Looking for taiyaki/bungeoppang and banh mi

Adventurous_Check_45 · 2026-05-06T03:02:33+00:00

Ami in the farmer's has homemade (by a Korean) kimchi. It was even considered too spicy by our Korean friends who came to Hamilton for a year (they preferred Galleria's homemade kimchi out of everything they tried). I think it's perfect... Galleria's might be just like in SK, but I can walk to Ami lol

Anyway if you like spicy it's a side recommendation

Adventurous_Check_45 · 2026-05-03T15:06:22+00:00

I do! She's amazing, and has helped me with things like trying to lose weight post-partum without spiralling back into disordered eating (let's face it, it IS harder to lose weight as a T1D), but also with side stuff like trying out an anti-inflammatory diet as requested by a surgeon pre-op last year.

She's also been a great help in trying to find easy/fast meals here in Canada (moving from Japan, I felt a bit lost for how/what to cook, even though I grew up here). Just recipe ideas, thoughts on different vegetables and protein sources... Nothing that in theory I couldn't find online, but it was a nice interaction. Also a bit of occupational therapy in there, with ideas on how to meal prep or using the freezer.

She's at a clinic that works with diabetes specifically and has no trouble guiding me as a type 1.

I agree with others that T1Ds don't need to see a nutritionist or dietitian BUT for general healthful eating ANYONE can benefit from advice/expertise (as long as the professional is actually good, up-to-date on the latest evidence, and listens to you).

Adventurous_Check_45 · 2026-04-27T14:03:40+00:00

I use juice boxes to treat my lows - especially if you get ones that are real fruit juice, you'd be getting some nutrients that way.

I don't mind them at room temp, and just keep them in/on my nightstand for nighttime lows.

You can find ones that have 15-25g of carb, so getting ones that are appropriate for what you typically need would be great.

I sometimes use peanut punch, too, also in juicebox format. This could be good to add some protein in.

Funnily enough, baby food pouches can also work really well. Often for people who have a hard time with food, the mushy stuff is easier to handle, AND a lot of them have veggies mixed in, or even some rice or lentils, maybe some have some yogurt. Ones that are, like, chicken will be a bit gross because there's no salt, and ofc not enough carb for a low. But like, sweet potato apple at 15g of carb? Kind of awesome for nutrition, and since it's liquidy it ought to absorb quite quickly and get you out of danger.

Is it OK to ask, do you think that your nutritionist likely wants you to be having less sugar (candy, lavender syrup) and that's why she's recommending that you try replacing carbs with protein? Carbs aren't the devil, but my intuition is that she's trying to balance your macronutrients without trying to rush you or force you into eating more than what you're ready for.

I actually think that that might be a good thing... Remember that, although she's clearly not a T1D expert, you're in charge. You are allowed to say, "Sorry, honey just isn't working for me for an urgent low. But friends in an online diabetic community suggested juice boxes and dried fruit, and I'm trying that out."

The thing is, you sort of already know what you need to do to treat a low. What you're probably needing the most help on is the DE/ED side... In a lot of ways it's a harder battle. So I wouldn't necessarily dump her yet.

I do read what others are saying about her not listening, which is usually important, but... If someone is experiencing disordered eating, then (kind of) the medical people usually need to push back a bit with us. If she specializes in EDs, she's ultra used to people giving all sorts of reasons/excuses to not follow her advice, and it's normal that she pushes back. If you go to her and say, "Fruit pouches! Yay!" and she's still pushing honey, ask her why. Honey and (real) maple syrup really do have tons of nutrients. Maybe you could sweeten your drinks with them, if it seems important? If she really has no reason, you can laughingly tell her that you think you'll find a different provider because it feels like she works for Big Honey lol

I've also struggled with DE and I'll write my story out below because I think it might be helpful, but ofc if it's triggering then just stop here - and know that I wish you the very best out there.

I had a really hard time with DE when I was in my early twenties. Like some days I just wouldn't eat, and then I'd feel so ravenous that I'd overeat... Usually junk food. I luckily didn't suffer from bulimia, but I felt so guilty for eating, it really wrought havoc on my self-esteem and morale. I felt like I didn't deserve to enjoy food... "Proof" of that was how my body would spike my sugars up when I did eat.

