Healthful Bites

23 Jul 2011
31 notes

Healthy Restaurant Review: Dogmatic NY

When I mention summer dining, what dishes come to mind? Perhaps ice cream, watermelon, corn on the cob or a burger or dog hot off the grill? Living in a studio apartment that lacks a Weber (or any place to keep that useful cooking tool), nearly all of my grilled eats are sourced from restaurants.

Earlier this week, I was feeling in the mood for something new for dinner, craving something grilled and had been considering stopping by Dogmatic for days. The perfect storm to direct me toward the New York City shop for a meal!

Originally started as a food cart, the brand became a restaurant in 2008. Their menu includes sausages made from varying organic and grass-fed meats (beef, lamb, pork, turkey, chicken), as well as a vegetarian option (asparagus); all of which come loaded in a “bread tube” with your sauce of choice. Dogmatic also offers tasty sides and handmade sodas flavored with fruit.

After stepping up to the counter, I placed my order: an asparagus dog with horseradish mustard and “non-fried fries.” I’m not typically a mustard fan or a horseradish fan, but going with the trend of trying something new, I asked for the horseradish mustard sauce on the side (so I could dip at my discretion ;) ) The chef tossed a handful of asparagus, which I believe were lightly coated in olive oil, on the grill and took a baguette off one of the “warming spikes.” And A + B = dinner!

The bread was crunchy on the outside and the asparagus was grilled to perfection. My objections to horseradish and mustard must cancel each other out, because the sauce was actually pretty good! The waffle fries were quite tasty and not greasy at all. They only would have been better if they were slightly warmer.

Dogmatic is certainly more pricey than a street hot dog stand, but you can rest assured that the ingredients are higher quality and the conditions are cleaner (you can see the grilling from the dining area—no hot dog water)! After that delicious dinner, I plan to be back.

If you want to see Dogmatic, rather than just read about it, check out this feature that aired on Food Network’s Unwrapped! And you can find more of my NYC restaurant picks here.

Have you dined out at any new places recently? Tell me about it in the comments!

14 Nov 2010

NYC Health & Fitness Tweet-Up!

Yesterday, I joined a few of my e-pals for lunch at a Manhattan organic restaurant, GustOrganics—finally meeting the amazing people I chat with on Twitter or speak with on their blogs!

The conversation flowed as well as the water does at a get-together of healthy living bloggers. ;) We discussed our own fitness plans, the proposed changes to the Weight Watchers plan (two of the tweeters actually attend the same Weight Watchers meetings!), the current season of The Biggest Loser, as well as all of the fantastic day jobs among the group!

When it came time to order, I, and several of my dining pals, opted for the whole-wheat grilled veggie pizza. The crust itself was grilled too! It was almost like a sliced veggie salad topped with oregano, on top of a grilled flatbread smothered in tomato sauce. Delish!

And how neat is it that they serve the pizza on a wooden plank?

Group shot! Margo (Brooklyn Fit Chick), Alison (Foster Fitness), Sheryl (Bitch Cakes), Rob (Fit City) and Sarah (behind the camera and below in the lovely orange jacket!).

As we were getting ready to leave and enjoy the Indian summer weather, we planned to gather again soon—next time for a group workout! So if you’re around the NYC area, stay tuned and I will let you know when that is organized. It is sure to be a blast!

Have you ever met your “web” friends in person? Was it a great experience (like mine yesterday) or not-so-much?

15 Aug 2010
2 notes

The Scoop About The Lite Choice

When I was interning in the City last summer, I tried to make the rounds to various restaurants to try the offerings. Of course, New York is famous for the pizza, pretzels and cupcakes, but there are plenty of other goodies to discover. I chronicled my ten favorite places that I had visited over the summer on this blog before moving back to the Big Apple, and the folks over at The Lite Choice discovered themselves on my list!

Claudia and Ron were kind enough to offer a visit to one of the “TLC” stores for a Taste the Difference tour.

When I arrived, Ron told me about the all organic, all-natural and kosher dairy mix that makes up the yogurt base. Today’s flavors at the Upper West Side location? Chocolate Rocky Road, Raspberry Truffle, Chocolate, French Vanilla, Angel Food Cake and Chocolate Chip Mint. All flavors have between 80 and 120 calories per serving—much less than the 200+ calories per serving that can be found in premium ice cream flavors with the same name (300 calories per half cup, Haagen Dazs?!? Seriously?).

Ron let me take the reigns and fill a cup. I began with a couple spoonfuls of Angel Food Cake (tastes just like the pastry Mom makes!) and French Vanilla (a classic!).

