Meal prep budget bytes

'meal prep' 20 minutes
soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/1hQc7
mixcloud: https://www.mixcloud.com/ophell/meal-prep/
short fresh techno mix i posted last week! it's moody and hypnotic but still hits hard. all the feedback is welcome! <3

Hey, fellow veggie enthusiasts! Today, I want to share an anecdotal story that perfectly captures the struggles and triumphs of one of my incredible clients, Joe and Emily. Brace yourselves for a heartwarming tale of delicious and quick vegan dinners for busy weeknights! Trust me, you won't want to miss this!
Picture this: Joe and Emily, a delightful couple in their early thirties, have been married for six years. They lead busy lives, juggling demanding careers and trying to maintain a healthy work-life balance. With such hectic schedules, finding time to prepare nourishing vegan meals was becoming a real challenge for them. They found themselves stuck in a repetitive loop of takeout and processed convenience foods.
But one fine day, Joe stumbled upon my YouTube channel, Vegan on a Budget, and saw my video titled "Quick and Simple Vegan Dinners for Busy Weeknights." Intrigued and desperate for a solution, he excitedly shared the video with Emily, and they decided to embark on a culinary adventure together.
Inspired by the tantalizing recipes and easy-to-follow instructions, Joe and Emily began experimenting with quick and simple vegan dinners. They realized that planning their meals in advance and prepping ingredients on the weekends made a significant difference in their weeknight cooking routine. They started enjoying the process of preparing their own meals and discovered that it was a wonderful way to bond after long and tiring days.
Through trial and error, they found their favorite go-to recipes. From mouthwatering one-pot curries to flavorful stir-fries and nourishing Buddha bowls, Joe and Emily's dinner table became a colorful and vibrant celebration of plant-based goodness. They discovered new ingredients and techniques that made their meals not only fast but also incredibly satisfying.
Their friends and family were astounded by the transformation in their eating habits. Everyone marveled at the delicious aromas wafting from their kitchen and couldn't believe that such amazing meals could be whipped up in a flash. Joe and Emily's new-found passion for vegan cooking even inspired some of their loved ones to give plant-based eating a try.
TL;DR: Joe and Emily, a busy married couple, struggled to find time to prepare healthy vegan meals. Upon discovering my YouTube video on quick and simple vegan dinners for busy weeknights, they started planning meals in advance and prepping ingredients on weekends. Their experimentation with various recipes led to a colorful and vibrant dinner table, impressing their friends and family. Their newfound passion for vegan cooking inspired others to give it a try too!
And there you have it, folks! Joe and Emily's story is a testament to the transformative power of simple and quick vegan dinners, even for the busiest of people. If you're craving more tasty and budget-friendly vegan recipes, head over to my YouTube channel, Vegan on a Budget, and check out my video on "Quick and Simple Vegan Dinners for Busy Weeknights." Trust me, your taste buds will thank you!

Hey, fellow plant-powered peeps! Today, I want to share a heartwarming story about a couple who transformed their lives through a vegan diet. Meet Jane and Mike, a dynamic duo who found love, health, and happiness in their journey toward a compassionate lifestyle. Get ready to be inspired by their incredible transformation and discover the 9 key ways they stayed healthy as vegans!"
Once upon a time, in a bustling city, Jane and Mike crossed paths at a local farmers' market. Both were in their late 30s, and they were looking for something more in life, something that aligned with their values and enhanced their overall well-being. Little did they know that their chance encounter would set them on an amazing path toward a vegan lifestyle.
Jane had always been conscious of her health, while Mike was open to trying new things. They quickly struck up a conversation, and their shared interest in sustainable living ignited a spark between them. As they got to know each other, Jane introduced Mike to the wonders of veganism, explaining how it aligned with their ethical beliefs and offered numerous health benefits.
Eager to embark on this journey together, Jane and Mike decided to give veganism a try. They immersed themselves in learning about plant-based nutrition and discovered new and exciting ways to prepare delicious, nourishing meals. They found that a vegan diet not only satisfied their taste buds but also provided them with ample energy to tackle their busy lives.
Over time, Jane and Mike experienced remarkable changes. Jane, who had struggled with weight issues, saw the pounds melt away, and her skin began to glow. Mike, who had suffered from digestive troubles, noticed a significant improvement in his gut health. Their relationship grew stronger as they supported each other on this transformative path, discovering new recipes, exploring vegan restaurants, and swapping success stories.
Jane and Mike's key to staying healthy as vegans were to prioritize whole foods. They filled their plates with colorful fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, ensuring they received a wide range of nutrients. They also paid attention to their protein intake, incorporating plant-based sources like tofu, tempeh, lentils, and quinoa into their meals.
To stay on track, Jane and Mike always prepared meals together, making it a fun and bonding experience. They found creative ways to organize their favorite dishes, experimenting with plant-based substitutes that satisfied their cravings without compromising their health. They also stocked their pantry with nutritious snacks, such as raw nuts, seeds, and homemade energy bars, which kept them fueled throughout the day.
Additionally, Jane and Mike made sure to supplement their diet with vitamin B12, which is essential for vegans. They consulted with a registered dietitian to ensure they met their nutritional needs and discovered valuable resources online, including blogs, podcasts, and YouTube channels that provided guidance and inspiration on their vegan journey.
Now, after three years of marriage, Jane and Mike continue to thrive as vegans. They've never felt better, and their love for each other has only grown stronger. They've become advocates for the vegan lifestyle, sharing their experiences and helping others embrace a healthier, cruelty-free way of living.
TL;DR: Jane and Mike's love story blossomed as they embarked on a vegan journey together. Through whole foods, creative meal preparation, and supplementation, they experienced weight loss, improved health, and a strengthened bond. Three years later, they continue to thrive as vegans and inspire others to adopt a compassionate and healthy lifestyle. If you want to learn more about staying healthy as a vegan, check out my YouTube video: "9 ways to stay HEALTHY as a VEGAN" on my channel Vegan on a Budget.

