Sweet potato gratin and corn tofu encountered at 'Sakuraso'. The joy of eating is also part of health

The other day, I had a meal at 'Sakuraso' in the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter.

Just walking through the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter makes me feel a little more relaxed.
As I walk while looking at the traditional townscape, I feel as if I can step away from my usual busyness for a while.

The meal I had in such a place.

What left a particularly strong impression this time were dishes I don't often encounter, such as sweet potato gratin and corn tofu.

'I wonder what this tastes like?'

Every time a dish was brought to the table, I felt that kind of excitement.

It is important to think about what to eat for the sake of health.

But I thought once again that enjoying what you eat might also be a wonderful investment in your health.

The discovery of 'I didn't know it could be made into this kind of dish' is fun

When people hear 'sweet potato,' many might think of roasted sweet potato, tempura, candied sweet potato, or simmered dishes.

But this time, it was a gratin.

'They make a gratin out of sweet potato!'

That combination alone was fresh.

The natural sweetness unique to sweet potatoes and the mellowness of the gratin.

Even if the ingredients themselves aren't rare, just by changing the cooking method or the combination, you can enjoy them as such a different dish.

This is what I love about eating out.

When I cook at home, I inevitably tend to stick to dishes I already know and am used to making.

Even though I work in a field related to cooking and nutrition,

there are many times when I think,

'I never knew you could use it like that.'

Eating out is not just about filling your stomach; it is also a time to get cooking ideas.

Corn turned into 'tofu'?

And another thing that was interesting was the corn tofu.

The moment I saw the name,

'What is corn tofu?'

I became curious.

When you think of corn, you think of boiling it, grilling it, making it into soup, or putting it in a salad.

But here it was, served in the form of 'tofu'.

Even though it's an ingredient I see all the time, it suddenly feels like something new just because the form of the dish has changed.

When I encounter dishes like this, I really think that eating is fascinating.

Trying familiar ingredients in a form you've never seen before.

That alone greatly expands the world of your dining table.

Sweet potatoes and corn. Familiar ingredients are nutritious

Of course, I also want to pay attention to the nutrition of the ingredients.

Sweet potatoes contain dietary fiber, vitamin C, potassium, and more.

Dietary fiber, in particular, is one of the nutrients I want to be conscious of getting in my daily diet.

Because it has a natural sweetness, I also like that it feels more like a treat than just 'eating vegetables'.

Corn contains carbohydrates and serves as an energy source. You can also get dietary fiber and other nutrients from it.

However, there is no such thing as a 'superfood' that will make you healthy just by eating it.

Eating a combination of various ingredients like meat, fish, eggs, soy products, vegetables, seaweed, mushrooms, and staple foods.

I believe that is the foundation after all.

That is precisely why a meal like this one, where I could enjoy a little bit of many different dishes, was so appealing to me.

When people talk about health investments, they often imagine 'self-denial', but

When I hear the phrase 'diet for health', I think of things like:

Cutting calories.

Reducing fat intake.

Giving up sweets.

Eating lots of vegetables.

Sometimes I think of such 'restrictions'.

Of course, there are times when dietary adjustments are necessary depending on illness or physical condition.

But I think it would be a bit sad if we were constantly staring at numbers even when we are healthy.

'This is delicious!'

'I've never eaten this before!'

'I want to try making this at home!'

I want to cherish those kinds of emotions as well.

Since we eat every day, I want to savor not just the nutrition, but also the joy and curiosity that come with it.

Eating food you don't know is an investment in your mental health

What I felt again while dining at Sakurasou this time was the joy of encountering dishes I didn't know.

Sweet potato gratin.

Corn tofu.

Ingredients I know, but dishes I don't.

Before taking that first bite,

"What does it taste like?"

I feel like that sense of curiosity becomes surprisingly rare as we become adults.

In our daily meals, we tend to prioritize efficiency.

There is work, housework, and child-rearing.

"What should I make today?"

There are days when just thinking about that is exhausting.

That is why, when you occasionally eat out and have time to encounter dishes you wouldn't make yourself, even your mood relaxes a little.

Health investment can start with 'eating happily'

When you use the term health investment, you might have an image of exercising, buying health foods, or starting something special.

But I think it can be something much closer to home.

Try adding one more vegetable dish today.

Try eating seasonal foods.

Try ordering a dish you don't know.

Eating while talking with family about how delicious something is.

Each of those moments is also a health investment that connects to your future self.

And sometimes, it's okay to set aside thoughts about nutrition for a moment,

"That was delicious!"

"That was fun!"

It is perfectly fine to have meals that end with those words.

The dishes I had at Sakuraso in the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter reminded me of such simple truths.

Eating is about building your body.

And at the same time, it is about fulfilling your heart.

Next time I encounter a dish I don't know, instead of just looking at the nutritional content,

"I wonder what this tastes like?"

I want to eat it with excitement.

Enjoying food is also one of the health investments I want to continue.