We just came back from a month long trip home (one of my homes, anyway!) to Japan. In LA, we live comfortably on a diet of Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and local farmers markets. All vegan, and mostly organic. I'm very aware of just how lucky we are to be able to eat this way. Due to the mild weather here year round, and the food conscious culture that abounds, our options are pretty fantastic. Before our big trip, I was pretty strict with Julie's diet. We rarely went a day without some sort of green juice or smoothie, and I planned her meals meticulously. Well, that went out the window quickly in Japan.
Although there are more vegan options now than there were when I lived there some years ago, it is still work and a trek to find a green juice and organic goods. Getting around in central Tokyo without a car means a very long walk, or braving crowded (understatement) trains, or shelling out for a taxi. All this while hauling around an increasingly heavy and opinionated little one. The good part of all of this was that I finally let go a little because I had to. We ate a lot of white rice and noodles, indulged in some sweets, and had a truly wonderful time. Julie adapted just fine. When we stayed with them, our relatives went out of their way to make us the most incredible meals. Here is the menu from one of our days.
Breakfast-Brown rice with natto, toasted seaweed, pumpkin soup, grapes
Lunch-(on the bullet train) assortment of rice balls and oinari-san(rice balls wrapped in fried tofu), green juice, barley tea
Snack-multi-grain crackers, strawberry soy milk, more rice balls
Dinner-vegetable tempura, yuba (tofu skin), stewed vegetables, rice, pickled kiku flowers
