I’m a kid who grew up with an allergy to refined sugar. It’s exactly what you think it means. I’m that kid who grew up not being able to eat desserts or even really sweet fruits like lychee. Aside from the obvious downside of not being able to indulge a sweet tooth, it does have a silver lining: Eating healthy is not hard for me at all since it’s all I’ve ever known!

However, let’s be real. Looking at other people savor a decadent scoop of ice cream and knowing that I can’t have any is difficult, so that is when a sugar-free snack comes in handy. Most people don’t have a sugar allergy, but consuming too much refined sugar is terrible for our health.

This is a list of snacks that I turn to when I want a little pick-me-up. So, swap out some of your kids’ sugar-loaded cookies and cakes for a few of these healthier options.

1. CHOCODATE

This is a recent discovery of mine, and ever since I found out, I have been hooked. It is a date covered in chocolate with an almond on the inside. The brand offers quite a few flavors, ranging from sugar-free (the one I would go for) to all sorts of dark and white chocolate. If you are vegan, there are also vegan flavors as well: dark chocolate, coconut … you name it. CHOCODATE’s products can be found in some supermarkets or perhaps in online shops.

Here is a QR code for a vendor on Taobao that sells this product.

2. Chocday

We are still talking about chocolate, and this is my go-to option for sugar-free chocolate. All of the brand’s products are sugar-free, so there’s a wide range of flavors to choose from. My favorite has been their oat milk coffee-flavored chocolate, which also happens to be vegan as well. There are also options for dark chocolate, classic milk chocolate, and even limited edition flavors (currently the limited edition flavor is cheese-filled chocolate, which, frankly, I have not tried yet). You can find Chocday’s products in supermarkets and grocery stores.

Here is a QR code for a vendor on Taobao that sells this product.

3. Freshhippo’s date and walnut pie

Like CHOCODATE, this is also a recent discovery. What the name suggested was nothing like what was in the packet, though. These are small pieces of walnuts sandwiched between two layers of mashed dates. However, the taste was surprisingly delicious, with the sweetness of the dates combined with the crispy walnuts creating a pleasant texture, so it is a good substitute for sweets. You can get this snack on Freshhippo’s online store.

Here is a QR code for the product on Freshhippo.

4. Nature Valley’s granola bars

I guess you can’t go wrong with a good old classic granola bar, right? The brand offers plenty of flavors, ranging from honey to peanut butter to cinnamon, but my all-time favorite is dark chocolate. Yes, it does have a little bit of sugar, but I do not have any allergic reactions after eating it, so I guess it is agreeing with my system. Nature Valley’s products can be found in most supermarkets and grocery stores.

Here is a QR code for a vendor on Taobao that sells this product.

5. FUNYE fried fava beans

This snack is what I reach for when I want a savory treat. Even though the beans can be a bit oily, the burst of flavor and the crispiness make it worth the extra calories. I would suggest grabbing a handful and putting it on a plate before eating, because it’s hard to stop once you’ve had a taste, and you might find yourself finishing the entire bag in one sitting. FUNYE also has sunflower seeds and other snacks, which can be found on Taobao and in some supermarkets and grocery stores.

Here is a QR code for a vendor on Taobao that sells this product.

6. Popcorners

I’m saving the best for the last, and Popcorners are the ultimate choice of chips. The best thing about Popcorners is that the ingredients are all clean and the chips are not deep-fried. Unlike regular chips, Popcorners are (as the name suggests) made of corn, so in a way, it is popcorn being flattened into triangular chips. The chips come in so many flavors, but the sweet chili flavor is my favorite. Popcorners can be found in some supermarkets and grocery stores, and can also be bought online.

Here is a QR code for a vendor on Taobao that sells this product.

Images: Margaret Yang, Taobao

EpiPens are literally a life-saving medical device for many, but the fast delivery allergy medication is not available in China. Here, there’s an alternative instant allergy relief kit that can be prescribed by hospitals. However, recently I’ve come across a “grey area” on JD.com.

Before I go on, I need to remind all readers that jingkids is in NO WAY affiliated with the seller nor are we giving any medical advice. Please purchase all your online products at your own risk.

JD.com is one of China’s biggest online platforms. Along with Taobao and Pinduoduo, JD.com is seen as a more reputable platform since sellers are required to be verified before being allowed to conduct business. JD.com also has multiple stores owned by the company that are selling verified products, and JD.com’s delivery is amongst the most reliable of the online shopping platforms.