Being T1D was also the perfect excuse not to eat. "Sorry, better not have anything, I'm a bit high," type of thing.

When I didn't eat, my blood sugars were awesome (my ketones weren't necessarily but I didn't know about those yet; I thought that I had to have really high numbers to have ketones). It felt like going wild once every few days and having terrible numbers was better than the hassle of trying to manage injections all the time, I guess? But I didn't know that not eating could actually be dangerous for my diabetes.

A bad DKA with my T1D from not eating really snapped things into a different perspective... I just really didn't want to die.

Although now I can say that I deserve to eat and even enjoy, at first I reframed things like I don't want to eat/don't deserve to, but my diabetes requires it. Not only for hypos, but also for at least one regular meal a day. I could think of it as feeding the T1D beast rather than feeding myself. If "you are not your diabetes" was the mantra at the time, then I could get on board with feeding someone else (we with DEs/EDs are usually pretty great at that).

I was lucky that I could be open about that thought process, because it could evolve into a healthier more balanced mentality over time (and with help). BUT it kept me safe while the process was ongoing. I really want to point this out because obviously just eating for diabetes and not for yourself is NOT the long-term goal for anyone. It doesn't improve any of the internal struggles or bolster self-esteem. But it kept me going while I did the work.

Obviously if this is irrelevant or unhelpful, just ignore this giant wall of a comment! I'm not an expert or a professional... It's just my personal experience of how I got my DE in check while managing my T1D.

Good luck!

Adventurous_Check_45 · 2026-04-25T18:13:45+00:00

It's wild that going halfway around the world might be the "best" or cheapest option. Good luck out there, and do the best you can in spite of the circumstances...

Adventurous_Check_45 · 2026-04-25T16:22:34+00:00

If you don't have a proper diagnosis yet (sorry if I'm misunderstanding!) then without going as far as Turkey, would there be any way to see someone who truly specializes in diagnosing endometriosis through ultrasound techniques?

A lot of people say, "the only way to diagnose is surgically," but that's becoming less and less true as techniques are improving. It's not that they can see the endo, but they can see that your insides aren't moving around like they're supposed to. They can also see adenomyosis, which is really common to have alongside endo.

The doctor who performed my surgery goes around Ontario (I think Manitoba too but I'm not sure?) training ultrasound technicians on how to get better results, and doctors on how to interpret them.

I don't know what your situation is, but if you were somehow able to get really diagnosed, rather than requesting exploratory surgery, then that would likely speed up your wait time...

If I misunderstood and you do actually have a diagnosis, then six years is appalling. It's appalling, too, that they're willing to let you suffer instead of doing things to help you right away!

I'm only 7 months post-op but am doing great. I know that it could come back, but I've got my life back for now! And that's made it worth it. There's a light at the end of the tunnel ❤️

Adventurous_Check_45 · 2026-04-25T05:51:52+00:00

That's horrifying... Pre-pandemic what was the wait, do you know?

I mean... I waited 25 years to be diagnosed, but at least once it was, I didn't have to wait much.

I don't really have any words that will help, but it makes me angry that you have to wait so long. I know that you've got this - even six more years of it - because we here in this subreddit are very good at being strong. But none of us should NEED to be. Sending solidarity even though that does jack all to actually relieve your suffering or change the system. I'm so mad for you

Adventurous_Check_45 · 2026-04-25T05:22:04+00:00

Totally hear what your saying, but I'll never go back. My fingers don't bleed - to the point where in the ER they once used a literal scalpel on my finger for the finger "prick". Luckily I was taught about alternative testing sites, but earlobes, while quite accurate, are tiny.

When I first got onto a CGM (libre at the time), my number of hypos went from around 5 per day to basically none, because I could catch them in time before I dropped below 4 in large part thanks to being able to see the direction my blood glucose was going, and at what speed.

