Is cheat day harmful for diet plan? | E-chiz Food Review

I have been doing clean eating for a while now.  After attending many conferences talking about pre-diabetes and fatty liver, I have become much more health conscious. But to fulfill 4 to 6 servings of fruits and vegetables is no easy feat. When I walk pass and smell the fragrance of fried food,  I still yearn to have some. So last weekend we had a lunch date out- cheat day at E-chiz KCM- proudly Kuantan owned and next to Chatime!

An occasional indulgence,  in any manner,  does not harm previous consistent effort in healthy eating,  if done right. An acceptable cheat day will be a meal that does not follow strict calorie counting. Because life becomes so dull otherwise! But I would say portion control is still important-especially to cut down on carbohydrates and avoid overeating.

Having deep fried food and some dessert is fine. Try to eat only until 70% full. For the rest of the meals during the day,  stick to the healthy suku suku separuh meal plan to avoid guilt and a total upset of healthy diet. Share the meal with a group of people for easier portion control that allows a chance to try more food variety as well. Read more to find out about Cheat Day/Meal here.

E-CHIZ

L1-09A-10 Kuantan City Mall, 1, Jalan Putra Square 6, Putra Square, 25300 Kuantan, Pahang
https://g.co/kgs/wWzk8j
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Fried stuff is always tempting. Look at the cheese corn dogs! The sinful combo comes with the classic breaded corn dog vs the healthier special corn dog. A huge sausage, coated with mozzarella cheese and bread, deep fried until golden then drizzled with more cheese sauce and chilli sauce. The special version has diced potatoes coated on the outside which provides more nutritional value.

The classic cheese pull photo! Yummylicious. Ask for sauces to be served on the side to reduce the amount of calories consumed.

There are 4 varieties of fried chicken available here. Each serving uses drumettes and chicken wings breaded and fried until crispy.

Honey and soy tasted savoury with a touch of the fragrance of honey. The most classic， non spicy option available. But it doesn't mean it's plain! I like how well balanced the flavor was.

Red hot pepper chicken wings tasted similar to the Korean Gochujang chicken. What I really like is the spiciness is mild with some sweetness and doesn't cause a spicy diarrhea afterwards. Lol.

Cheesy chicken wing is a must try for cheese lovers.  The amount of melted mozzarella was so generous that the chicken had to be literally dug out from underneath. Despite that,   it did not feel too weighed down and filling as the texture was light and not overly salty.

One of the popular flavour is the salted egg version. Salted egg goes really well with many dishes, even with dessert. And this E-chiz chicken wing is no exception. I had to order for extra portion because it was so good. That's why I said it's our cheat meal out.

A small bowl of sushi rice went down well with the sauces.

For children,  chicken nuggets were a good choice. They were served plain with ketchup when requested. Made from actual chicken meat,  it's lightly flavoured and still juicy on the inside. Knowing how picky Bing boy is,  we were glad that he actually enjoyed the nuggets.

Instead of ordering a meal set (which will give a serving of fries and salad for each set of chicken wings), we ordered cheesy potato wedges as a side dish instead to cut down the total carbohydrate amount.  We should have ordered for some salad to help adding to the daily vegetable requirement, but I forgot. The wedges were nice and crunchy outside but soft and fluffy inside. They went great with cheese and chilli sauce too! Wedges offer the same level of satisfaction but are healthier because they are baked, absorbs flavours much better and use much less oil.

Our verdict is 7.5/10! A quick fix for all the cravings at such an affordable price tag.

Eucalyptus in household use | Eucapro Products Review

Many know eucalyptus or gum tree leaves as fluffy koala bears' favorite food. But do you know that it has many other medicinal use? Gum tree leaves have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti fungal and pain relieving properties.

Hence, there are some evidence that it may be useful in treating asthma,  bronchitis,  dental plaque,  gingivitis, head lice,  and fungal nail infection. Besides that,  the aroma,  when combined with other essential oil such as peppermint, makes great aromatherapy for relaxation purposes. Read more about Eucalyptus here on WebMD.

Eucapro products are formulated in Australia. As the active ingredients are derived from plants,  the products are natural and safe without pesticides or even chemical fertilizers. Eucapro products are also free from artificial additives, aromas or flavorings.

I have recently tried the following products and am in love with them!

Eucapro Pure Eucalyptus Oil

This is 100% pure natural pharmaceutical grade eucalyptus oil which gives fresh and  lasting fragrance. It kills 99.99% germs.