1. Budget 100-150 euro, ship to Norway
2. Length 18-24 cm, gyoto/santoku, japanese handle/wood,
3. Intended use: regular day-to-day home cooking for a family, slicing veg and meats, but have a Wustof for tougher cuts.
4. Would prefer a knife on the sturdier side of the Japanese and carbon-spectrum, but it's not an important point and I intend to handle the knife on my own.
5. I have several stainless and want to try a carbon knife
6. I own a Wustof Classic ikon 20 cm, but it's weightyness is a bit much for whole days of cooking/preparing meals for the week. Also own a Victorinox chefs knife 18 cm, and a Tojiro 17.5 cm Chinese chefs knife.
7. Have considered No Factory, 24 cm shirogami (https://www.skarpekniver.com/24cm-kokkekniv-shirogami-no-factory.html) and Haruyuki Migaki 21 cm super aogami (https://www.skarpekniver.com/21cm-kokkekniv-migaki-super-aogami-haruyuki.html?gclid=CjwKCAjw1YCkBhAOEiwA5aN4AbJApzfOqLo7K1_o1kJ-bMW6RfTGyh-itYBDCyuMgYspLTX0BgyVwhoC4_kQAvD_BwE).
8. Cheaper suggestions also welcome

Thanks in advance

I’m planning to do meal prep for the gym. And I’m aware that buying meats in bulk might cost alot but does anyone have any ideas where I can go to get slightly cheaper as compared to NTUC/GIANT etc? THANK YOU!

my grandma is currently taking care of my grandpa and in return it’s taking a huge toll on her health. i am looking to get recommendations for home health care/caregiver that can come in a few hours a day, a couple times a week, and just help with his basic needs: bathing/hygiene, bathroom, and slight meal prep. also possibly doing dishes sometimes. i would be funding for them and don’t have a huge amount i can afford (for more context, i see online hiring can be as much as $5k a month which i don’t make). i am willing to go over pricing and working out a plan that works for all. any recommendations would be appreciated!

1. PERSONALIA
   • Age: 26
   • Education: Bio-engineer
   • Work Experience : 1y
   • Civil status: Single
   • Dependent children (Kinderen ten laste/enfants à charge): 0
   
2. TYPE OF CONTRACT bediende
   • Current job title/description: Investment analyst
   • (Ancienniteit/Anciennité): 1y
   • Official hours/week : 38 in theory, 40 Real hours/week
   • SectoIndustry: Private Sector
   
3. WAGE CONDITIONS)
   • Gross wage (brut): 3300
   • Net wage (incl. net fees): 2300
   • 13th month (full? partial?): full
   • Mobile phone? Laptop?: phone+subscription, laptop
   • Meal vouchers: for each day worked (€8)
   • Ecocheques: Yes, €250
   • Group Insurance (% part employer): yes (5%)
   • Hospitalisation Insurance: yes
   • Other advantages (bonus, 14th month, stocks...): 10% bonus, 14th month
   
4. MOBILITY
   • City/region of work: Ghent
   • Distance home-work (km's): 40km
   • Distance home-work (time): 1u10
   • Do you need your own car?: no
   • How is the travel home-work compensated: Free train travel across country.
   • Company ca-bike (what's the budget, do you have fuel card?): mobility package which includes a car (audi q3), EU fuel card and I get around 200€ bruto since I don't use the whole budget. Also bike km allowance.
   
5. OTHER CONDITIONS
   • Amount of official holidays: 28
   • (ADV, RTT) : 0
   • Other extra holidays:0
   • How easy can you plan a day off: Easily unless there is an emergency in one of our companies.
   • Shiftwork or daytime job? Daytime
   • Flexible working hours: Yes
   • Amount of stress (standby for troubles at work)?: pretty okay, but this is a people business so you need to stand your ground sometimes.
   • How often does overtime happens: Not that much.
   • Education possibilities: /
   • Teleworking (besides corona-period): 3 days from home
   • Responsible for personnel (reports): no
   

I live with my mom. She orders meal preps every week and picks them up. It’s most of what we will eat.
There are 3 different types of meals and we order 3 of each type. This week there was a “Greek Chicken Burger” as one of the meals. It was a patty and some vegetables around it but a very small meal.
That burger made my skin crawl. I tried eating it but I couldn’t. For some fucking reason my brain decided that this burger resembled what I would think cooked human meat would look and taste like.
I can’t convince myself the people we get these from aren’t, like, cannibals with weird unknown motives. I know I sound beyond insane but I don’t know how to tell my mom this. She’s never made an attempt to understand my mental health struggles other than depression and I think that’s because her mom went through it and still has it.
I fucking hate having this disorder. I just want it to go away.

Perfect size for small entrees! Love the sturdy heatproof handles and nonstick surface. Easy to clean and great for meal prep. Will definitely be buying more!

