Izakaya lures them onto the Japanese diet for free. But be quick
Legend has it that there are families whose offspring spend the summer holidays in a frenzy of drawing, reading, cycling and hopscotching, all interspersed with vigorous outdoor play and ginger-beer fuelled adventure. But for those families who don’t live in the 1950s, these last six weeks of suspended animation are currently reaching peak ennui.
While the odd afternoon spent horizontal in front of the telly with the curtains closed is part and parcel of the annual elongated escape from school, an accompanying six-week diet of Pringles and Mr Kipling Cherry Bakewells devoured straight from the pack is unlikely to do much for kids’ health.
A much more nutritious accompaniment to endless episodes of Rick and Morty would be a delicious platter of Japanese delicacies. Research published in The Lancet reveals that Japan has the highest healthy life expectancy in the world, while The British Medical Journal has trumpeted the health benefits of the Japanese diet. That means plenty of fish, soybean products and a low fat intake in place of Doritos and Haribo round the clock.
But if you don’t happen to have sushi and bao buns to hand, what can you do to make sure the kids consume a diet that’s more Tokyo, less Tocky?
Take them to Izakaya on Castle Street, that’s what. Because every day between 2.30pm and 5.30pm, the sushi-and-more restaurant is feeding children for free.
Why? Because co-founder Harry Marquart wants to help Liverpool’s youth grab some of that Japanese longevity for themselves.
“I believe restaurants have a responsibility to offer vibrant, tasty, and nutritious food choices to its customers, and that’s for adults! Children, on the other hand, often get a raw deal and are lumbered with something lacking nutrition, colour and excitement. Is it a wonder they’re eating pizza and chips again?
“My restaurant, Izakaya, boasts that the Japanese-inspired cuisine we offer is largely fresh and unprocessed, with very little refined foods, sugar or salt. The team and I want to help educate Liverpool’s children about healthier choices by introducing them to a Japanese diet for free.”
So assuming your kids could do with a perky culinary adventure in these last few days before the schools go back, what would Marquart recommend?
“Put aside the fidget spinners and order some edamame beans,” he says. “Popping them out of their snug case is a neat and humorous way to occupy them while the family waits for the main event.
“Sushi novice? Start simple with some fresh nigiri before exploring some hosomaki. These mini bites of sushi are perfect for sharing. Try some flavoursome uramakai, and I recommend the Aubergine Dragon. It’s a vegan delight saturated with healthy veg.”
And if your kids think “oriental style” cuisine starts and stops with Koka noodles from Home and Bargain, Marquart has another suggestion.
“Ramen is a hearty bowl of flavoursome broth with fresh noodles packed full of meat and veggies and taste. It is part of a healthy and balanced diet.”
So if you want to help your kids live long and prosper while also giving your wallet a treat, a kids-eat-free afternoon at Izakaya could turn them onto something tastier than the pitta breads and Nutella they might find on one of their rare scavenges through the kitchen.
And when the alarm goes on that first day back at school, perhaps you’ll find that instead of a sluggish, sofa-bound, complaining child, you’ll have a rapidly rising son. Or daughter.