Not only can it help in alleviating cold and sore muscles when massaged, it can also be added to laundry as a deodorizer. Rub a small amount to remove stubborn stains, grease marks on clothing, carpet, sofa and soft toys, as well as adhesive labels, annoying chewing gums and tar marks on cars.

Eucapro Natural Disinfectant Eucalyptus Spray

This is an air purifier and surface sanitizer that's particularly suitable for humid areas such as the bathroom, as well as a damp car interior during rainy seasons. It covers the musty smell and purify the air, even as strong as cigarette smokes. Besides that, it can also be in the family room, office and bedroom.

Stuffy nose at night because of cold or allergic rhinitis? Spray some on the pillow to help clearing nasal secretions. The downside of using grandma remedy (old newspapers) to wipe water and finger marks was leaving my hands stained. But now I can use the spray to do the same job easily.

Eucapro Air Purifier Lavender Spray

Made of pure lavender and  Litsea Cubeba Oil, spray 10 minutes before sleep onto linen to create a calm and soothing bedroom environment which helps to lull children to sleep. It infuses a great aroma into pillows and blanket.

Besides that it can also be used for multipurpose cleaner, to disinfect bathrooms,  to freshen musty drawers and wardrobes especially during rainy seasons.

What does Dr Yingzangel think?

I tend to avoid using harsh chemicals even while cleaning to prevent any remote possibility of my boys accidentally ingesting or inhaling household cleaning products. I feel comfortable in using Eucapro products when my children are around because the ingredients are non toxic. The price tag is also affordable with good quality.

If you are interested,  head on the Lazada or Camy BabyLand to understand more about Eucapro products.

Eucapro Facebook 

Great food great company | The 92s Kuantan

I can't believe how much good food is there in Kuantan! That's why we have decided to move here permanently. Without the stress of traffic jam,  people are also friendlier and more laid back. So here we were to try the new cafe in town!

The 92s Kuantan
A7, Transit Point, Jalan Dato Lim Hoe Lek, Taman Union, 25200 Kuantan, Pahang
010-989 6980
https://g.co/kgs/jG5NNT
Opens Wednesdays to Mondays 11am-11pm

It was always a Friday lunch break that was long enough for us to hunt for good food. And to savour them slowly without worrying about babysitting at the same time. We ordered food to share between 4 people. This new cafe is just a few doors away from Loft by Loteng which we also tried a few months back.

Fried calamari rings. Bread crumbed fresh calamari rings fried into golden color but it's still juicy inside.  Dipped with sambal, it's a great western and Asian fusion appetizer and crowd pleaser.

Their pizzas are must orders! We had 92s signature pizza. It has a soft, fluffy thick charcoal crust. Toppings were smoked salmon,  Japanese mayonnaise and Bonito flakes. This was a heavenly combination with mozzarella cheese with or without chilli flakes  and I'm not surprised why it's called their signature.

Beef lasagna was soft and warm. Full of the goodness of the tomato based sauce. Beef did not have any games taste. The fresh salad  made the flavor so much more balanced. But the portion was a bit small.

The chicken burger had a juicy patty sandwiched between slices of fresh tomatoes and crispy lettuce, as well as cheese. The portion of the fries was too generous and we couldn't finish it.

Beverage wise, there were mainly caffeinated and non-caffeinated options. We opted the non-caffeinated lattes.

Hojicha latte. Hojicha is green tea roasted in a porcelain  pot over charcoal, changing the color from green to reddish brown.

Green Tea latte. A classic latte which doesn't have the bitterness of green tea.

Overall,  we really enjoyed our lunch. Verdict 8/10!

How to care for the atopic children | ATONO2 Oxygen Baby Travel Kit Review

Atopy runs in our family.  This means a terrible triad of eczema,  allergic rhinitis and asthma (luckily only my immediate cousin has that and none of us in our nuclear family).    Besides genetics,  there are a lot things that can be done to protect my children from having itchy and inflamed skin. Preventing it from flaring up using suitable products is the best way to stop all the troubles.

Once the eczema flares,  it's important to keep it under control with as needed steroid based creams and lots of emollients because when left unchecked,  the skin can break which may become a portal of entry for infection besides being unsightly and extremely itchy.  The vicious cycle of itchiness, scratching and inflammation cause the skin to thicken in a process called lichenification. Unfortunately, anti-itch medications can't be used in children younger than 2 years old because it could make them too sedated.