That said, there are self-run (non-JD.com owned) importers who are selling medicine from overseas. You can find everything from vitamins to Tylenol to EpiPens (RMB 1,389). There are multiple importers on JD.com who sell a wide array of products. When scrolling on JD.com, any product that has a purple import icon under the price means that it’s imported. This means that in order to purchase it, you’ll need to have someone with a Chinese ID make the purchase.

Following a quick chat with one of the online importers we learned that the products themselves are currently NOT in China. After you purchase them online they’ll be purchased overseas within 3-4 days and shipped to China. According to one seller’s estimate, shipping, clearing customs, and arriving in Beijing should take around 15 days.

Pro Tip: Be sure to clarify with the seller who will pay for the customs duty and what happens if there’s a delay or if the order doesn’t pass customs.

Now, how trustworthy are these medications? This is where you need to purchase at your own risk. EpiPens are only available with a prescription but the JD.com importers don’t ask for one. However, the patent technology of the EpiPen itself is something difficult to replicate.

Pro Tips:
Don’t take any seller’s word at face value. Always do your research. While photos can be faked, the likelihood of reviews, ratings, and verifications being faked is less likely.
When did they establish their business?
How many transactions have they done?
What’s their customer rating?
What comments are people leaving about their products and services?

Click on the seller’s store icon and you’ll be able to find most basic information you’re looking for.

Again, we’d like to remind readers to do their due diligence when shopping online, especially when it comes to medication.

Images: Mina Yan

KEEP READING: EpiPens Arent Allowed in China. What Alternatives Are There?

Yesterday morning I woke up and my eyes were a bit itchy. Not thinking too much of it, I went to work as usual. Then as the day went on, I started to notice those pesky little white balls of fluff floating around outside my office window.

Dang it. It’s already that time. Beijing is about to come under attack by the catkins once again.

If you’re a newbie to Beijing in the spring then you might be mistaken for thinking that the oft-muttered ‘airpocalypse’ has stepped it up a notch, starting to rain down unruly insta-cancer clumps of PM2.5. But no, this is a completely natural phenomenon. So let’s have a bit of a biology brush-up – it’s time to learn about the cottonwood poplar tree, birther of all that white stuff you’ve seen floating around.

It all began in the 1960s when the government felt the need to give Beijing a fresh, verdant makeover and decided to plant around 120 million poplar and willow trees over the ensuing years. These trees were chosen for their ability to thrive despite cold weather, droughts, flooding, poor soil conditions, and pests and insects, i.e. perfect for Beijing. They had been used across China in the past for a number of purposes, including timber production, agroforestry and for the protection of ecological development. Since then, millions more have been planted.

The cotton-like material is actually a mass of airborne seeds produced by catkins, or aments, prior to the cottonwoods’ bloom in spring, a trait that both the male and female poplar trees exhibit.

The next time you find yourself middle-finger akimbo to the sky, cursing the fluffy destroyer of your fate, calm yourself with the knowledge that the word ‘catkin’ comes from the old Dutch word katteken, meaning ‘kitten’, due to its resemblance to a kitten’s tail. Well, ain’t that cute … Damn you, cursed kitten tails, assassins of sight!

Alternatively, those with a dirty mind may find comfort in the fact that the word ‘ament’ is taken from the Latin amentum, meaning ‘thong.’

It is also poplars that line the Gobi Desert as a means of blocking sandstorms and reducing the gradual encroachment of the desert on Beijing. I’ll take kitten tails over minute shards of glass to the retina any day.

But why choose to plant a tree that craps everywhere?

Well, apart from the aforementioned reasons of hardiness, there doesn’t appear to be any real answer. Maybe it was for the cottonwood’s ability to inadvertently set fire to itself/buses/houses/universities. Fluff keeps people on their toes.

It may also be that city planners just didn’t bank on there being so much of the darned stuff. There is thought to be a seven-to-three ratio of female to male trees, creating an abundance of ornery orbs and leading the government to try and correct the gender imbalance by uprooting female trees and replacing them with males. Some trees are even given ‘sex reassignment surgery.’ Umm, what? In the simplest scientific terms, research tells me that by cutting off the female tree’s branches, male ones can then be stuck on. Makes sense.

