60th birthday present ideas for Dad

The 60^th birthday has an important significance in many cultures, and it is natural for the filial child to want to get a present for their parent to celebrate this milestone. In Chinese, we call this coming to age 六十大寿 (liu shi da shou), which signifies a great achievement. I have a friend whose Dad is turning 60 next month, and she asked me for gift ideas.

I recall fretting over the same issue a few years ago when my Dad celebrated his 60^th birthday. I am sure some of you are looking for inspiration on what best to give your Dad or loved ones for their 60^th birthday. Well look no further, you would be surprised that the answer actually comes from within you.

Ask yourself

If you stop to think about your previous interactions with your Dad, you might find some clue as to what might be the best present to give him.

Ask yourself what he values:

Is he a person that values quality time? If so, spend a day out with him.
Is he the sentimental type? If so, make him a photo frame with a family picture inside.
Is he the breadwinner who is also doing the household chores? If so, get him a robotic cleaner!

Ask yourself what he likes:

Is he into SPORTS? Golf clubs, tennis rackets, etc
Or is he a fine connoisseur of the ARTS? Music CDs, drama DVDs, etc
What about his favourite food? Everyone definitely has his own personal favourite!  

Ask yourself what you observed:

Is his backpack worn-out and overused? If so, you know what to do.
Did he spend a little bit more time looking at the particular camera at COURTS?
Did he complain of back pain frequently? Even a massage is a sweet enough present of appreciation.

In fact, I think that the gift idea that you manage to come up after reflecting is most likely the best and most sincere option.

10 gift ideas for his 60th birthday

In the event that you are not really close to your Dad and not very sure, or that your Dad is the extremely simple person that is fine with everything (totally possible), or just plain clueless - not to worry! There are always businesses out there with a plethora of products for your leisure selection. I have shortlisted 10 ideas with a good mix of unique and safe choices.

1. Throw him a party
   The very first basic thing you can do for him is to hold an event for him. If he is sociable, invite all his friends. If he prefers quality time, keep it cozy to just a family dinner. Get a nice restaurant, or cook a nice dinner for him.
   
   
2. Shirt
   The good old commodity that everyone needs. Who doesn’t wear a shirt? It might be a common present, but you can make it very unique by choosing something adventurous or make your own.
   
   
3. Parker Pen
   Parker Pens are a symbol of quality. This is especially suitable if your Dad is the type that likes to go around with pen in pocket.
   
   
4. Message Gifts
   You might have seen those souvenirs with words like “World’s greatest Dad” inscribed on them. Choose from either a cup, trophy, t-shirt, etc or even give him the whole set.
   
   
5. Card
   The most traditional yet effective method of conveying your love. Buy or make one.
   
   
6. Take a trip out of town
   Different people travel at different frequencies, but I am sure everyone enjoys seeing a new place with nice scenery. You need not fork out the full amount, but I am sure your Dad will be able to appreciate your effort in organizing and putting a trip together for him and your family.
   
   
7. Photo Scrapbook
   Nothing beats a handmade photo album down memory lane. Great for some family time together reminiscing on the good old days.
   
   
8. Ipad
   You’ll be surprised –the Ipad is so user-friendly and could potentially be used by even the most technological illiterate elderly. My parents are now crawling all over the internet like a teenager, thanks to the Ipad!
   
   
9. Luxury item
   On this special day, buy a luxury item to reward your dad which he would never get during normal days. This can be a bottle of wine, a watch or painting. This is something you’ll expect him to say “Why waste the money??” but you know he feels the sweetness of owning it.
   
   
10. Ang Pao Money  
    The last minute idea is to give cash, of course packaged nicely into a nice red packet. Even if this is not a last minute idea, giving ang pao money is often a good idea. The older generation seems to welcome this; they view it as an encouraging symbol that their children are earning money and are able to provide for them.

Remember, these gifts are commercial, so always think of how to personalize your gift by asking yourself. Even at the course of shortlisting the gift ideas, I have steered to the ones which require some form of personal touch. Ultimately, the best kind of gift in my opinion is an experience that is meaningful and relevant to your Dad’s character. So, put in some effort and start retrospecting!

Hope this tip was useful for you!
EUFASS

Cheap Low-carb food in Singapore and my experience

Food that is both low-carb and cheap in Singapore is hard to find. Fortunately, the affordable hawker food can offer some low carb meal options. But first, what is with a low-carb diet and why go low-carb?

As you age, your metabolism will slow

I think a lot of my friends in their mid to late 20s are looking into the mirror more often and cannot help but notice the growing layers of fat accumulated around the lower belly. I am sure a lot of young adults in their 20s to 30s are beginning to realize that their metabolism has slowed, and they can’t continue to eat as much as they would like to without going out of shape.

It is a subsequently natural for health and figure-conscious people to seek solutions on how to keep in shape. They start to exercise more, eat less and may even turn to slimming treatments.

Don’t eat less, but eat right

Dieting is not advisable, as it might rob you of your energy for your daily work. Slimming treatments might get you there, but it is expensive and unnatural. Exercise more, yes definitely, but I myself am working out on alternate days but yet to see results. The answer, which really helps, is about eating right.

In Singapore, we eat a lot of rice and noodle (high carb) as it is our main staple and we are told that eating lots of rice will give us energy. Indeed, carbohydrates are our body’s main energy source, but it also the main culprit for our weight gain!

