication (prescription or non-prescription).

I've done a little bit of research and found some interesting facts about expiration dates.  The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) apparently does not require expiration dates (except for infant formula).  "There is no uniform or universally accepted system used for food dating in the United States. Although dating of some foods is required by more than 20 states, there are areas of the country where much of the food supply has some type of open date and other areas where almost no food is dated."  Today, however, most products have expiration dates.  Even products like bottled water now has an expiration date thanks to a 1987 law enacted by the state of New Jersey which required "all food products sold there to display an expiration date of two years or less from the date of manufacture."  The following post from mentalfloss does a good job explaining this law and it's effects.  New Jersey eventually repealed the two year requirement but most bottlers still use that as a guide.

The USDA generally uses four different designations for "expiration" dates.  They have a "sell by," a "best if used by (or before)," a "use by" and "closed or coded" dates.
1. If a product has a "sell by" date or no date, cook or freeze the product by that date.  The "sell by date" tells the store how long to display the product for sale.  You should buy the product before that date.
2. A "best if used by (or before)" date is recommended for best flavor or quality.  It is not a purchase or safety date.
3. If a product has a "use by" date use the product before that date.  It is the last date recommended for the use of the product while at peak quality.  The date is determined by the manufacturer.  These dates usually refer to best quality and are not safety dates.  "But even if the date expires during home storage, a product should be safe, wholesome and of good quality if handled properly and kept at 40 °F or below. "
4. "Closed or coded dates" are packing numbers used by the manufacturer.

Even eggs, apparently, can be used up to 3-5 weeks after purchase.  If stored properly, this time is usually well beyond the "sell by" date.  Low-acid canned foods can be used 2-5 years after purchase if stored in a cool, dry, place.  "Once a perishable product is frozen, it doesn't matter if the date expires because foods kept frozen continuously are safe indefinitely."  I'm not sure how that would taste, though.  The following link from the USDA website goes into greater detail of the points mentioned above.

Let's say that you have food that really has expired, the following link has some great ideas for using that food.  Even "expired" food can be used for another purpose.

What do you think?  Would you use a product past its "expiration" date?  I still stand by my notion that it is OK (within reason) to use a food product that is past its "expiration" date...

My first ads!

I'm excited that my blog got approved for some advertising.  I can't click on my own ad but I googled one of the products and discovered that it is for a "Zee Stroller."  I may have to buy the stroller just for the name!  LOL!  It is amazing how the technology behind these ads can "find" me and things that people reading my blog may be interested in.  Maybe I should rethink my idea to allow ads if I end up buying the products that are advertised on my blog.  LOL!  Does anyone know of any other "zee" products?  Please post them and their links in the comments section.  The only other thing I can think of are Zee napkins.

Flying with an infant

After being on 11 trips and over 30 flights with our baby before he turned two, I have had many friends ask me for advice on what to bring on an airplane when flying with a baby.  I define baby or infant as under 1 year of age.  After a year, I consider them to be a toddler and have different recommendations for that.  I'll save that for another blog post.  These are all purely my opinions based on my experiences.

As a disclaimer, I'd like to say that purchasing a seat is the safest option for anyone of any age.  However, most airlines do not require you to purchase a seat for a child under two years of age.  They are considered a "lap child" and do not need a ticket but must be seated on a parent's lap.  There is usually no charge for a lap child but if you're flying internationally, they will usually charge you a nominal fee to bring a lap child.

Even if you do not purchase a ticket, I would recommend calling the airline to notify them that you're bringing a child under two so they can indicate on your ticket that you will be traveling with an "infant in arms."  You can do this after you purchase your own tickets online.  This will help when going through security.  Another handy thing to bring to the airport is a copy of your baby's birth certificate (passport is a must if traveling internationally).  Not all airports or airlines require a copy of the birth certificate to verify proof of the baby's age.  However, to spare yourself the agony of figuring out which airports or airlines require it, I recommend just bringing it.  You don't want to be caught at an airport (like we were) that required it and possibly not making your flight because of it.  Our baby was only 3 months old yet they needed "proof" that he was under two!  It caught us by surprise since he had been on another flight at another airport and they did not ask for any "proof" of age.

If you need an infant car seat at your destination, I highly recommend bringing your own car seat rather than renting one at your destination.  Rental car seats can be dirty and you have no way of knowing if it had been in an accident.  Most airlines will usually let you check in the car seat at no extra charge with your bags.  However, since airlines fees and rules are constantly changing, I'd recommend calling ahead to make sure.  When you check in the seat, they will usually put it in a plastic bag.  I've also only checked in the car seat base without charge when I wanted to use the car seat at the airport.

Since I'm traveling with a infant car seat, I did not bring a full-sized stroller.  I just used Baby Trend's Snap-N-Go.  I liked this model a little more than the Graco because of the compartment that can hold keys or miscellaneous items.  This was a lot easier to use than a full-sized stroller.  We've even rolled this on sand at the beach in Hawai`i.  You can gate check both the car seat and stroller at the gate.  However, if you're gate checking your car seat and stroller at the gate, I would recommend getting a stroller bag.  I used to just let them put it on the plane as is.  Unfortunately, during one of our flights, it was raining when we landed, and the stroller and car seat were soaking wet by the time they brought it up to the gate.  Since I needed the car seat for the car ride home from the airport, my baby had to sit on a wet seat.