So, other than giving the city an otherworldly vibe akin to something out of a Hayao Miyazaki film, plus multiplying the chances of death by bus a thousandfold while riding down Jiaodaokou Lu, there don’t appear to be any positives to having these trees around. But we better get used to them – a poplar can live for up to 100 years.

Since 2017, Beijing has launched a campaign to fight the catkins. 300,000 female willow and poplar trees have been injected with chemical inhibitors to prevent them from forming flower buds and their tree crowns have been pruned, said the municipal park and foresty greenification department. The initial campaign aimed to eradicate the over-proliferation of flying catkins by 2020.

While it hasn’t completely eradicated catkins, the amount of “summer snow” in Beijing has drastically decreased. But for those with seasonal allergies, it’s about time to visit your doctor and get a refill on your medication because the attack of the catkins is coming whether you’re ready for it or not!

Part of this article originally appeared on the Beijinger in April 2014.
Photos: ecns, Wikipedia, AT0086, Beijing News, Mike Wester

In recent years, dairy alternatives such as plant-based milk and exotic milk – or those that come from non-cow animals – have been rising in popularity. But what are they exactly? Are there different nutritional benefits? How different do they taste when compared to traditional milk? Where can you find such varieties in Beijing? And of course, the million dollar question: How much do they cost?

To find out more, we did a little digging and even conducted our own taste test with kids, just so you can have an idea of how well your own children may react to these milk alternatives.

Scan the QR code to watch kids try out milk alternatives!

Without further ado, let’s mooooo-ve on and discover the exotic cousins to cow milk!

Cow milk

Nutrition: We set the base line with cow milk so that you know how all the alternatives stack up against it. Cow milk is very protein-rich and contains all the vital amino acids needed in the body. It is also great for people who have a vitamin B12 deficiency, which is crucial for brain health. Cow milk is also one of the most consumed forms of milk, mainly due to its calcium-rich content, strengthening muscles and bones which are essential for growth. However, full-fat cow milk may be a concern for people who are wary of saturated fat, hence why skim milk – where the fat is removed – is a great option. Cow milk is not recommended for lactose-intolerant people.

Pricing: RMB 2-RMB 6 per bottle

Availability: Readily available

Taste: Well, you probably already know! Full cream milk is full-bodied, rich, and creamy. Some people find skim milk too thin and watery.

Camel milk

Nutrition: Camel milk is great for people who are diagnosed with diabetes or have a weak immune system. Despite being low in cholesterol and sugar, it is rich in vitamins and minerals, offering large amounts of iron, magnesium, calcium, potassium, and vitamin C. Surprisingly, camel milk’s protein is different than normal dairy milk, which is why it doesn’t generally trigger lactose-intolerant responses. Take note, however, that the protein and lactose content is also less than cow milk.

Pricing: RMB 40+ per bottle

Availability: Taobao, local neighborhood stores

Taste: Salty-sweet, cheesy, buttery. Of all types of milk, camel milk is most like breast milk, making it a great alternative for babies. However, some people find the sweetness unctuous and cloying.

Buffalo milk

Nutrition: Buffalo milk is the least desirable type of milk for calorie-watchers as it is very high in fat. Regardless, its health benefits are incredible. Buffalo milk lowers blood pressure and promotes bone and heart development. For those who suffer from circulatory issues, buffalo milk could be your new best friend. Furthermore, buffalo milk is rich in protein, phosphorus, vitamin A, iron, and calcium, which all play a prominent role in your immune system.

Pricing: RMB 6-RMB 10 per bottle

Availability: Taobao, Shan Mu grocery store, and local stores

Taste: Sweet and creamy. Some people say that it tastes like sweetened vanilla milk.

Goat milk

Nutrition: As goat milk has a lower lactose content than cow milk, it’s easier to digest and less inflammatory than cow milk. Goat milk also reduces cholesterol levels, and its fatty acids are great for heart health. Surprisingly, goat milk offers more calcium than cow milk. Plus, if you want glowing skin, goat milk is perfect for you!

Pricing: RMB 7-RMB 11 per bottle

Availability: Taobao, MeiTuan, TMall, some local grocery stores

Taste: Creamy, buttery, tangy. Some people find the creaminess slightly unctuous.