We recently tried ATONO2 Oxygen Baby Travel kit which contains

1. Oxygen Baby Soothing Gel 30g soothes the inflamed skin to reduce itchiness.
2. Oxygen Baby Lotion 30g gets absorbed fast to boost skin hydration without residue.
3. Oxygen Baby Cream 30g  works similar to the gel in relieving eczema.
4. Baby Slightly Acid Bath and Shampoo 30g is great for both hair and body cleansing, as well as maintaining skin pH around 5.7

So are you wondering what does ATONO2 mean?

It is a skincare brand specializes in baby products, especially for those who have dry and sensitive skin prone to eczema and allergies. Famous in Korea, it's widely publicised in News Media and Korean TV programs. It has obtained ECOCERT (meaning all ingredients are organic) and approval by the Ministry of Health Malaysia.

The ambassador is none other than the soccer player ‘Dong-guk Lee’ and his children, are popular and featured  in a Korean TV reality show called ‘Superman Is Back’. ATONO2 has also won numerous awards as listed above.

ATO (sensitive skin) + o2 (Oxygen water)! This has high oxygen concentration which hydrates and heal the inflamed skin better.

Oxygenated water makes up the top of the active ingredient list. Others include
-cinnamomum cassia
- scutellaria baicalensis
-hinoki cypress
- white willow
-oregano
-shea butter
-macadamia ternifolia seed oil
-chamomile
-Epidermal Growth Factor
-hyaluronic acid

These are combinations of natural plant extracts that soothes and calms irritated, inflamed skin, as well as hydrating and maintaining a good skin pH balance. It also helps the skin to repair and heal itself. Of course, ATONO2 does not contain artificial colouring, fragrance, talc, paraben and steroid. As I have mentioned before in this article, steroid free preparation can be used in mild eczema cases. But correct usage of steroid based products under your doctor's direction should not have serious side effects.

What does Dr Yingzangel think?

Baby Yi has started to teeth so he tends to drool a lot.  This has created irritated and inflamed skin around his upper chest. He's only prone to having an exaggerated skin reaction to insect bites. And oh boy,  he can really scratch! At one point,  he got really bad impetigo that looks so roundish (I was asked whether those were inaccidental injury!) Unfortunately I did not have any photos when it was at its worse. Only when it's already much improved a few days after using ATONO2.

 Look at how ATONO2 has helped him. It soothes the bitten or inflamed skin and prevent him from scratching and going into the vicious cycle. Back to the happy and bubbly baby who is no longer cranky!

Where to get ATONO2 Baby products? Get on to Ippuni website, Shopee or at selected Multicare Pharmacy and Sensey Pharmacy.

A dummy guide to parenting | The Asian Parenting App Official Launch

I have downloaded The Asian Parenting App for more than a year now.  Do you know that they actually have 25 million users? And officially launched on 25 September 2019. That's such a big community and I enjoy having the support of other parents in the virtual world.

Parenting is a rewarding journey but it is also challenging. Being a mother of two active boys and a full-time doctor, I do not have the solution for all parenting skills. But I know where and how to get my information from-TAP app. Sometimes there's no right or wrong in parenting,  but it's just comforting to know that others are going through the same thing.

Besides being a support group,  TAP also features DoctorOncall and experts from Sunway Medical Centre to answer any medical related enquiries. This 24 hours service is especially important for expecting or first time parents.  It's reassuring to know that expert help is just a few clicks away. It can be daunting, for example,  to deal with febrile fits. It's all very easy to talk about it because I'm also a doctor. But when emergency happens to your own kid,  it's still very easy to panick. Lifeline like this is therefore very important.

When one is free,  browse through a variety of topics from pregnancy advice to parenting tips, as well as articles about your children's development to educate yourself. There's always something new to learn everyday. It enriches my parenting experience and update my knowledge.

TAP also has a great database of popular children songs and videos to entertain the young ones.  Even though screen time should not be encouraged in children,  sometimes it is necessary. Especially in small nuclear family like ours,  I do have to bring my 3 years plus and 9 month old boys with me after office hours for events.  I just have to use it to distract them for a while on and off.

Not only that,  TAP also offers an exciting array of family themed competitions online. The prizes varies from household appliances,  electronics,  beauty products and free party event venue. The winner in me just loves to join these contests.

Watch the features of the TAP app on my YouTube!

Want to know more about The Asian Parenting App?

Official website
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Instagram 

Family Outing | Great British Circus Malaysia in Kuantan

The haze,  unfortunately,  is still lingering around.  This makes weekends so boring because the children are cooped up at home. Besides frequenting the shopping malls to spend some energy,  we have also visited Circus On Ice which is in Kuantan until 29 September 2019!

I got so excited that I produced a short YouTube highlights the night I came back from the show !

