December 3, 2012
Living in NYC I am so blessed to be within walking and / or subway distance to a ton of restaurants that are laser focused on the quality and sourcing of their ingredients. Nothing makes me happier than to hear that a restaurant buys their produce or meat from the local farmers’ markets (there are a lot more in the city than people expect). Instead of getting stressed out about where their food comes from or how its prepared, with these 3 places I can sit back, relax and actually enjoy my delicious food!
1. Hu Kitchen - This is a more recent obsession of mine. Hu Kitchen opened only a few months ago and I’ve already been here 10 times. Yes, 10. Hu Kitchen is the perfect destination for people with any dietary concern or lifestyle: it caters to everyone from Paleo eaters to vegans. I think it’s fantastic that their meat is all organic and grass-fed. Also, most of their items are made completely from scratch. This is wonderful, particularly for when I want an almond milk latte because to my knowledge, there are no packaged almond milks on the market that don’t have questionable additives like carrageenan in it. I also have to give a special mention to their mouthwatering desserts: I can never say no to their chocolate chia seed pudding or their macadamia nut (grain-free) brownies, which are super moist and decadent.
2. Gust Organics - A great brunch option for a lazy Sunday. Another place where meat eaters and vegans can eat together happily. Gust Organics is actually the first certified organic restaurant in New York City; knowing that everything is 100% organic just gives me so much peace of mind. They have an awesome $20 prix-fixe brunch option which includes coffee, fresh-squeezed orange juice and one entree. They also have great juice options for those of you who need your green juice fix.
3. Pure Food and Wine / One Lucky Duck - A mecca for you raw vegans out there. Even though my dietary choices definitely skew more caveman than raw vegan, I’m still madly in love with their food. I often wake up having intense cravings for their salads and zucchini “lasagna”. When the weather is nice, you must try to snag a seat in their gorgeous garden area (see above). I’m also infatuated with their swan greens juice (pineapple, spinach, mint, yuzu, grapefruit) and their blonde macarons. But beware if you’re in a rush – their service is definitely mediocre at best. I often find myself waiting for my food for a bit too long, but the food is good enough that I’m willing to put up with it.
Categorized Nutrition
Tagged Gust Organics, Hu Kitchen, Nutrition, NYC, One Lucky Duck, Organic Food, Pure Food and Wine, Restaurants
August 5, 2012
It seems like everyone in the blogosphere has travel on their mind these days. My job requires me to hop on a plane quite frequently, so travel is on my mind all year long. Not only am I always struggling with how to pack my suit without getting it all wrinkly but I used to have little panic attacks when I wondered how I could possibly stay healthy on the road.
But after what felt like my hundredth work trip, I think I have it figured out (for now). As with most things in life, I’ve found that preparation is key. In addition to well-known tips like packing a pair of sneakers / gym clothes and staying hydrated on the plane – here are my favorite ways to maintain my healthy habits when I’m in a different time zone:
1. Avoid plane food like the plague - It is no secret that plane food just tastes horrible. It is filled with sodium, sugar and a whole host of chemical additives you (and your skin) just don’t need to deal with. But instead of starving for the length of a plane trip, I ALWAYS pack my own meals and snacks. For example, for my upcoming trip to China at the end of the month, I already know that I’m going to pack my favorite Pumpkinseed Salad from One Lucky Duck in NY. No good snacks available? No problem. I pack at least one snack for each day I travel. In fact, I pack so much food that I always need to set aside 25% of my suitcase space for snacks alone. I hate being stuck in an airport without good, healthy snacks in my bag!
2. Wipe it down - I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen moms change their kids’ diapers on those little trays in front of our seats. So the first thing I do when I get on a plane is WIPE EVERYTHING DOWN. I know I look a little crazy, but I’d rather enjoy my salad without feces particles, thankyouverymuch. Not a fan of those harsh, drying antibacterial wipes? Me either. So I always make sure I can pack a couple of Herban Essentials’ Lavender Towelettes. Lavender has natural anti-bacterial qualities and smells wonderful too! For my hands, I like to keep a little bottle of Clean Well Hand Sanitizer handy.
3. Have an insurance policy – I try really hard to maintain my eating habits when I travel. But there are many times when I’m at a meeting / hotel that simply doesn’t have enough greens on their menu to fulfill my daily needs. So I have a little “insurance policy” that is otherwise known as Vibrant Health – Green Vibrance powder travel packets. I am much calmer when I know that I will at least be getting the bare minimum of my veggie needs each day. The taste definitely takes some getting used to, but if you’re used to juicing / making smoothies each day, this is a good substitute.
Image Credit: The Fashion Dish.
Categorized Nutrition
Tagged Clean Well, Green Vibrance, Health, Healthy Snacks, Herban Essentials, One Lucky Duck, Travel