Whether that means several prepackaged foods or batches (like several servings of plain pasta)
I'm not a big fan of leftovers and usually just cook whatever I feel like at the moment, but I was curious about if other people found it better for calorie counting or staying on track.

We are a family of 4 with two young kids, a toddler who’s nearing 3 years old and an infant who is 9 months old. We visited Japan in May of 2023 for 18 nights. We stayed in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, and took day trips to Nara and Kobe.
Some people might call us crazy for taking an international trip with two small children. But my wife and I, who were avid travelers before we had kids, hadn’t been out of the country since 2019 due to 1) having kids and 2) Covid. We were itching for a trip, so we took the chance. Were there some crazy times? Of course. Was it worth it? Definitely.
I did a lot of research and prep before the trip, but there are always surprises that come up when you have kids. I’ll try to share some of the lessons I learned on the trip.
—Flights—
This was our first time on an airplane with the kids. I was a bit worried beforehand and in retrospect the flights were the worst parts of the trip. The main advice I’d give is do as much as you can to make your flight more tolerable, which no doubt means spending more money on tickets and gear. But it’s worth it.
I considered a few different airlines for this trip: ZipAir, Singapore, ANA, and Japan Airlines. JAL was too expensive. ZipAir was interesting because they provide car seats, you don’t have to take your own. We didn’t rent a car in Japan so we didn’t need our own car seats. I was just worried about racking up extra fees on ZipAir. Singapore and ANA were similar, they both provide bassinets and the price was similar. I ended up going with ANA for two reasons: 1) I had flown ANA on a previous trip and been happy with them and 2) they fly to Haneda instead of Narita, which saves you time getting from the airport to your hotel.
We opted for 3 seats and a bassinet. My infant is big for her age so she barely fit in the bassinet (she’s 21 pounds). But we were glad to have it. I had to call in to ANA customer service which had an hour+ wait time to get the bassinet, but other than that it was no trouble.
Which leads me into probably the most important part of flying with kids on a lengthy flight: get your kids to sleep on the plane. The more they sleep the less likely you are to run into a tantrum or meltdown.
To encourage sleeping we did a few things: 1) Take an overnight flight 2) Get a bassinet for our infant 3) Get a JetKids bed box for our toddler. Our ANA flight from LAX left at 5pm, which allowed time for the dinner service to show up before we put our kids to bed. They set the bassinet up right after you get to cruising altitude, so it’s there the majority of the flight. Our infant rejected it at first but eventually fell asleep.
As far as our toddler sleeping, the JetKids worked well. There was a bit of trouble with it staying in place since we had bulkhead seats, but overall I was happy with it as a bed. I absolutely hate the JetKids a piece of luggage though, it’s not easy to lug around and holds nearly nothing. But it helped our toddler stay asleep most of the flight. You don’t necessarily need a JetKids though, other airline seat bed solutions may work just as well. Just bring something that will help your toddler sleep. If we had to do it again, I think I’d prefer having car seats over both the bassinet and JetKids. That’s probably what we’ll do on the next trip.
There were a few unexpected problems we ran into on the flights. On the first flight, our infant got motion sickness and spit up multiple times. She ruined one of my shirts and my wife’s pants. Not to mention my wife got motion sickness as well so I had to do most of the heavy lifting with the kids alone. It was a sleepless and messy flight.
On our flight home, there was a mechanical issue with the plane. They said we were losing oil. So on a Tokyo to Los Angeles flight we somehow ended up landing In Anchorage, Alaska. It goes without saying this was horrible and the flight home from Anchorage on Alaska Airlines was horrible too. But that’s not really relevant to flying to/from Japan so I’ll leave the details out. We won’t be flying with ANA ever again.
To reiterate, do what you can to make your flight easier. Get the non-stop flight. Get the extra seat. This isn’t the area to be frugal.
—Stroller—
So you survived the flight. How do you get your kids around once you’ve landed? We have two kids so we need a twin stroller right? Wrong. Taking a twin stroller to Japan is a huge mistake, don’t do it.
Most guides will tell you to use a carrier, and if you only have one small infant then that’s likely the way to go. But with two kids we used a travel stroller and carrier combo. At first I expected to only use the carrier and carry the stroller around until we needed it, but I quickly realized that carrying the stroller around all day is a huge pain. We have the Cybex Libelle which is small at 13lbs, but 13lbs is still heavy enough that you don’t want to carry it all day.
So our stroller remained deployed basically all the time. My infant sat in the stroller most of the day, until it was my toddler’s nap time. Then the infant went in the carrier and toddler in the stroller to sleep. It worked well for us.
How did we keep the stroller deployed the whole time? Elevators. Lots of elevators. And occasionally carrying it up and down stairs. The availability of elevators depends on where you are. Of the cities we visited, I’d say Tokyo is the best and Kyoto is the worst for elevator availability.
The wide majority of metro and train stations are going to have elevators. It can be hard to find the right entrance to use to find an elevator, but there is always signage and almost always a map. You may need to walk an extra 5 minutes, or wait in line, or get lost, so always give yourself extra time when catching a train if you are using your stroller. We spent a LOT of time looking for elevators on this trip.
We only found two stations our whole trip that had no elevator at all, one was the JR Kobe station and the other was a JR station in Tokyo (I forget which one). When this happened, I picked up the stroller and carried it with our infant in it on the stairs. If our toddler was in it I made her get up and walk, then carried the stroller.
The other problem at metro / train stations with a stroller is the gap between the train and the platform. There’s always either a gap or the train and platform are at different elevations. You don’t have a lot of time to get on / off the train so this was a constant source of anxiety. Once our stroller wheel got stuck in between the train and the platform. It took some effort to pop it out. Another time my toddler stepped in the gap, but luckily I was holding her hand and stopped her from falling in. Always be mindful of the gap when you have kids. It’s probably one of the least safe situations you’ll constantly run into in Japan.
Malls and shopping centers almost always have elevators. You may need to wait a while to get one though. In the malls with 10+ floors, you might need to wait 5 minutes for an elevator. Sometimes they have “priority” elevators for the handicapped and strollers but often times perfectly abled people rudely take up all the space in those elevators.
We thought we would have trouble taking our stroller into restaurants but it was actually much less trouble than expected. There was only one restaurant that flat out turned us away, Sushi Tokyo Ten in Roppongi. Other establishments will usually move a chair so you can put your stroller at the table or counter where the chair was.
So overall the stroller was annoying to use but I don’t think we could have done the trip without it. It was a necessary evil with two young kids.
—Shinkansen—
We used the Shinkansen to get between cities. We had two trips, Tokyo to Kyoto and Osaka to Tokyo. We did not bother with the JR Pass, it wasn’t worth it. Mostly because our trips were 8 days apart so we would’ve needed the 14 days pass which wasn’t worth it for two Shinkansen trips.
One thing that caught us off-guard about the Shinkansen is how quickly it leaves a station when it makes a stop. We were expecting to have some time to get on when the train arrived, but it’s basically the same as a Metro stop. You have to get on right away. We made the mistake of buying a reserved seat for a train leaving in less than 15 minutes, without knowing where the elevator was. So we scrambled to get to where we needed to go on the platform and were the last ones on the train. We jumped on the train at the last second, we wanted to get to our specific car from the platform but we weren’t going to make it. It’s a miracle we didn’t lose a piece of luggage or a kid on the way. On the second trip I reserved a seat on a train that was 40 minutes out.
As far as seating we only needed to buy two seats. We would have put our toddler on our lap if needed, but we didn’t need to. Basically, one side of the train has 2 seats and the other 3. If you find a row that has the window seat open on the 3 seat side, then it is very unlikely anyone will sit in the aisle seat if you reserve the window and middle seat. We basically got a free seat for our toddler this way on both trips.
—Baby supplies—
We had more trouble than expected finding baby supplies. A lot of guides online tell you to go to drugstores, and maybe we were going to the wrong drugstores but that wasn’t working out for us. We were distraught until we by chance came across Babies R Us. Yes, the Babies R Us that went out of business in the USA. We happened to be browsing the malls in Odaiba when we came across this gem. It’s a treasure trove of western style baby food and supplies.
Our infant is in the “purée” food stage and we didn’t find any in drugstores. Most of the baby food is juice or rice porridge. Babies R Us has aisles worth of puréed food. It has diapers, wet wipes, formula, nose cleaners, and basically anything else you’d ever want for your baby. We stocked up on everything when we found this place. There are several locations but we went to the Odaiba location in Tokyo and the Harborland location in Kobe.
Another smaller store we found in the mall below Tokyo Skytree is Dadway. They don’t have as much as Babies R Us but we did pick up some purée here.
The other place we picked up diapers and a few others things is Don Quijote, which has locations all over the place. Their baby food collection is basically as limited as drugstores, but it’s fine in a pinch.
—Eating—
I’ve spoken a lot about logistics, but I had one primary reason for going to Japan: to eat tasty food. I had been to Japan once before I had kids and fell in love with the food.