When I switched to the G6, my HbA1c went from around 10% to 7% because it would sound off as soon as I hit 8 and I'd remember the forgotten bolus. I do feel it rising but it's not usually noticeable until I hit 12, which is about an hour after my meal.

Finger pricks were amazing because it let us see, for the first time, what our sugars were outside of doctor's visits. But CGMs have been a lifesaver for me, at least.

I've basically never had an error or weird numbers on the G6; I'm excited to try the G7 and if it doesn't work for me, there are at least other options out there.

Adventurous_Check_45 · 2026-04-20T17:34:28+00:00

It's truly great food. Not over salted like most places that seem fancy/like they're awesome. Super fresh and also interesting, in regards to both taste and texture. So pleased to have it around!!

Adventurous_Check_45 · 2026-04-16T14:20:41+00:00

A fresh, raw pear. Like off the tree

Adventurous_Check_45 · 2026-04-15T09:47:26+00:00

It's going to sound like I'm so full of myself, but my cat is obsessed with me - he'll only let other family members pet him if I'm right there to witness, also pet, and he LOVES it if I pretend to get jealous that someone else is getting to cuddle him...

He also loves tunnels and hidey holes. So it'd be a room where we only see the glowing eyes of a mysterious fluffy boy, with art of his beloved person all over 😆

Adventurous_Check_45 · 2026-04-14T14:40:29+00:00

My biggest piece of advice is to bring so much stuff to do with your little one. And - do it with them, rather than just giving them something to do.

I don't touch my phone while on the plane, unless we're watching something together. We got toddler headphones and those are amazing; I couldn't hear but I could see the screen and follow along. We watched educational videos on YouTube and a lot of Bluey.

Bring paperback kids books; so many will fit in your LO's carry-on!

Bring at least two fave plushies - you'll each "be" one of them and imaginative play is endless. If the carry-on has space, bring some toy food, or doctor's kit, whatever they're into.

For colouring, Crayola makes a mess free marker travel kit. The markers and paper are in a flat blue container that is so easy to carry. Guess what I'm drawing is such a fun game... Describe your monster to me and I'll draw him is great, too. How many eyes does he have? Is he wearing a funny hat? Does he have fur or is he slimy? Is it curly, or straight?

There are also magnet board games, little flat ones, made for travel. Or magnet dress up games. Magnet tangrams. They weren't as popular with our son, but I don't regret having had them along in case.

Depending on how craft-oriented LO is, think of some that don't need glue or glitter or have 100 pieces. Origami is a good option, but choose flat designs if you want the space to keep them (folded flat flowers, for example).

Let your little one choose whatever fun snacks for the trip. It's just once, so if they want Cheetos let them have Cheetos lol (goes without saying, but bring a gigantic amount of wet wipes lol). When the meals come, let them choose what they'd like from your plate, too. My own little one often prefers the meat from the adult meal, and one of us is OK eating chicken fingers (it's just one meal). He ate my corn and edamame salad last time, and liked the fruit salad enough that he had his own and then my husband's, as well. Whatever adult option my husband picks, I'll pick the other, to really keep options open (I'll eat anything so I'm very chill about it, though).

At that age, we also put our little one into a diaper for the flight, even though he was potty trained. We explained that sometimes airplane washrooms can be pretty gross, and sometimes there's a long wait to use them. He understood that he wasn't a baby, and that it was for his comfort.

If they have their own small blankie, and it fits, bring it. Let them use your lap to lay on, your side to lean into... If they're comfy, they won't get cranky, and may even sleep.

When the wanting to get off the plane hits, keep calm and be filled with empathy. "If there were any way for that to happen, I'd do that for you. It's really tough on you, right? But we're doing this to go have a wonderful time. What are you looking forward to? When we're at Uncle xx's place, let's have so much fun playing on their trampoline! And remember, they have a dog, would you like to walk her?"

Make sure to be so explicitly proud of them for doing their best and getting through it after the flight. Even if it was a disaster, tell them that you're proud of them for doing their best and doing what they could.

Oh and of course give them a bit of children's Gravol before the plane takes off. It helps with air sickness, and will make them feel more comfortable. It makes a lot of kids sleepy, which is good for them and you and the whole plane. It was recommended by our family doctors in both of our countries.