Oat milk

Nutrition: Here’s something you may not know about this vegan milk alternative: Although oat milk has more carbohydrates and fewer proteins, it’s packed with vitamin B, iron, and magnesium. Studies have shown that the fiber found in oat milk helps regulate blood sugar and improves cholesterol levels and digestion. However, although oat milk is lactose-free, folks with gluten intolerance should double-check the labels, as some manufacturers may unintentionally cross-contaminate. Lastly, if you are watching your carb intake, oat milk may not be the best option for you.

Pricing: RMB 5-RMB 12 per bottle

Availability: Taobao, Starbucks, TMall, most grocery stores

Taste: Sweet and nutty.

Rice milk

Nutrition: Rice milk is known to contain the least amount of allergens, making it a great milk alternative for the most severe lactose-intolerant cases. Furthermore, it’s great for those with high blood pressure and heart issues, as it’s free of fat and cholesterol. On that note, it also offers the least amount of calcium and protein, while being high in carbohydrates, like oat milk.

Pricing: RMB 6-RMB 14 per bottle.

Availability: Taobao, TMall, some local stores

Taste: A nice sweet taste that comes from brown rice. Some people find it a bit too watery.

KEEP READING: Action and Reaction: How One Beijing Family Raised a Happy, Healthy Child Despite Multiple Allergies

Images: Taobao, Pexels 

If you’re a newbie to Beijing in the spring then you might be mistaken for thinking that the oft-muttered ‘airpocalypse’ has actually stepped it up a notch, starting to rain down unruly insta-cancer-clumps of PM2.5. Well, not quite, but we could all do with a biology brush-up – it’s time to learn about the cottonwood poplar tree, birther of all that white stuff you’ve seen floating around.

It all began in the 1960s when the government felt the need to give Beijing a fresher, more verdant landscape and decided to plant around 120 million poplar and willow trees over the ensuing years. These trees were in part chosen for their ability to thrive through resistance to the cold, droughts, flooding, poor soil conditions as well as pests and insects i.e. perfect for Beijing, and had been used across China previously for a number of means, including timber production, agroforestry and for the protection of ecological development. Since then millions more have been planted.

Catkins: the stuff of nightmares

The cotton-like material is actually a mass of airborne seeds produced by catkins, or aments, prior to the cottonwoods’ bloom in spring, a trait that both the male and female poplar trees exhibit.

The next time you find yourself middle-finger akimbo to the sky, cursing the masked destroyer of your fate, calm yourself with the knowledge that the word ‘catkin’ comes from the old Dutch word katteken, meaning ‘kitten’, due to its resemblance to a kitten’s tail. Well, ain’t that cute … Damn you, cursed kitten tails, assassins of sight!

Alternatively, those with a dirty mind may find comfort in the fact ament is taken from the Latin amentum, meaning ‘thong’.

Times are hard for poplar trees

It is poplars that also line the Gobi Desert as a means to block sandstorms and reduce the gradual encroachment of the desert on Beijing. I’ll take kitten tails over minute shards of glass to the retina any day.

But why choose to plant a tree that craps everywhere?

Fluff to fire in zero seconds

Well, apart from the aforementioned reasons of hardiness, there doesn’t appear to be any real answer. Maybe it was for the cottonwood’s ability to encourage humans to inadvertently set fire to themselves/buses/houses/universities. Fluff keeps people on their toes.

Oh god, it’s everywhere! As well as lodging in eyes, nose, mouth and throat, the fluff can also aggravate allergies

It may also be that city planners just didn’t bank on there being just so much of the darned stuff. There is thought to be a seven-to-three ratio of female to male trees, creating an abundance of ornery orbs and leading the government to try and correct the gender imbalance by uprooting females and replacing them with males as well as providing the trees with ‘sex reassignment surgery’. Umm, what? In the simplest scientific terms, research tells me that by cutting off the female’s branches, male ones can then be stuck on. Makes sense.

Aww, kitty tails!

So, other than giving the city an otherworldly vibe, akin to something out of a Hayao Miyazaki film, plus multiplying the chances of death by bus a thousand fold while riding down Jiaodaokou Lu, there don’t appear to be any positives to having these trees around. But we better get used to them – a poplar can live for up to 100 years.

If there’s one bright side to this, it’s that we don’t live in Chongqing, where residents are stuck with money-sucking, nose-busting, can’t-even-live-without-an-‘intravenous’-drip wimpy-ass Gingko trees instead.

This article originally appeared on the Beijinger in April 2014.
Photos: ecns, Wikipedia, AT0086, Beijing News