Next, I learned about the peanut and almond butter options for mix-ins or toppings. No doubt, other food bloggers out there would have a ball playing with, and tasting the creations from, the fresh nut butter churner!

Simply flip a switch and the nuts—and nothing else—are mixed into a creamy consistency. Ron topped the French Vanilla yogurt with some almond butter, then mixed the two in the fancy “Any Flavor, Any Time” shake-like machine! The results, with a little hot fudge that Ron recommended:

Like a Reese’s treat with some cool vanilla thrown in the mix! I snagged a few bites of this as well…had to pace myself! ;)

Last summer, and the times that I have been back this year, I’d noticed the “Any Flavor, Any Time” sign, but never taken advantage of it. So I asked Ron, “How do they do that?”

Well, you begin with a plain base, such as French Vanilla. Next, add a squirt from their flavor bottles, which are basically blended fruit concentrates or other natural flavors.

Then get ready to do some mixing! The flavor and yogurt go on a ride in the shake machine until they are thoroughly combined.

I got to try this too! And can I say thank you Ron for the perfect angle on the photos to make my biceps look nice and buff? :)

The final product: Strawberry yogurt. The verdict: another winner! And there is no additional cost for custom flavors. Cool!

We also chatted about the stores loyal customers (some come in twice or three times a day, slurping on protein shakes for meal replacements!) and discussed top toppings. Can you guess which is the most ordered?

Rainbow sprinkles. (Or do you call them Jimmies?) Either way, I can see their colorful appeal. Just remember that one tablespoon has about 60 calories, so you may want to ask for “light sprinkles.” There are a few tasty fruit toppings offered as well!

Our tour ended with a trip the the lobby freezers, which stocked to-go pints and quarts, ice cream sandwiches and bars and frozen yogurt cakes. I might have to come back for one of the cakes for a future celebration, don’t you think?

What a fun afternoon! You can’t really have a bad one with all that tasty yogurt. Thanks to the crew at The Lite Choice for the fantastic tour and delicious treats! You know I’ll be back ;)

What is your favorite flavor and topping for ice cream, frozen yogurt or gelato?

11 Jul 2010

Should you Try Macro Eating?

On Thursday after work, I had the pleasure of meeting the lovely Danielle for dinner at SoHo’s Souen restaurant. Danielle and I first met while we both interned at Fitness last summer, and more recently reunited as roomies at Fitbloggin’! She is now keeping busy with a fantastic internship at a unique company and she always has great stories to share. So was the food at Souen, a macrobiotic restaurant, as good as the company?

We’ll get to that soon, but first: what does macrobiotic mean?

In Greek, macrobiotic literally translates to big/long life. The plan emphasizes eating natural and mainly plant-based foods and being in-tune with the environment. Proponents claim that eating this way will better align your body and spirit with nature—thus leading to extra years, fewer illnesses and greater happiness. Organic and seasonal foods are encouraged whenever possible and the eating local craze seems to jive pretty well with the macrobiotic philosophy.

Macrobiotic “dietary guidelines” recommend vegetables at every meal, whole grains, fruit juices without added sugars, non-meat protein sources such as beans or tofu and certain teas.

When it came time to order, Danielle and I had a “great minds think alike” moment! We both decided on the Macro Plate and opted to split an order of Gluten Free Cornbread as well.

I think the orange bits are carrots, and the dressing/dip is tahini.

The Macro plate came with the legume of the day, black-eyed peas—which weren’t quite as rockin’ as the band, but close! ;) Steamed greens, carrots, broccoli, kabocha squash and hijiki seaweed represented the vegetable family. And the meal was rounded out with about a cup of brown rice.

Now the verdict: the cornbread dish was a little disappointing. Danielle and I agreed that the texture was nice, but the taste was not like any cornbread I had ever had before. It was slightly nutty in flavor and not nearly as sweet as most cornbreads that I am used to. The slices were cooked well, with a soft inside and slightly crunchy crust. But the consistency couldn’t mask the fact that the cornbread wasn’t extremely tasty, in my opinion. (And the tahini wasn’t too hot either).

It’s not all bad news at Souen, however! The Macro Plate was quite delish. The black-eyed peas were the perfect savory and smooth accompaniment to the just al dente (you can use that term for more than pasta, right?) brown rice. I loved how the vegetables were very simply steamed so that they retained their amazing taste and texture. Some restaurants say “steamed” when they really “saute” or cook in plenty of oil, so I give kudos to places that really steam when they say they are! This dish confirmed the fact that I am not a fan of seaweed at all. But now I know for the future! It’s always good to expand your horizons—if for nothing else than to have a story to share :)

Overall, the prices at Souen were very affordable and the atmosphere was very zen. I will likely return to try some of their more adventurous offerings or daily specials.

