Thurs. June 21st

The Perfect Margarita

Daily Tidbit:  It is hard to beat a restaurant with delicious food AND a view like the one in the pic above (not to mention with the "perfect margarita")!  But it can be a challenge navigating a restaurant menu when you are trying to eat healthy and maximize your experience.  I have a couple rules I like to follow when I go out.... 

1.  Order something you wouldn't typically make at home

2.  Order seasonal foods and dishes


3.  Also a good way to ensure your order is getting special attention is by ordering one of the Specials

4. Instead of ordering a typical starch that will just fill you up (pasta, baked potato, rice, fries) order 2 vegetables and get double veggies


5.  Know your priorities and review all menus (Appetizers, Salads, Entrees & Dessert) before making any choices.   If one of my favorites is on the Dessert menu (Carrot Cake, Pecan Pie, something Lemony) it may affect my choice I make for  my Salad, Appetizer or Meal.  And most likely I may skip a course or two, to focus on the one thing I truly want!  In this case I focused on enjoying as much seafood as possible and a Margarita or two.  Mission accomplished!

Here are some tips from the American Heart Association about how to make healthy choices when dining out with various cuisines such as Greek, Indian, Chinese, French, Mexican, Thai & Vietnamese, as well as at Steakhouses and Family restaurants.  They also give recommendations on specific dishes to avoid and which to order.  For example if you are going out for Cajun, it is much better to order Jambalaya and avoid the Gumbo!


www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/NutritionCenter/DiningOut/Tips-by-Cuisine_UCM_308333_Article.jsp

Bagel & Eggs for Breakfast!

Breakfast:  Bagel & Eggs

My adoring Uncle Ed picked up delicious looking bagels for us this morning, so I had to indulge myself :)

But I chose a whole grain bagel covered with seeds (more fiber) and only ate half, toasted and smeared with enough delicious cream cheese for full enjoyment.  To properly balance out the meal I scrambled up some eggs to make sure I got the protein needed to keep me full through the morning.

5 oz. glass OJ

Regular Coffee, black

Quiche with Greek Salad and Chips for Lunch!

Lunch:  Quiche!

Another delicious slice of Aunt Priscilla's Quiche Lorraine with Broccoli, Mushrooms, Onions & Bacon (full well knowing I won't enjoy it again until I see her next summer!)

More yummy Reduced Fat Kettle Cooked Potato chips, Mesquite flavored

Greek side salad

Water

Iced Coffee, regular & black

Snack:  1/4 Cup of Dry Roasted, Unsalted Almonds, Bottle of Water

Calamari Appetizer!

Dinner: Dinner out with the family!

-Appetizers to share:  Fried Calamari tossed with Garlic and Pepperoncini and an order of Crispy Shrimp tossed in a slightly spicy cream sauce (sadly, no pic of this one), Margarita 


-Main Entree:  Baked Stuffed Shrimp, Cod, Scallops and Salmon topped with lemon butter sauce, with Green Beans & Squash, Margarita, and just 1 yummy dinner roll  (I actually only ate 1 or 2 green beans and half the squash because again, I was really focusing on enjoying the seafood tonight and there is only so much room in my stomach!)

Baked Seafood Platter for Dinner with Double Veggies!

Dessert:  Not needed, very full.  Bottle of Water.