Most guides will tell you families should go to family restaurants. Nope. Not happening. We did not go to a single Saizeriya or Bikkuri Donkey. And I definitely did not go through all of this trouble to eat at Denny’s. We went to a total of ZERO family restaurants.
I’m here to tell you there are plenty of good restaurants you can go to with kids. Even with a baby. Even with a baby and a toddler.
I’ll tell you my main approach to finding restaurants that will allow kids to dine with you. Your main tools are: Tablelog, Google Maps, and the individual restaurant websites. Tablelog is a great tool and their “with children” section on the restaurant info page is very accurate. If a restaurant is listed as “Babies are welcome” or “Baby Strollers accepted”, then you can very likely eat there with a baby. If a place does not have such a listing, it isn’t necessarily a no, it’s a maybe. That’s when you need to search Google Maps reviews for “kids”, “children”, “family” to see if anyone mentions the restaurant’s stance on such things. If you can’t find anything on Google Maps, go to the restaurant’s website. If they have an online reservation system, it is likely to list their stance on kids on the reservation page.
I did a lot of research beforehand and pinned all the relevant restaurants on Google Maps. That way, no matter where I was, I could find some good kid tolerant restaurants. I say “kid-tolerant” instead of “kid friendly” because I consider “kid-tolerant” to mean that they let kids in the restaurant, while “kid-friendly” means they have a kid’s menu, high chairs, etc.
We were able to eat at a wide variety of restaurants, from overpriced Michelin starred places to budget Omakase places. There are a lot of restaurants in Japan. If a restaurant doesn’t let you in because you have kids, it’s fine because there’s another similar one that will.
This is a list of good restaurants we ate at with our infant and toddler. These are just the places we made it to, there were plenty more I had on my list we didn’t make it to:
Gion Maruyama, Gion, Kyoto
Sushi Wakon, Four Seasons, Kyoto
The Oak Door, Grand Hyatt, Tokyo
Kobe Plaisir, Kobe
Roku Roku, Grand Hyatt, Tokyo
Daiwa Sushi, Toyosu Market, Tokyo
Inshotei, Ueno Park, Tokyo
Sushidan, Eat Play Works, Tokyo
Nishiya, Shinsaibashi, Osaka
Tonkatsu Wako, JR Isetan, Kyoto
Soju Dining, Tokyo Midtown, Tokyo
Imakatsu, Roppongi, Tokyo
Mizuno, Dotonbori, Osaka
Rokurinsha, Tokyo Station, Tokyo
Tsumigi, Tsukiji, Tokyo
Lots of different food stalls in Tsukiji Market, Tokyo
Other times we ate at conveyor belt sushi places, department store basements, or ramen places. The basements are a good place to get something for everyone. My toddler ate a lot of gyoza and noodles on this trip, she didn’t take a liking to much else. But Ichiran and Ippudo were right down her alley.
Tsukiji market was our go to breakfast place when we stayed in Tokyo. There’s plenty of different choices there and it opens early enough for jet-lagged families.
Overall I had a great time eating. If my toddler is eating she’s usually not having a tantrum, and we tried as best as possible to put our infant to sleep before we went to any higher end restaurants. There were some awkward tantrum moments but for the most part it was fine.
—City by City Report—
Tokyo
We had two different stays in Tokyo, the first after landing in Japan and the second right before departing Japan. We stayed a total of 10 nights in Tokyo, but we wish we had even more.
We could have come to Tokyo alone the whole trip and been perfectly content. It has the best food, the most kid friendly facilities, and there’s plenty to see and do.
Here’s a few choice things we did with the kids:
DisneySea: My toddler loved this one. We’ve been to Disneyland in SoCal but this is completely different. Even I was excited since it’s been a long while since I’ve been to an unexplored Disney park. A lot of people will say DisneySea is for older kids but there were plenty of rides my toddler could get on. It’s a great place for toddlers. A must visit with kids.
Ueno park: We spent a whole day in Ueno Park. There’s a great zoo, a fun Natural History Museum, and good restaurants. We picked up bento boxes from Inshotei and ate them at a picnic table in the zoo. I think this park is also a must do with kids.
One of the city views: you have a few choices here but we went to Tokyo Skytree and Shibuya Sky. Shibuya sky is a little less kid friendly, because they don’t allow strollers on the roof and they have some weird rules about holding your baby on the roof. I think they’re scared of a wind gust pulling your baby off the roof? I like the mall at Tokyo Skytree, and there’s a Rokurinsha there too (very good dipping ramen).
Small Worlds: This is a miniature museum on one of the man-made islands in the bay. It’s a little out of the way, but we made a day out of Toyosu Market, Small Worlds, and Odaiba. My toddler liked this one, the exhibits are interactive and fun to look at. It was better than expected.
Other than that we did a lot of eating and shopping in Tokyo for us adults.
Kyoto
Kyoto was probably our least favorite city to do with kids. In general it’s just hard to get around. There’s a lot of stroller unfriendly places. Streets without sidewalks. Rough cobblestone-like roads. Temples are not stroller friendly. Hills everywhere. Good luck getting to the top of the monkey park with a stroller. It’s definitely a trend in this city.
Maybe if you have older kids it’s fine. But if you have younger than elementary school kids it’s probably skippable. There’s not that many kid friendly activities here either. Temples aren’t interesting for kids. The best kid activity here is probably the Arashiyama Monkey Park. My toddler got a real kick out of feeding the monkeys. Just be aware there is a significant hike to get to the top of the hill where the monkeys are. My toddler is a pretty good walker, she made it all the way without crying or complaining. But I saw some other kids that didn’t fare as well.
The other thing you might try near the monkey park is the Arashiyama bamboo forest. I think it’s one of the most overrated sights in Japan though. It’s just mobbed with tourists all day. It’s not enjoyable with the crowds. I’ve been here twice and I’ve been disappointed both times.
I doubt we will be back to Kyoto any time soon.
Osaka
Osaka was nice. It was a bit refreshing to have many of the Tokyo conveniences again. Elevators everywhere, well paved and flat roads, and plenty of baby rooms.
Osaka is a good base for taking nearby day trips as well. We went to both Kobe and Nara without needing to take the Shinkansen.
The best kid experience in Osaka is the Kaiyukan aquarium. It’s big. The central tank with the whale sharks is impressive. They have lots of different animals from all over the world. It’s bigger and better than any aquarium we have in California.
The one thing I wasn’t prepared for was the lines. You need to pre-book your timed entry tickets online. We didn’t, and ended up getting tickets that were for entry two hours later. And we were there right when they opened. If I go to the aquarium at opening time on a weekday where we are from we can walk right in. Lesson learned.
We stayed in Shinsaibashi and it’s a very walkable area. There’s a covered shopping street that goes all the way down to Dotonbori. Namba is walkable from there. And America-mura is between Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori.
The Daimaru mall in Shinsaibashi is good for kids. There’s a Bornelund in there with a small indoor playground, a Pokémon Center, and good food.
I liked Osaka overall. The only thing I thought was a let down was okonomiyaki.
Nara
Nara was worth the trip. It’s about 45 minutes from Namba on the train, so not too out of the way.
There’s deer all over. Deer that bow to you. In the park, on the sidewalk, in the street. It’s a unique experience you should see at least once.
The deer are rather aggressive when you have food for them. It’s not a place where you want your kids feeding the deer. As soon as you buy the food from the street vendor, they mob you. They try to snatch the food out of your hand. Make sure you watch someone else do it first before deciding to do it yourself. If I let my toddler do it she probably would have been terrified.
The other must see in Nara is Todai-ji. It’s impressive. The giant Buddha is something. This was probably the best temple we saw on this trip, it’s visually stunning. More than anything we saw in Kyoto. I did have to carry the stroller up and down some steps, but there’s not too many.
Kobe
Kobe was great. It exceeded my expectations. The trip from Osaka is easy. We spent a full day there.
We started our one day in Kobe at the Nunobiki Herb Gardens. I wasn’t expecting too much but this place is really nice. It’s big, with lots of different gardens and exhibits to see. There’s great views as well. We took lots of pictures.
There’s a few different places to eat and drink in the gardens as well. We had some sparkling rose at “The Veranda” which had a great view of Kobe. We didn’t eat because we had a lunch reservation down the hill.
There’s a few things to watch out for. This place gets busy, so get there early. There’s no reservations, you just go early and wait in line. When we left at midday the line was massive, so get there when they open.
The herb garden only takes up the top half the hill. At first I thought it extended to the bottom of the hill, but the bottom half of the hill is actually a hiking trail without gardens. So I bought a one way gondola ticket to the top expecting to walk down all the way, but after I realized the garden ended at the middle I bought another ticket to go down (instead of getting the round trip ticket like I should have).
After the gardens we went to eat Kobe beef. Kobe Plaisir was the restaurant I chose, which was both high end and had a kids menu. The beef was great and everyone had a good time.
Afterwards we went to Harborland. It’s a nice area on the harbor that has a big boat you can go out on, and a couple of shopping malls. The Anpanman museum is here too but by the time we got there tickets were sold out for the day. This is also where you can find a Babies R Us.
Our Kobe day was one of the best days of our trip. I’d suggest a day trip here for anyone.
—Closing—
It’s hard to travel with kids this age. No doubt. Everything will take more time and be more expensive than when you used to travel alone. But I do not regret taking this trip at all. As a matter of fact I want to go back right now. My wife loved the trip, and my toddler might even remember it when she grows up. She still talks about feeding the monkeys and how dad ate a “real fish” (A Japanese sweetfish they grilled in front of us at Gion Maruyama). Japan is a great place for a first family trip.