From the looks of the menu and my review, would you be interested in joining me? What do you think of the macrobiotic concept?

27 Jun 2010
1 note

It’s Easy Eating Green…Here’s How!

As an post-work treat on Monday, I met a few new friends for dinner at a recently opened restaurant that can only be found in NYC and London: Otarian. I had seen ads all around town and online for this “green” restaurant and suggested it as a fun place to try. Especially after I found out that one of my fellow diners (hey Jennifer!) was the host and producer of an environment-focused radio show. Perfect!

Despite some fairly negative Yelp reviews, the four of us decided to give Otarian a shot and make our own call.

The vegetable-based menu is divided into:

Openers (soups and salads)
Quick Bites (wraps, tacos, flatbreads, burgers)
Offerings (lasagna and other pasta dishes, tarts, biryani)
Obsessions (desserts)
Others (drinks, sides, condiments)

While this can be a bit confusing at first glance, it’s kind of cute to have new categories rather than appetizers, entrees and desserts. The other unique thing about the menu: it lists the calories (since it only has two outlets, this isn’t required) and the carbon footprint savings for each meal ordered—when compared to the “traditional” meal’s carbon output.

Throughout the restaurant, and on napkins and packaging, Otarian tosses in facts about how vegetarianism and other green habits can make the world a better place. Otarian “walks the walk” too, recycling, composting and reusing about 98 percent of each restaurant’s waste.

While I’m all about making good choices for my body and my planet, I rarely find myself shelling out too much extra money for eco-goods, as I’m trying to watch my budget as well. If the green option’s price is comparable to the traditional item’s price, I’m sold!

But I’ll cut to the chase here…the food at Otarian was so tasty, that I’m willing to pay a few extra bucks. Plus, they have pretty admirable goals and innovative methods.

I ordered the small roasted tomato soup and the small sweet potato chiplets, plus a glass of water that I refilled many times during our great conversation. (Sidenote: even the sticker that labels the packaging is compostable! Who knew there were such things as compostable stickers?) We noticed that the utensils had an interesting texture. A little web research taught me that most of Otarian’s packaging is made from sugar cane industry byproducts. How do people think of this?

The “chiplets” were sweet potatoes coated in a breadcrumb mixture, then baked. Reminiscent of a fish stick, except not fried and with a vegetable filling. The tomato soup had a nice basil flavor and a hearty texture that must come from pureeing the ingredients, which include potatoes, before serving. (Remind me to try out my hand blender, by the way. I’ve had it since Christmas and keep forgetting to give it a shot!)

While people who are not green fiends may find the onslaught of eco-tips off-putting, this restaurant received a thumbs up (A-/B+ on the school scale) in the food department by all four of us. The prices were pretty high for each dish and the combo meals.

But Otarian does a pretty decent job of telling you where this extra change is going. If you’ve ever read “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” or seen the documentary “King Corn,” you can rest easy in the fact that your meal did not all come from corn origins :) In fact, the Otarian site says that the restaurant never uses foods that need to travel by air because, ” Travel is fun but our ingredients aren’t off on a holiday! So we avoid buying them air tickets because vacations are for people not food.” ;)

Do you invest in products that tout their environmental benefits? What is the most unusual restaurant concept you have ever come across?

9 May 2010
1 note

Hats Off

After a whirlwind weekend donning my gown, flipping my tassel to the right and walking across the stage, I’m going to let pictures do most of the talking on this post! I had a wonderful time celebrating my graduation, Mother’s Day and the next step in my life with family. I’m so lucky to have such a supportive and loving group of people alongside me and inspiring me!

Including my beautiful and accomplished sisters…

And my generous-beyond-words parents…

And all of my other great supporters. You know who you are!

We had wonderful conversation and lots of delicious food—since this is a “good for you eats” post. I took my Mom and aunt on their first Jason’s Deli trip, dined on whole wheat “Herbivore” pizza at Great Plains and celebrated with family at Lucullan’s after all of the festivities. My parents called it a “done paying tuition party” since I am the youngest of their three daughters and finally am going to be off their payroll ( :) for them, : { for me ). Anyways, our crew noshed on fresh and tasty Italian fare family style.

As you can tell, we thought the salad was terrible. Just kidding!

Among other traditional Italian dishes (pizza, chicken parmesan), we ordered lasagna…

And my favorite: a vegan dish the restaurant calls roasted vegetable pasta!