I also prefer to gate check the infant car seat in the event there is an extra seat on the plane.  If there is an extra seat on the plane (I usually check before boarding), you can use the car seat to place your baby.  Just make sure there is a label on the seat indicating that it can be used on aircrafts.  It should say, "This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircrafts."  They will only allow you to place a car seat on the window seat (or middle seat if you are in a row without a window seat).  The car seat cannot obstruct a passenger from safely leaving the aircraft in an emergency.  Of the 30 flights that we have been on, there have only been 5 instances where there was an extra seat available so it is not a common occurrence.

I would also like to remind you that most airlines will allow you to do early boarding when traveling with a child under 2.  TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS EXTRA TIME.  It will give you a chance to put your stroller and car seat in a gate check bag and give you time to situate yourself on the plane before the "rush" of other passengers. You can also ensure you will get that coveted overhead bin space since you're now carrying more stuff for the baby.  However, I would recommend using anything that you may think you'll use frequently during the flight to be stored under the seat in front of you.  It is a hassle to have to constantly open and close that overhead bin when in flight.

I've always been a fan of baby wearing.  Baby wearing is especially helpful when traveling.  However, if you're going to attempt baby wearing, I would recommend using it with your baby for at least several weeks or days beforehand so they're accustomed to being in one.  For the first four months, I used the Moby wrap.  I wore it everyday like a shirt and started when my baby was a week old.  I used this while flying as well.  TSA will not make you take it off and you can request a "pat down" screening to avoid having to take it off.  Once the baby was four months old, we switched to the Ergo.  It is awesome in that both parents can wear it.  I've breastfed with both wraps on.  Both carriers are great when hanging out at the airport and when walking down narrow airplane aisles.  Helpful to use when walking around during the flight as well.  The only drawback is that they will not let you use it during take offs and landings.  I never really thought much about it until I saw this video which came from the NTSB website...

What you bring on the flight depends on if you're breastfeeding or bottle feeding.  I breastfed for 22 months so we did not have to bring any bottles on our flights.  It was awesome.  I could feed the baby (under a nursing cover to prevent making anyone feel uncomfortable) on demand and there were no bottles to clean or formula to warm up.  Breastfeeding during take offs and landings were also helpful to prevent any pain that may be caused by the change in cabin pressure.  It was also very soothing for the baby and helped with a change in surroundings and time zones.  If you're planning on having someone bottle feed your baby while you're at your destination, you may want to pack a bottle and breastpump in your check-in luggage.  It is usually not necessary to bring with you as a carry-on.

Since I have limited experience with a baby on formula, I can't say much other than to bring bottles, more formula than you think you would need in case there are any delays.  To prevent any ear pain from changes in cabin pressure, you can use a pacifier or feed the baby a bottle.

If your baby has transitioned to solid foods, I would recommend bringing jarred baby food.  Most TSA security checkpoints will let you bring jarred baby food as long as you declare that you have it as you're going through your screen.  They may take it to do extra screening.  I'm a big fan of making my own food but when traveling, it is easier to bring the jarred stuff since you don't have to worry about refrigeration or food becoming spoiled.

As for what you should pack in your bag other than food, I would recommend bringing at least three changes of clothing (don't forget the bibs).  You never know how many "pooplosions" you're going to get and need to change the baby's entire outfit.  If space permits, it's also not a bad idea to pack an extra set of clothing for yourself in case of an accident leaking onto yourself.  I forgot to pack extra pants once and my baby had to spend the rest of the flight without pants.  I'd also pack an extra large ziplock bag to store the soiled clothing to minimize smell and soiling the other things in your bag.

I would also bring any comfort items like toys and pacifiers.  I like to tether my things so they don't fall on the nasty airplane floors.  I loved a product called "Secure-a-toy" for everything from my baby's wubbanub pacifiers to Sophie the Giraffe.  Those were honestly the only two "toys" that we needed in the first months of flying.  Something as simple as an empty beverage cup provided by the flight attendants can be a great "toy."

I also packed a blanket. Depending on the time of the year or the destination dictated which blanket I brought.  When traveling to warmer climates, I brought a Aiden and Anais Swaddle blanket or a ROSK tieable blanket.  Both of these blankets are awesome because they can double as nursing covers or covers for your infant car seat.

I also packed more diapers and wipes than I thought I would need on a typical day (traveling can sometimes give a baby diarrhea or constipation) and you don't want to be caught without diapers.  I also use a changing mat and made sure that was stocked as well.

I would pack the following items separately in its own ziplock bag for ease when going through security...  I packed Lansinoh if breastfeeding (even if I haven't used it in months) since my baby tended to nurse more than usual when we traveled.  I also packed (and this may be a bit OCD) a tiny squirt bottle of rubbing alcohol.  I just bought an empty 3 ounce squirt bottle and filled it up with rubbing alcohol.  I find airplanes to be absolutely filthy and I would take the preboarding time to clean the arm rests, seat back table, and window sill and shade with the alcohol.  Rubbing alcohol has a distinctive smell so using early boarding to do that will prevent any weird looks.  LOL!  I also brought a travel-sized bottle of alcohol based hand sanitizer.  As a parent, you can never have too much of that around.

When your baby is an infant, it is probably the best and easiest time to travel (until they're in college).  LOL!  Since most are not sleeping through the night, they adjust easier to time zone changes, don't require food other than breastmilk or formula and you can use a carrier to bring them anywhere a stroller and a heavier toddler may not be able to go to.

Happy Boys' Day!!!

Today is May 5th.  Many people I know consider this to be cinco de Mayo and have a margarita to celebrate.  However, growing up, today was known as Boys' Day to me.  For those of you curious to find out about Boys' Day, this wikipedia entry has a good history behind the day.  Ladies, so as not to feel left out, Girls' Day is March 3rd.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children%27s_Day_(Japan)