About Hinamatsuri ~ Nutritionist's Column Vol.59

It's getting warmer little by little as we enter March, and we can feel the footsteps of spring approaching.
Hinamatsuri is coming soon.
This time I would like to talk about the day known as "Peach Festival," which is celebrated to pray for the healthy growth and happiness of girls.

The History of Hinamatsuri

Peaches for Girls' Festival.
Peaches are considered to be a sacred tree that wards off evil spirits, and are said to have originated from the Jōshi Festival, which sees people ward off misfortune by receiving the life force of nature.
Since ancient times, the period around March 3rd is a time of seasonal change, and for various reasons, such as people being more susceptible to catching colds, it has been believed to be a time when evil spirits are more likely to enter and bring about disaster.

It is said that the modern-day Hina dolls first appeared around the Heian period, when people began to pray for children's happiness by having Hina dolls take the place of those who would suffer misfortune, and to pray for their health.
Customs relating to Hinamatsuri vary from region to region, but a common practice across the country is to display Hina dolls on an auspicious day after the beginning of spring, and then eat offerings unique to Hinamatsuri around March 3rd.

We will introduce some traditional foods eaten on Hinamatsuri, which marks the transition from winter to spring and contains nutrients that are good for the body.

Hinamatsuri dishes and fruits packed with nutrients

■Chirashi sushi <br data-mce-fragment="1">Auspicious ingredients include shrimp, which represents long life, lotus root, which represents good fortune, and beans, which represent hard work.
Decorating with green spring vegetables, mitsuba, yellow eggs, and orange carrots will create a colorful and vibrant look.

*Nutrients: The appeal of this dish is that it can be enjoyed with a variety of ingredients along with the sweet and sour vinegared rice. In addition to vinegar, which is expected to have a fatigue recovery effect, it also contains shrimp, beans, and eggs, which are rich in protein. Lotus root is rich in dietary fiber and vitamin C. Spring vegetables such as rape blossoms, which are rich in vitamins and minerals, allow you to take in a wide range of nutrients.

■Clam soup <br data-mce-fragment="1">Clam shells are considered a symbol of a happy marriage because the shape and patterns of clam shells only match those of their counterparts.
It is a prayer for finding a good match, being able to marry a compatible spouse, and living happily together.

*Nutrients: Clams, which are in season in the spring, are rich in minerals such as calcium, iron, and zinc.
It is also rich in nutrients such as taurine, which are effective in recovering from fatigue and strengthening liver function.
Since the dissolved ingredients in clear soup can be drunk as is, you can absorb all the nutrients without leaving anything behind.

■ Hishimochi (diamond-shaped rice cake)
It is made up of three vivid colors and its distinctive diamond shape is said to have been modeled after the diamond seed.
There are various theories about the colorful colors of hishi-mochi.
The pink color, which is derived from gardenia fruit, which is believed to have detoxifying properties, is said to contain meanings such as warding off evil and respecting ancestors.
The white color is said to represent prayers for prosperity of descendants, longevity, and purity.
The green colour, which is said to represent protection from evil and good health, is coloured with new mugwort buds, which are believed to increase blood.

*Nutrients in Mugwort: Mugwort is sometimes used in traditional Chinese medicine as it contains ingredients that comprehensively support health, such as chlorophyll, iron, beta-carotene, vitamins, and dietary fiber, and is expected to help prevent anemia and relieve constipation.

■ Hina Arare <br data-mce-fragment="1">Originally made from rice cakes that were offered to the gods, which were crushed and roasted, it was a very expensive sweet in the past.
Sugar was once a valuable commodity, so sweets made with sugar were considered to be highly nutritious and were given with the hope of staying healthy all year round.
They come in a variety of colors, including three and four colors.
In the case of the three colors, the pink represents "peach blossoms," the white represents "snow," and the green represents "the earth with new buds spreading."
When there are four colors, yellow is added to the three colors, and pink represents spring, green represents summer, yellow represents autumn, and white represents winter.

■ Baijiu <br data-mce-fragment="1"> Baijiu is an alcoholic beverage made by mixing mirin, steamed rice, and koji and maturing it.
In the past, people would drink a drink called "peach blossom wine," which was made by soaking peach petals.
Baijiu contains alcohol, so children cannot drink it.
Recently, on Hinamatsuri, which is celebrated with children, it has become common to drink "amazake" instead of shirozake.
*Nutrient information Amazake: It is called "a drinkable IV drip" because it is rich in nutrients such as vitamins, dietary fiber, and amino acids.
Rice Koji Amazake - A superfood also known as a "drinkable IV drip" or "drinkable beauty serum"

Hinamatsuri is a festival where food is vibrant and colorful, with eye-catching pop colors.
In addition to the festive atmosphere of celebrating spring, the event also conveys various wishes for health and happiness.
Let's enjoy Hinamatsuri this year by adding color to our dining table and enjoying the scent of spring.

Some GRØN products are earth green and peach colored, and some even contain amazake (sweet sake).
Buy from here .

——————————————————
Nutritionist, Food Education Instructor, Food 6th Industrialization Producer Level 4
Ayako Ishihara

A nutritional advisor in the healthcare field and an agribusiness professional.
She is involved in a variety of activities specializing in the fields of beauty and health, including giving lectures to Miss World Japan candidates.

With the philosophy of "enriching the mind and body through food and realizing a vibrant society where people and communities are connected," he founded i-Field Co., Ltd. in 2013 and serves as its representative.
He is a core member of the food team for "DINING OUT," which opens outdoor restaurants in various regions, and also participates in fashion brand projects.
She is also involved in the promotion of local ingredients, product development and production specializing in "health" and "beauty," branding, concept design, food hygiene, sales promotion, training planning and management, etc. She is in charge of nutritional supervision for GRØN's product development, proposing ways to incorporate them more effectively into consumer health.

——————————————————