Here’s my plate, plus I had a salad and a piece of bread. The roasted vegetables (zucchini, garlic, tomatoes, squash) were seasoned to perfection and not overly oily, so I was sure to scoop us a good-sized portion! There may have been a dish mysteriously left with almost all plain noodles after I had a go at it :D On the top portion of my plate is linguine with marinara from the chicken parmesan dish. Also lycopene-packed and quite tasty.

So there you have it! I am no longer a “student” for the first time in 18 years. It’s a very strange feeling, but I’m looking ahead to bigger and better things. I’ll be sure to keep eating, studying, video taping and writing my way through the real world! Caps off to all the other graduates out there.

P.S.: Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing Moms out there—especially mine!

28 Feb 2010
1 note

Jason Stole My Heart

Jason and I first met about two years ago in a journalism class. See, I was writing an article about high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) for my magazine writing course when Jason popped into my life. Since then, our relationship has blossomed, although Jason and I haven’t been able to meet each other as much as we would like.

You may be thinking, “Karla! You have been keeping secrets about a long-term romantic relationship for months or even years?”

I wish, but the Jason I speak of is none other than Jason’s Deli! The restaurant’s offerings are free of HFCS (click here to watch their crazy ad about the topic). And this is how I stumbled upon the deli when Googling “high fructose corn syrup” to discover story sources to interview. Side note: I’d be happy to post the HFCS story on Healthful Bites if anyone would be interested :)

The company really seems to have a good handle on community and public relations—customers get the straight scoop from top management on the owner’s blog, the deli’s Twitter is well-utilized and diners can even vote about the possibility of additional exiled ingredients. Plus, Jason’s contributes to their local non-profits.

The Jason’s Deli communications staff was a pleasure to work with, and I wanted to know more about their company. Little did I know that there was a location within 30 minutes of my school…field trip time!

As mentioned previously, the menu is not only large and HFCS-free, but also void of trans fats, MSG and fairly low in sodium.

A sign in the dining area hypes “Good Food is…25 certified organic ingredients” and “fresh produce delivered six days each week,” among other reasons to scoop up some salad.

Nutritious offerings including Build-Your-Own Sandwiches, paninis, pastas and fruit/vegetable side offerings—plus half orders/reduced portions available—make Jason’s an ideal place for those looking to “fill up but not out,” as some say.

But my favorite order? A bowl of vegetable pasta soup and a salad bar!

And now for a close-up on all that photogenic, organic produce!

The salad bar options are so fresh and varied. If you’re into creamy pre-made salads, you’re covered. Small corn or gingerbread muffins? Check. Veggie fiends? You’ll find your faves crisp and delicious every time.

I’ve had a wrap during a past visit and enjoyed it as well. So many good choices, so few Jason’s Deli trips :) I was pumped to find a location nearby my internship this semester and figured it was time to share my love.

Jason’s Deli is certainly “Healthful Bites Approved!” Is there a location near you?

(They didn’t pay me or give me complementary meals to post this, I’m just a big fan. Not like I’d be opposed to a Jason’s Deli giveaway or anything in the future <Hint, Hint>. ;) )

And I may have finished off my meal with a bit of low fat swirl ice cream (I’d estimate 3/4 cup) free and self serve!

Mmm, just thinking about Jason’s makes me want to plan a return trip very soon :D Do you have any choice restaurants that you frequent for a nutritious and tasty meal?

6 Dec 2009

Eat Out, Eat Well

Digging into a restaurant meal can easily trigger a calorie explosion (basically the main premise behind the “Eat This, Not That” empire). In recent years, however, some dining establishments have added more nutritious, less fat-laden options to their menus. I’ll be highlighting more of these in the future, but this week, let’s take a look at my choice at the Mexican chain Carlos O’ Kelly’s!

Behold the Charbroiled Chicken Salad: lettuce, carrots, red cabbage, sweet corn, green and red peppers, black beans, chives, pico de gallo and baked fat-free flour tortilla pieces (I omitted the lite cheddar and fat-free raspberry vinaigrette, opting for salsa as my dressing instead—have you ever tried salsa as salad dressing? Good stuff!)

Nutrition information for salad with cheese, dressing and all menu listed ingredients: 310 calories, 35 calories from fat, 4 grams of fat, 7 grams of fiber.

Who would have thought that you could find such a fresh, healthy looking meal at a Mexican restaurant?!? I don’t know about you, but when I think about south of the border specialties, these come to mind:

(Photo from OK Cleek)

(Photo from Nachos NY)

But, as C.O’K shows, even restaurants selling the most normally greasy cuisine can offer fresh, well-balanced options too. They even have a whole menu section with “Lightened Up” dishes and gluten free options for those with intolerances.

