6:00 AM – A Hectic Start
The day started at 5:45 AM, and as always, it was a rush to get everything done. My youngest son was reluctant to wake up again, unlike his older brother, who gets up quickly every morning. By the time I see both kids off, I feel like I’ve used up about 65% of my energy for the day.
7:00 AM – Bento Box Assembly
Today’s bento consisted of:
- Frozen pork cutlet with sauce
- Dashimaki tamago (Japanese rolled omelet)
- Sausage
- Tuna-filled fish cakes
- Stir-fried bok choy
- Spaghetti with meat sauce
To accompany the bento, I also made two rice balls—one with tuna mayo and the other with tarako (cod roe). For my own breakfast, I often eat leftovers from the bento preparation or dinner from the night before.
10:00 AM – Work and a Coffee Break
In the morning, I attended a one-hour work meeting before heading to one of my favorite cafes. Changing up my environment really helps with productivity. The cafe offers a relaxed atmosphere, making it the perfect spot for studying or catching up on PC work without feeling rushed.
3:00 PM – Quick and Local Lunch
I returned home around 3:00 PM and realized I had skipped lunch. Searching my pantry, I found “Yakisoba Bento (Squid Rice Flavor)” and decided to give it a try. I usually stick to the classic sauce flavor, but this variation was surprisingly delicious. The accompanying soup packet makes it even more satisfying.
Click here to read the article about the Hokkaido-exclusive ‘Yakisoba Bento’!
6:30 PM – Dinner Prep: A Slow-Cooked Favorite
With my older son returning from his extracurricular activities at 9:30 PM, family dinners together have become increasingly rare. Tonight, I used my trusty multicooker to prepare “Chicken Drumstick Stew.” Adding a bit of vinegar gives the dish a refreshing tang, and the multicooker makes the drumstick cartilage incredibly tender.
Japanese cuisine offers a wide variety of vinegars, which I plan to introduce in future posts. The multicooker has become a must-have in my kitchen for effortless yet delicious meals.
11:30 PM – Winding Down
The day didn’t end early, as usual. After tidying up, helping the kids finish their homework, and preparing for tomorrow’s early start at 5:30 AM for my youngest son’s morning practice, I finally crawled into bed at 12:40 AM. Goodnight!
This structure highlights the busy schedule of a Japanese mom while weaving in cultural and culinary details to engage readers. It’s SEO-friendly, with keywords like “bento preparation,” “Hokkaido Yakisoba Bento,” and “multicooker recipes.”