You're eager to go to the beach with your buddies, just around the horizon, over spring break. It's little wonder that spring breakers like South Padre Island. Because of its stunning beaches, exciting nightlife, and various outdoor activities, South Padre Island is the best spot to have fun. It could not be easy to find reasonable housing, meanwhile, during this busy time of year. Continue reading if you're seeking a cheap condo in South Padre Island for spring break on a limited budget.
Which South Padre Island Neighbourhoods Are the Best for Spring Break?
Finding the best cheap condo in South Padre Island for spring break requires careful consideration of location. Seek out areas close to pubs, restaurants, and the beach. The North Beach area, which boasts some of the island's most beautiful beaches, and the entertainment district, which is crowded with restaurants and clubs, are popular areas to stay in.
What Should You Consider When Choosing a Cheap Condo for Spring Break on South Padre Island?
There are a few essential things to remember when looking for a cheap condo in South Padre Island for spring break. Find a condo that fits your budget in the first place. Additionally, it would be best to consider the condo's features and surroundings. Does it have a hot tub or pool? Are the beach and other attractions nearby? Also, view the condo's size and the number of guests you'll take.
Where can you find affordable condos in South Padre Island for Spring Break?
Finding low-cost condominiums for spring break on South Padre Island is possible in several ways. One alternative is searching through websites like Airbnb, Vrbo, and HomeAway that list vacation rentals online. You may look for rentals on these websites using your preferences for area and price range. Another choice is using a local real estate agent to select the ideal property for your spring break trip.
How can you cut costs on your trip to South Padre Island for spring break?
You may cut costs on your South Padre Island spring break in several ways besides just locating an inexpensive property. Instead of dining out every day, consider taking part in your meals. This might be a fantastic way to save money and indulge in the regional fare. Using free or inexpensive choices, such as going to the beach or exploring the island's nature trails, will help you save money on activities.
Conclusion
Although it might be difficult, finding an inexpensive condo for spring break on South Padre Island is not impossible. You may locate the ideal condo for your requirements and budget by researching and weighing your alternatives. Additionally, you may save money and have a fantastic spring break on South Padre Island by taking advantage of free or inexpensive activities and preparing some of your meals.