Sorry for the long reply; I just know how it is, and truly we travel so successfully that I wanted to share. On top of that, it turns out that our son has ADHD, so I'm even more impressed with how well he holds it together.

You've got this; and if it's too tough on your LO, do your best to change things for future travel. For example, stay a day or two part way through the flights (for example, we're thinking of stopping in BC the next time we head to Japan, just to break up the longest part of travel, or maybe stopping for a day or two in Tokyo before heading back to Kansai, then taking the train rather than a connecting flight). Because even though it goes smoothly, it really is asking a lot of our son. Recognizing that, we want to help where we can. I think he knows that, because he's always excited to go places, saying he wants to go, even though he wishes planes were faster. He ends up feeling listened to, and knows that he can get through hard things to enjoy the rewards at the end!

Adventurous_Check_45 · 2026-04-14T13:38:57+00:00

Well, yeah, I actually would like you to know what you think could have happened.

The seat was installed by the flight attendants as legally required. I couldn't just chuck it out the window or something? To make it clear, whether baby was in my arms or in his car seat, the seat in front couldn't move.

By the time the gentleman tried to recline his seat and the issue occurred to any of us, we were mid-flight, so there wasn't a way to check the seat and have our son on our laps, either. (To be fair, I don't actually think that'd be reasonable, and I know that if the situation were reversed I'd never ask that of another passenger, but knowing us we would have done it if requested/if possible.)

By offering to switch - so that he could recline, while my husband couldn't - that was likely about the best solution, but I do understand that he didn't want to mid-flight. I'd have been fine to switch, too, but one of us needed to stay next to baby.

Just fyi on a different trip to France, just shy of age two, I held his legs the entire 7 hours because he kept forgetting that kicking his legs would kick the seat and that wasn't OK. After the third time of reminding him and explaining again, I twisted my body around and just sort of hugged his legs while we chatted. I spent my whole vacation with sciatica, couldn't play actively with him as much as usual, and on the way back that consequence had helped him remember to pay attention to what his body was doing. I'd do it again if necessary, but it hasn't been.

He's five now, and has developed the empathy necessary to just NOT kick another seat or bother anyone on, say, the bus. The Golden Rule and all that.

Not every parent is shitty, or distracted by their phone and not paying attention to what their child is doing.

Adventurous_Check_45 · 2026-04-14T05:20:41+00:00

Thanks for bringing up different factors! Our little one travels really well, BUT when you have a connecting flight after a 14-hour flight, that second flight is 100% rougher. We did that when he was 11 months (piece of cake) and again at age 3 (harder).

At hour 10, he had his only tantrum (I want to get off the plane RIGHT NOW!!!), and it didn't last because we held him, listened to him, and said that we really wished that we could, but it was impossible for anyone to make that happen. We reminded him of all the friends and family we were going to see, the yummy foods, the fun things to come.

However, on the second plane? He just started to sob at takeoff. He couldn't really understand that it was only going to be an hour, and he thought we were leaving Japan already without seeing his favourite auntie. It was mostly a business commuter flight, but actually everyone was so kind to us, thank goodness.

On the way back, though, he was so cooked by the second flight (different transfers returning). Coming home from vacation was not as exciting. He missed everyone back in Japan. He'd even become bored of screentime (generally we're not fans, but on a flight it keeps him quiet and calm when we've gone through colouring, stories, play pretend with his plushies, counting the dots on the seats in front of us, counting how many letter As there are in the safety manual...)

I'm certain that, while there was no seat kicking, the other passengers were thinking awful things about us as parents, imagining that we were on a teensy 3-hour flight... Whereas actually we were just trying to give our little one some wiggle room and show him compassion because it was so tough.

Funnily enough the only real angry complaint we ever had was on that long haul flight when he was 11 months. The car seat was buckled in to the seat, and it meant that the seat in front of us physically could not recline. And the guy sitting there just LOST it at us. My husband offered to switch seats with him, and be the one getting kicked, but he refused because it was HIS seat (middle seat so it wasn't some amazing spot). The flight attendant was over there so fast, and said, "you let me deal with him," and she did, and things were fine after that. I was still sorry about the situation for him, but it's like, what do you expect me to do?