If you are a restaurant common patron, this site, while a bit cluttered, is a nice resource to check out your restaurant choices before a meal out!

At which type of cuisine/restaurant do you find it most difficult to find healthy options? What’s your go-to choice at restaurants when you’re looking to make a nutritious choice?

24 Oct 2009

Worth the Trip

My Mom, sister Sarah and I made a trip to Chicago a few months ago to see the musical Jersey Boys and experience other fun things bigger cities have to offer. One of those great things: fantastic healthy restaurant options!

I took a hint from my friend and blogger extraordinaire Jenn and led my family to Karyn’s Cooked. The Karyn behind the “Conscious Comfort Food” restaurant is Karyn Calabrese, a holistic health leader. She also offers a raw cafe and home delivery vegan meal plan.

We chose Karyn’s Cooked (rather than raw) because my Mom and sister generally aren’t huge fans of all of the health nut restaurants I drag them to. The “cooked” concept is closer to traditional restaurant fare and the menu offerings can’t be misconstrued as rabbit food (this happens sometimes when I pick the restaurant)!

Upon entering the restaurant, your blood pressure instantly slows: the decor is very zen-like. The brass decor, bamboo accents and mellow lighting provide an atmosphere almost reminiscent of a spa.

We began with an appetizer of hummus (ground chickpea dip) and sliced vegetables. The vegetables were crisp and fresh, the hummus well-spiced and not overly oily.

After browsing the menu, I opted for a bowl of chili which came with a side of cornbread.

So healthy, hearty and warm—you can even see the steam rising from the bowl! This really tasted meaty, very reminiscent of traditional comfort food. Thumbs up for sure!

Falafel by you.

My Mom ordered the falafel with potato wedges and cole slaw. I love the fact that the default carbohydrate is whole wheat. Plus, there is a great balance between the important macronutrients (protein, carbohydrate, fat) within nearly every menu item.

Green Enchiladas by you.

Sarah chose the green enchiladas which were stuffed with mashed potatoes and served with Mexican rice and black bean dip. Look at that presentation! Karyn’s makes all of their dishes look so appetizing, since we do eat with our eyes too!

I highly recommend Karyn’s Cooked if you are in the Chicago area. It’s slightly more expensive than the average casual family dining establishment, but that extra money pays for the high quality ingredients and lovely ambiance. Worth it in my opinion!

Hopefully we’ll be back in Chicago soon. It’s such a fun Midwestern escape! I’ll leave you with a picture of my favorite Chicago landmark: the Water Wall in Millenium Park. Can you spot my Mom and me?

19 Sep 2009

STL Eats

In the town that invented toasted ravioli, churns out gallon after gallon of Ted Drewes rich frozen custard and racks up countless bottles of Anheuser-Busch beers, is it possible to grab a “healthful bite?”

Well if the options are available, you know I would find them! While visiting my sister right before school started back up, we saw the Mary Poppins musical at Fox Theatre, walked around Forest Park (see picture below) and hung out in her posh downtown loft apartment.

IMG_1698 by you.

Of course we also dined at several St. Louis restaurants. One of my meals was fresh, affordable and tasty (although I would order it with a different sauce next time)—our lunch at Crazy Bowls and Wraps. Apparently this is a chain, but I had never heard of it. I wish there were more near me! Even the philosophy of the restaurant makes me happy: providing an alternative to fast food restaurants that serve highly processed dishes by selling balanced, flavorful meals.

Sarah’s choice (left) was the chicken fajita bowl with brown rice, and I went with the teriyaki chicken superbowl with steamed veggies and brown rice (right). I decided that teriyaki sauce was a bit sweet for me, but it was still a tasty and nutrient-dense meal overall. Another plus? The condiment bar full of salsas, sauces and dips to customize your meal. Some of the menu offerings even listed nutritional content, which is especially great since St. Louis establishments are not required to offer this information as some cities are. If I go again (which is likely since I’ll try to drag Sarah back next time I’m in town!), I’d like to try the zesty beans over rice bowl.

At the location we ate at, the service was fast and friendly and the atmosphere was pretty nice—not amazing, but what do you expect of a “fast food” chain? Local event-related newspapers were available for reading while waiting for your order and large windows look out on a “main drag” near St. Louis University (Sarah’s alma mater!).

We also hit up a CHEAP farmer’s market to stock up on produce. Check out the delicious offerings!

That’s another great timely good for you eats tip: go to your local farmer’s market ASAP to get some great deals before they shut down for the season. Nearly every item that’s in season can be found at a significant savings compared to the grocery store version, plus it tastes much better!

Thanks for the fun trip Sarah. Let’s do it again soon and find some more healthy fun ;)