Great British Circus Malaysia
Serambi Teruntum
Jalan Tanjung Lumpur, 26060 Kuantan, Pahang
017-922 2044
Opens daily 9am-10pm
https://g.co/kgs/ACDZfK
Facebook
Instagram

The indoor sitting in the circus was comfortably set up with a central stage and many mobile hawkers in the tent- selling classic carnival food like hotdog buns,  fairy floss,  pop corns and toys. The venue was well aerated and cooling without air-conditioning, I think partially due to the fact that we were in the VIP rows right in the center near the stage which doubles as a skating rink. I would say it's worth the fee because we got an unobstructed view of the performers!

The performance started with a group of dancing skaters dressed like birds with fancy and shiny wings.

There were short skits featuring a clown with his boss Inma during intervals- he was extremely entertaining while engaging the audience. For example,  handing out umbrellas, later just to spray the audience with a water gun.

Acrobats were skating, balancing and manipulating fluorescent cubes overhead.

The juggler was so good that he could manage up to 10 blocks at a time without dropping any while skating!

Of course the children were already singing along and screaming when Olaf came onto the stage accompanied by a graceful Princess Elsa skating away.

We were absolutely amazed by how Melissa could bend her body like that. Or even shoot an arrow to burst a balloon using her feet! (as shown in my YouTube video)

Baby Yi nearly got a head butt from the skating penguins of Madagascar!

The clown engaging a volunteer to shake his booty (in which his missing coin eventually got shaken out into his hat).

A very impressive performance of two acrobats running in and out of the metal frame in gathering speed.  At a point,  blindfolded, all without safety ropes!

A cute and light giant bubble making show. Bing boy was chosen to be enveloped in a giant soap bubble but he chickened out as he was being ushered to the stage. What a shame!  Maybe next time one of us should follow him.

I was so worried that the gymnast may fell off from a height.  He was so agile at wrapping the cloth around parts of his body to halt the unravelling and freefall. I could imagine the strength required just to hoist himself up and spinning around the stage.

I love how the British performers adapted their costumes to have such vibrantly coloured hibiscus flowered dancers weaving around.

The grand finale came with tightrope walking.  Not only were the 4 performers were able to walk across in sequence, there were also daring acts like double splits on the rope,  cycling on the rope. We were in awe while watching the performer cycling on the rope.

The whole show was over in about 1.5hours with a 15 minutes break in between.  Just a good timing for family with young children like us. We were all fixated on the show and the children were dancing and applauding away. Importantly,  Bing boy managed to overcome his fear of clowns!

We highly recommend Circus On Ice because it's a show great for all ages.  Light and entertaining with impressive feats throughout. It's only in Kuantan until 29 September so hurry up before the show ends. Now I'm planning to visit their next show Circus Extreme which is coming up on 5 October in Kuala Terengganu.

Authentic Foochow Food | Restaurant Hock Hin Kuantan

Do you know that out of Perak, Kuantan the lazy town also has good Foochow food?

Restaurant Hock Hin
814, Jalan Penjara, Taman Raya, 25100 Kuantan, Pahang
https://g.co/kgs/UycLS8
Closes on Mondays

Foochow Red Wine Chicken Meesua

Stir fry mashed ginger using fragrant sesame oil with and red rice wine, it's a comfort food especially for ladies during confinement. Going down smooth with meesua, it's even suitable for children like Bing boy to enjoy. Don't worry the alcohol would have evaporated by the time the dish is cooked,  leaving behind a sweet aroma.

Fried fish with garlic caramel sauce

Fish deep fried till crispy which makes it taste just like fish crackers. The downside is Bing boy simply detests any food that's even slightly hard.  Drizzled with a thick caramel based sauce that's flavoured by minced garlic,    it makes the dishes simply appetizing.

Braised tofu with mixed vegetables

This is a classic dish for family with young children. Soft tofu with fried golden skin, pork slices, French beans,  broccoli,  carrot, Bak Choy, Shitake mushroom slices and onions cooked in a thick broth. It's tempting to eat because it's so colorful but be careful because the broth preserves heat so well that it may will scald your mouth!

Fried eggs with cockles

Fresh and juicy cockles fried inside a fluffy omelette makes a great savoury snack or side dish.  Dipped in sweet Thai chili sauce,  it balances the flavour out.

Hock Hin is a great spot for a quick fix either for lunch or dinner. Dining atmosphere wise,  it's a fairly standard Chinese restaurant setting but quite well aerated with portable air cooler. Our verdict is 7/10!