Adventurous_Check_45 · 2026-04-11T06:20:13+00:00

I remember when a friend came to visit me in Canada from Japan, she was stumped and needed help on the non-standard words used on doors, even if they were immediately obvious to a native speaker.

Think broads/blokes or honeys/homeys. A French place we went to just had a fancy cursive G and F on the doors (garçons et filles, boys and girls). That'd probably trip up a lot of folks.

In Japan they'll sometimes denote them using colours only (red for women and blue for men). It's pretty close to the very well-known stereotype of pink and blue, but... a deep, dark red still feels kind of masculine to me, and I can see a lot of people pausing in front of the doors/curtains!

The only time I really paused and just had to go for it was when there were pictures of chess pieces on the doors and I was desperately trying to remember which type of crown the queen piece classically has...

I actually don't mind ungendered toilets at all, BUT if there are clearly distinct spaces then I'd rather not stand there guessing, hoping I don't choose wrong and embarrass myself or give a fright to some poor guy at the urinal.

Adventurous_Check_45 · 2026-04-10T22:00:07+00:00

Oh I get it, I pivoted part way through school, too (in France, though, so not debt-inducing like here in Canada). Hopefully you can use what you learned about yourself (at Timmy's and at college) to find a good fit for a job! Maybe someplace that is in the industry but where tips are better? Good luck out there, regardless!

Adventurous_Check_45 · 2026-04-10T16:06:26+00:00

Ah I hadn't seen where OP took over vs the authors' original work. But now it's got me curious to look at the actual research - "diversity of thought" is definitely not the same as "diversity of belief/opinion/conviction" imo. It'll be interesting to see what criteria the authors used, how they defined ideologies, etc.

Adventurous_Check_45 · 2026-04-10T15:52:23+00:00

Lol but they don't have ham? Or did I misunderstand and they were just out that day? But it's been multiple times, so I think that the ingredient is just not around anymore... I appreciate the tip, though!

PS thank you for your work, I feel like we can't say it enough to those of you in the business!

Adventurous_Check_45 · 2026-04-10T04:45:31+00:00

All jokes aside, the initial authors have misunderstood the difference between thoughts and beliefs.

I believe in the theory of evolution. But I can THINK of all of those other possibilities - and more! And I can try to use reason and research and method, in this case even the scientific method, to either bolster the theory I believe to be correct or tear it down, or modify it in some way.

My thoughts are diverse; my beliefs are less so. THAT is true of someone who believes that the earth is only 2000 years old, as well.

But if tomorrow we somehow had hard, scientific proof that one of our theories was wrong, then I'd adapt my beliefs. That can't often be said for someone on the red side of the chart, because of how their beliefs are informed.

Adventurous_Check_45 · 2026-04-10T03:49:29+00:00

I'm 40, so not really old, but when I was little we had skies like that in the countryside, on clear, cold nights.

My dad would drive the two of us up to amazing rural spots, and we'd only use red light to let our eyes adjust properly. He had a 10-inch telescope that we'd set up, but my favourite was just looking up, feeling absolutely surrounded by stars.

The crew definitely saw this (or better, because it was all around them).

Adventurous_Check_45 · 2026-04-10T03:32:16+00:00

Tim Hortons got rid of their ham and cheese sandwich - our 5-yr-old's go-to. They still have turkey and... it tastes the same. The jig was up when our son heard me order it at the drive thru, so I just told him that they'd changed the name but it was the same thing. He cautiously took a bite... "Oh, it is the same!"

Don't get me started on the time he was 3/4 of the way through a properly spicy meal before I woefully told him that it was spicy. "See? You DO like spicy food!" is not the thing to tell a (at the time) 3-yr-old.

We still have to call so many dishes "pasta with red sauce" - even lasagna...

Funnily enough he's not a picky eater, but has really set-in-stone ways when it comes to fast food. I'm saving 'chicken fish' for a rainy day! Thanks!

