My Day in Food - Healthy eating when on-the-go

I prefer to eat most of my meals at home, it is easier to control the amount you eat, and what ingredients go into your food. But when I am on-the-go I have to eat out. Here is how I made my food choices while eating out all day. I'll explain my choices and then include additional tips on the bottom for eating out. 

I was on my way home for the holidays and we stopped one day in New York City. I woke up in the hotel and ordered from room service half a grapefruit with one packet of turbinado sugar sprinkled on top (brown sugar would also work, most places carry it.) If you have never tried eating this, then try it! I was against it myself, I didn't think it would be good but when I tried it I actually really liked it. Even if something is not on the menu, you can ask for it and most places will try to accommodate you. With that, I had my morning tea. I like to add fresh mint leaves to my tea it adds the best flavor! I always ask and most places do have it. I add one teaspoon of sugar to my tea. Try lowering half a teaspoon of sugar in your tea per week, you will get used to having it with less sugar. 

For an early lunch, I really wanted to try one of Jean-George's restaurants in the city. I have heard amazing things about the food, and I found out that at Nougatine by Jean George (at 1 central park west at Trump International) they had a 3 course price fix menu for $32 during lunch! When i got there, it was packed with a huge wait time (note to self, next time make a reservation), but i was able to find seats on the bar immediately with no wait, and I love sitting on the bar because you get really good service.

I started with a beet salad with mixed greens, yogurt, and lemon, it was amazing! I am obsessed with beets, they are so good and that dark purple color indicates high amount of antioxidants from the pigment. Beets also have anti-infalmmatory and anti-cancer properties. 

I try to pick salads without a creamy dressing such as ranch, caesar, or creamy italian. These dressings are super high in calories, and can make your so called "healthy salad" have more calories than a burger! If you do want to get a salad like that always order the dressing on the side and dip the fork first in the dressing then in the salad, you will eat a lot less dressing that way. 

My main dish was roasted organic chicken with brown rice, dried cherries, pecans, and a mustard sauce. 

This was probably one of the best chicken dishes I ever ate, I couldn't stop talking about it. I took off the skin and ate half of the chicken (the breast) with the mustard sauce and the rice. I bet this rice can be made at home. Brown rice with dried fruits and nuts, ill look up a recipe and post it soon. 

My dessert was a small piece of chocolate cake, and I ate half of it with tea. I drank water only with my meal. 

For dinner, before boarding my next flight on my way home for the holidays, I ate at the JFK airport lounge another beet salad and minestrone soup. I would recommend variety but I love beets so much I couldn't resist. Minestrone soup is a great option because it has a lot of beans in it which are high in fiber, protein, and low in calories. When the bread basket came, I did what i always do, I picked one piece of some sort of whole wheat or brown bread and had the waiter take the basket away so i wont be tempted to eat more. I dip it in a small amount of olive oil and balsamic vinegar over butter. Olive oil is still a high source of calories (110 calories  in a tablespoon) so don't have so much, but it's a healthy fat and not high in saturated fat like butter. With balsamic vinegar knock your self out and have as much as you'd like. 

 The beet salad - I took off half of the parmesan but I did leave some - its all about moderation

The dos and don'ts of eating out 

Please share your tips for eating healthy when eating out in the comment section :)