The benefits of a low-carb diet by people who have tried such a diet range from weight loss to improvement in cholesterol levels. I believe low-carb diet has worked for me, to a certain extent in weight loss. You can do some research on benefits of low-carb diets and will realize along the way that your usual meals are highly likely the main contributors for your belly fat.

It is important however, to know the risks of a low-carb diet and stop if your body feels unwell.

Low-carb suggestions in Singapore

Now given that most food in Singapore are high-carb, what are some low-carb options in Singapore which we can get conveniently and cheaply?

Look no further than your nearby hawker centres. Just try to avoid rice and noodles.

·         Sliced fish soup (no rice)

This is my personal favourite. The main problem is it is not filling for many. What I do is I’ll get a double portion of fish or buy 2 servings.

[UPDATE 27 April 2014: For fish soup, I actually recommend Wang Yuan Fish Soup at Blk 824 Coffeeshop, Tampines St 81. The vegetables are homegrown, and very tasty and crunchy. Let's support our local hawkers!]

·         Western food

Choose between chicken chop, pork chop, lamb chop  and beef steak. Cut down on the fries/ potato.

·         Yong Tau Foo (no noodles/rice)

YongTau Foo is a very healthy option in my opinion. The ngor hiang, fishballs are good sources of protein. Skip the sweet sauce for maximum effectiveness.

·         Mixed vegetables rice (Less/no rice)

Choose meat and egg dishes for high protein. The variety available makes it less boring. Similar to buying from chicken/roast pork rice stall.

·         Wanton mee/ dumpling soup

Some low-carb food for snacking you can get from NTUC

·         Peanut butter

·         Cheese

·         Edamame (look at the frozen food section)

My experience on low-carb diet and recommendation

·         For beginners, practice low-carb Dinners

When I first become conscious of my increasing waistline, I stepped up the intensity of exercise to alternating between weights and cardio. That had limited success as my appetite increased.

A friend later told me to skip dinner entirely. I tried that and I would say the results from skipping dinner can be seen in just one week. However, beside the hunger to endure, my instinct tells me that skipping dinners is probably bad for health.  

I discovered a better alternative to skipping dinners was to eat less or no rice for dinner. This worked for me, and I did not have to feel hungry for most of the night.

·         Reprogram your definition of food

What you have been eating – chicken rice, char kway teow, bakchor mee is not food. They consist of huge proportion of carbohydrates in the form of rice and noodles, and contribute to your belly fat. Tell yourself that real food is  protein-rich food like white meat, green leafy vegetables,etc. That should help steer you to cut down on most of your carbohydrates intake.

·         Do not cut down on what’s good for you

And by “what’s good for you” I mean food like fruits. There are some sources online which recommend low-carb diets and advise refraining from some types of fruits. Personally, I think taking fruits even at night is ok, fruits are generally good for health and you should not stop taking them. Just refrain from the starchy food like your rice and noodles.

Hope this was useful for you! If you have any medical condition or not sure of anything, please always consult a doctor before attempting to switch your diet.

EUFASS

Random trivia that you must know

1) How did the name "Buddha Jump Over the Wall" came about?

Expensive food usually comes with exquisite name. "Buddha Jump Over the Wall" is a famous and interesting example of such food. So how did this name come about?

Buddha Jump Over the Wall is called as such to illustrate that it's so tempting that even monks would jump over the monastery walls to eat this dish.

2) Why does 7-ELEVEn has everything in caps has all letters in CAPS but a small "n" ?

Have you realized that the eleven from 7-11 is spelled in all caps but with a small "n"? If you did, you really do have acute observation skills!

My tour guide shared with us today that this is due to a belief that the letter N points and directs all the fortune outwards, while the small letter "n" point and directs all fortune inwards! There you have it, and perhaps that's why 7-11 is the world's largest chain of convenience stores!

Is too much yakult bad for health?

Beside coming in small bottles (which means you cant get enough of it), Yakult is known for containing good bacteria that helps with digestion. But hey, before you pick up your 2nd bottle, have you ever wondered whether too much of this tasty drink is bad for health?

The answer, is that too much of Yakult will not be detrimental to health (hooray!). The excess good bacteria if unused will be passed through the bowels.

The source of information, which i found useful, can be found from Yakult's faq and pamphlet. You can also find other related questions such as its sugar content and suitability for young kids in the faq.

PS: Sometimes I have the urge to finish all 5 bottles... but remember, the key to good health is to eat/drink in moderation!

What is my recommended calorie intake?

"Watch my weight, lose my tummy" is my current goal for this period. While snacking on Hershey's dark chocolates pearls today, the tagline of "Only 10 calories per piece" sparked my curiosity. To prevent myself from overeating, how much calories do I need daily? 

I think the Health Promotion Board (government agency promoting good health to Singaporeans) has a number of helpful tools in this area. For example, you can find out your recommended calorie intake from an interactive application here. (No downloads required)

I tried it, and it will base its calculations on your

• gender
• age group
• weight
• type of office job
• intensity of physical activity

The daily recommended intake for me was 2859 kcal.

Also, the HPB also provides the calorie count for some of the typical food we eat here. If you're wondering , that plate of char kway teow you're eating now is 744kcal. 

Finally, is kcal and calories the same thing? Yes.

Hope this post was useful to you
EUFASS