First off, as dashers you are working in a luxurious industry. Second, the US is going through a recessions with prices going up and wages staying stagnant. The first things to be cut back on people‘a budgets during times like these are luxurious non essential expenses.
As I stated before prices have gone up, that goes for the prices of menu items as well. To add insult to injury, the majority of restaurants increases their price again when it comes to doing business on delivery apps like DoorDash. This including the insane fees that DoorDash adds to each order, having the food being delivered to them is just not going to be worth it for a lot of people anymore, with carry out being a much cheaper option, at some places even not needing to get out of their car to get their food. At this point the amount of people who are willing to pay and additional $20 - $25 (increased menu prices, DD fees, potential tip) on top of their meal just for the convenience of not having to get it themselves is going down in many markets.
Another reason why people could pull back or completely stop ordering for delivery apps is due to poor past experiences like waiting hours just to get their food cold or not at all. This could be due to 3 reasons:
1.) customer doesn’t tip upfront but will after delivery
2.) customer won’t tip at all
3.) customer tipped upfront but not up to the dasher’s standards.
Obviously reason 2 is the worst one, but all of them usually would result in multiple declines pretty the customers order from drivers until someone finally chooses to pick it up, and if it takes too long for that to happen or if it doesn’t happen at all then the customer has a bad experience, which could lead to them not making orders in the future. One thing people don’t keep in mind is that the customer who had the bad experience could go on to advise their friends and family to not use DoorDash because of how bad of an experience they had with it, which in turn could lead to those people not using DoorDash too. Word of mouth is still a very influential thing.