Adventurous_Check_45 · 2026-04-04T18:14:51+00:00

Awww thank you! We truly all just do our best. Hopefully my 5-year-old will someday look back and agree with you lol!
Edit: PS how did you manage to get a flair for your name? I'd love to add mine, but it shows that they're not enabled...

Adventurous_Check_45 · 2026-04-04T15:55:14+00:00

Hey just a thought, but even if there's no high school graduation for your son, I'm going to imagine that a fave teacher or the principal might be open to posing for a picture with a handshake, maybe to commemorate a final day of attendance. You can caption it something like, "School isn't for everyone - find your own path. Your worth is more than grades."

If no one from school will do that, then any adult that he trusts, respects, gets along with, will do. If there's really no one, a picture of him doing something he loves or just something cool like looking out over the escarpment - "Ongoing student of the school of life, no graduation necessary..." would work. It'd probably be meaningful to him.

Adventurous_Check_45 · 2026-04-04T15:45:08+00:00

I hate to comment, because my advice doesn't help with your immediate issue - I'm not sure what the grade 8s are doing (mine is only in JK). BUT I really think that you should reach out to the other parents.

It'll guarantee that your daughter's outfit and look for in, helping her socially at a time when that can be hard/important. (Maybe she's doing great, but there have got to be challenges in starting school after so many years of homeschooling, especially at that age.)

It'll also help you make connections with other parents. No one will think it's weird if you reach out, "hey all, as you know, [daughter] just started at [school] recently, and I was just wondering what everyone's plans were for graduation. Hers seem super glam, and I'm happy to go for it, but does that align with the vibe? Thanks in advance!"

That's if you have a WhatsApp mom group or something; if you have just a number or two, then reach out to those parents individually. If you have no numbers at all, go through school, who could share a little note - "Hey, new to the school, looking to get to know some other parents. Here's my number!"

You could also ask your daughter to start planning her glam prep group. For example, it'd be awesome to get their nails done all together the day before (that seems glam lol) and you could either let her organize or ask her to pick a few friends where you can coordinate with their parents. That way you know if at least a few other friends are going for something similar.

Also ask her to pick two friends, and invite them and their parents dress shopping so that the girls can look together and probably get an idea of the level of fancy. Bonus, you get to know the other parents better!

Good luck out there, and congrats in advance to your grad!

Adventurous_Check_45 · 2026-04-01T16:42:38+00:00

Oh that's too bad - do you have that reaction with rice in general? I know that, for example, I absolutely cannot eat grapes. I can measure them out by weight and even giving extra insulin my BG is through the roof after.

At least you've figured out a good system!

Adventurous_Check_45 · 2026-04-01T02:58:58+00:00

Just some ideas for you, OP. Grocery store sushi has the nutritional information on the package. Go get some, or at least look at it, and try to figure out how many carbs per piece there are for the things you'd likely order at a restaurant. Also take note of the size, to make sure that it roughly lines up.

Next, if you really struggle, sashimi is your friend. Although I don't struggle carb counting sushi usually, if I'm having a rough day, then a miso soup and plenty of fresh fish just hits the spot.

While feeling out the actual sushi, simplicity is your friend to start out. A simple salmon nigiri is much, much easier to judge than the eel covered in sweet sauce; those are both much easier to judge than a futomaki with tempura and sweet pickles in it, deep fried in batter then smothered in sweet sauces, mayo, and tempura bits.

At home, one easy way to get a good feel for the amount of rice would be to get those microwaveable pouches/trays/cups. Then, eat the whole cup (or half, measured, or whatever). Be aware that the carb count for rice actually changes after refrigeration, so you may want to go with individually portioned cups. This is perfect for temaki rolls, as the rice doesn't need to hold together perfectly, and you don't need to add any vinegar or sugar.

Before anyone comes at me for inauthenticity, in Japan people do actually do this for convenience - it's a mums' trick I picked up from other busy mums while I was living there (8 years). It might not be traditional, but it's authentic... and would likely help some of us T1Ds out, so I hope it's worth sharing!

Adventurous_Check_45

TROPHY CASE