Seeking recommendations: I’m residing in Select City Walk Mall, Saket for a few months and in need of a Tiffin/home-cooked food service that can provide simple meals on a regular basis. Ordering from Zomato/Swiggy isn’t ideal for my health or budget. Any suggestions would be highly appreciated. Thank you!

This will be a bit long as I recount a bit on what I do before going to bed that might be a factor in having trouble falling asleep or getting poor sleep (waking up multiple times a night).
Right now I'm working 4:30pm - 10:30pm tue - fri. Sometimes finish at 11-11:30 but that's usually on Fridays when there's more stuff to clean at the end or maybe if it's a really busy day.
Honestly, it's not too bad. From 4:30 - 8 it's easy to stay on top of things and if I have nothing to do or I'm not busy I sweep, throw out used oil and bottles from the bar area, or do simple prep like breading chicken schnitzel and peeling onions. I usually take a 30 min break around 7-7:30. The break is unpaid but I get a free meal. Then when I come back things start to really pick up. We close at 9pm so I only really have to work like a machine and stay on my A game from 8:30 - 10, but mainly from 9 when the chefs start dumping all their stuff in the kitchen.
When I get home at around 11-12 midnight I usually have a small meal because I'm still a bit hungry despite having a filling meal at the restaurant (pasta). Then I take a shower, do some stretches for my back and legs and go to bed at around 1:30-2am. Get up around 11am - 12pm.
Sometimes it takes me a while to fall asleep, because I feel like I'm still wired from working at night. I can still feel the blood rushing to my head and still feel on edge by the time I'm in bed. Other times I somehow fall asleep fine but keep waking up multiple times in the middle of the night. Don't know why it happens but it seems to be a habit. It's like my body is used to waking up multiple times in the night that it just keeps doing it. It's annoying because even though I sleep until 11am or 12pm I still feel drained at the start of my shift.
I try to drink water often during my shift and usually bring an extra bottle of gatorade or powerade. Maybe it's from the last 1.5 hrs of my shift where I'm washing like a madman? Does anyone else have problems sleeping after working nights or maybe any advice? Would be greatly appreciated. My job is very doable. It's just poor sleep that is screwing me over. :(

Hi! I’m new to this subreddit and to full-time nannying in general as I’m in my early 20s. However, I’ve had a background in summer camp leading, part-time babysitting, tutoring, and I’m the oldest of many siblings (of which the majority I have a somewhat significant age gap with that led me to help care for the youngest of them). Suffice it to say, I have childcare/housework experience, but not necessarily as a career until I started my current position roughly a year ago for a family of five kids. Therefore, I’m asking for advice/support and on how to handle to see if I’m justified for feeling how I do.
For some context:
•The kids are between the ages of 4 and 12, though I was told my main focus is on two of the children more so the others. However, I am still in charge of the other three when they’re under my care.
•I cook homemade meals for all the kids.
•I help with schoolwork.
•I drive the kids around A LOT—to extracurriculars, to appointments, to preschool, etc.
•I get groceries when needed.
•I do lots of tidying and house cleaning (which I agreed to do and I happily do while the kids are at school/etc).
•I have worked VERY long shifts. I’ve done a lot of overtime which I’ve never been paid time and a half for (which is illegal, I know).
•I keep my weekdays very open for them because MB requested I make no strong obligations during the weekdays in case they last minute need me. I am not compensated for essentially being on call.
•I have no set schedule. I arrive the same time early in the morning Monday through Friday, and I go home when I’m told I’m not needed. Sometimes I’ll get a vague idea of what a week might be a few days before said work week begins, but I can’t ever count on it. Some days are 14 hours long. Some are only 2 hours. Varies wildly but has usually amounts to 40 hours by the end of week, sometimes reaching up to 55 hours.
I don’t want to go into too much detail lest by some unfortunate coincidence this gets back to my NF somehow, which feels like would be my luck given the past few weeks and the events that have unfolded that have left me feeling very uneasy about my job.
About a few weeks ago, I was approached by DB when MB and all the kids were gone. I was straightening up before I was going to leave.
He starts by asking if I have a minute to talk, and I said of course. Then he goes, “So, there’s no easy way to say this..”
Obviously this is bad news, and I assume I’m getting fired/replaced, but he then proceeds to tell me that he knows MB told me when they hired me that they never wanted to exceed the current rate they pay me (30/hr). I was caught off guard by this for two reasons: she, in fact, didn’t tell me this, and the original job post included a range of the hourly rate of 30-40/hr (I double checked this—I have a screen shot of the original post).
Then he said since I wanted to have a W-2, when they would have much preferred I take cash, they were actually paying me more than that since there’s an employer tax they have to also pay on top of my wages. Which… well, yeah? I stipulated that when I was hired, I wanted a W2 for tax purposes (ya know, because that’s the legal way to hire a nanny and also sorts out my taxes and is proof that I have an income). Also, no, you are not paying ME more than 30/hr; it’s costing you more than that, lol. I don’t get the extra money.
He said they noticed the “nanny tax” a few months ago when they went to file and they owed that amount. Before it wasn’t a big deal because they were doing better financially, but now it’s no longer the case.
In order to rectify this issue, he proposed three solutions, all involve me taking a pay cut around $10,000 annually, and two of which were illegal. He asked me to get back to him with my decision in a few days. I told him I need to think about it and ask others, like my family, for some advice, but I’ll give him a call sooner rather than later.
So obviously, I immediately called my mom, being like, “Uh, hey, this is all absolutely ridiculous what he’s telling me, right?” Indeed, it was. I called three other people who have worked in many careers over many more decades than myself and the consensus was unanimous.
I text DB that I’m sorry they’re facing some financial hardship, but I can’t take a pay cut because I feel I’m worth the rate I charge. Then I said they can cut my hours to fit their budget, but if they needed to replace me, there’s no hard feelings.
He responded he could never ever replace me, and we will discuss it more the next morning. The next morning, near the kids mind you, he basically says he can pay me $25/hr and asks if that’ll kill me… it wasn’t said in a rude tone, but certainly a flustered one. I was expecting a sit down one on one talk, as I had prepared a bunch of notes and points I wanted to go over as to why there’s really no way I’m comfortable taking any sort of pay cut. However, I did not want to discuss it in front of the kids, and I said I would have to call later about it since he had to leave soon that morning.
Later that day, I did restate over a phone call that I would not take the pay cut. He said he’d have to talk to MB. End of call.
A few hours later, I get a series of texts in a row over the course of an hour not to worry about it anymore, forget he said anything and that he will always take care of me. Well… okay.
That week, I only got ~20 hours. The week after that I did manage to get about 40 hours.
I was told by MB (i am still uncertain if she knows anything about what DB has talked me about since she’s never brought anything up to me) a few days later that if I wanted more hours going forward, I may need to open up my weekends. This is not what I signed up for.
Also since then they’ve hired a twice a week house cleaner. 🫠
Any advice on what and how to deal with this professionally and tactfully?

Hello folks.
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38 Male, 335lbs. Diabetic, HBP, of course. No insurance and the Diabetes is uncontrolled except for a weekly dosage, the HBP is controlled with daily medication. Frequent headaches/infrequent migraines, treated OTC with Ibuprofin and Aspirin.
I have reasonable access to healthy food options, and have a membership at a local gym with weight room, aquatic facilities, I own a mountain bike and I enjoy that hobby a lot. So when advising, feel free to use this information to give me feedback or help and tips.
My issue is, I am perpetually hungry. Let me clarify. I am hungry. The physical, need to eat, stomach gnawing itself hungry. The audible "My stomach just growled" and my wife or other people in the room can hear it hungry. I can leave the buffet and having stopped eating because I told myself, "This is enough, it doesn't matter if I feel like more, I have had enough", and still be hungry. It isn't a matter of emotional eating, or eating for taste or comfort, it is hunger, always, all the time. Physical, not emotional, not mental, physical hunger. Even if I do eat myself to full, I will be hungry within an hour or so, there is no lasting until the next meal time, it is immediate hunger.
If this was a mental or emotional thing, I think I could discipline myself through it and get to it. But it is the demand of my stomach to eat. I don't know that for certain, but I have quit hard things before and am strong in keeping hard things away.
I drink a large quantity of water, and generally only drink water. No energy drinks, no sports drinks, and select few sodas (mostly for caffiene to help headache medicine work). I drink around 2 gallons of water a day. This is not an exaggeration.
Of course, I have tried a lot of things, for diet and exercise. CICO is king and all that, but it is so hard with the need to eat all the time. My first question is fairly straight forward. Is this a thing? Is this a condition or problem any one else is familiar with? Is there a certain food or supplement that can help this problem would be my first hope? Is there any medical advise secondary to that I could look into? (Uninsured til summer is over, am a new teacher, so with work goes insurance) I would prefer a "Eat this random berry seed and it'll make you not hungry as much" but I am willing to explore medical avenues, it just isn't preferred. Naturally, everyone says "eat carbs and they will fill you up" but everyone also says "quit eating carbs to lose weight", so please advise on that conundrum if have ideas specific to that.
As it goes, I am fine eating the same breakfast and lunch every day, I have the disposition for that, I did that for a few months and clawed myself back down from 400 pounds to the 330s I sit at now doing so, but was advised to quit that particular diet after it messed up my sugar too much. I would like to be budget conscious, but am willing to do what it takes to address this, I am sick and tired of living like this, perpetually hungry and absolutely hating myself every minute of the day because I feel the hunger and hate that I do because I hate needing to eat like I do.
So that is the sum of it. I feel hungry all the time, and would like some help with that first off. Any motivations to keep active, routine at the gym and consistent on the bike is appreciated too.
Thanks.