The Honest Dietitian's 2016 Commuter Food Favorites

Featuring My Favorite Commuter Foods

I drive a lot. I made the choice to go for my PhD and since I am a parent and had no intentions of moving my kids away from their friends and schools, this means I have a 3 hour round-trip commute to school between 1-4 days per week (depending on the semester). Couple that in with a full-time job as a clinical nutrition manager for three of those years...I have been busy. There is no doubt that a crazy schedule like this can sure make a person Hangry if they are not careful. And, since a lot of my commute is on the beautiful I-40, there have been many a times when I have been stuck in traffic for hours due to car accidents, fires, and so on. The worst was when I was leaving campus in time to make it home for my husband's delicious Fodmap friendly taco dip when I hit a standstill on I-40 with no possible way to exit to an alternative route. It was over 90 degrees outside and I had no water (I always carry a refillable bottle but it was empty), no food...and almost two hours later when we started to move, I had a raging migraine. That was the last time I have ever traveled without an emergency snack. Sometimes my schedule has been so packed that the only real "free" time I have had in a day has been the time I am in my car driving to the next scheduled event. I have found that I need to have 3 different types of foods to make my days and commutes the best they can be. I am also making this list with the very true assumption (for me) that there is not going to be appropriate access to a microwave to heat up any food. Here they are:

• Commuter Food Number One: Foods that will get me through my scheduled meal times when I do not have a lunchbox with an ice pack. This is the good 'ole "I'm running so behind that I am going to throw a bunch of food into a plastic bag" situation. Even as a mostly Type A personality, I can't plan for everything to go smoothly so this does happen more often than I like.

GoMacro Thrive Bars & Protein Bars.
I love these bars. My favorite flavors are the Caramel Coconut Thrive Bar & the Protein Pleasure Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bar. GoMacro makes really great products. I just noticed they have a sampler pack, so if you haven' tried these before- I highly recommend them. 


Barney Butters Almond Butter Snack Packs.
These butters are perfect to have on hand and with the large variety of choices, you are definitely going to find a flavor that you love. My favorite flavors are the Vanilla Espresso, Honey Flax, Cocoa Coconut, and the Bare Smooth Almond Butter. I literally have one of these snack packs in my purse at all time. Buy them here.

You will love these almond butters!

Artisans Organics Single Serving Squeeze Packs.
To be honest, I might be in love with the cashew nut butter. It is so incredibly creamy and delicious, I just love it so much. They also make squeeze packs for pecan butter, walnut butter, coconut butter, and so on. You will see me using their coconut butter & unbelievable cocoa spreads in some future recipes. Get your squeeze packs here.

Glutino Crackers.
You have to have something to put all of those delicious butters on! I like the original, cheddar, and sea salt crackers by Glutino. They are gluten-free but have a great consistency and are strong crackers to take on the road. The original crackers with the cashew nut butter and an orange, washed down with some chocolate coconut water is my pre-workout snack on my busy driving days. Give Glutino crackers a try!

New Orleans Trip 2016: Activities & Tips!

Alex & I at the Running of the Bulls NOLA 2016

This year’s trip to New Orleans was just so much fun! We definitely tried out some new experiences than years before and are excited to share them with you. When I knew my husband was going to be in NOLA for a conference, the first thing I did was visit the New Orleans Events Calendar for 2016 hand this is where the fun all started. Here is my 2016 list of fun activities and tips for NOLA (don’t forget to review my NOLA Top 10 Here):

1) The San Fermin in Nueva Orleans: The Running of the Bulls Festival in New Orleans.

When I was checking the calendar of events for things to do when we were in NOLA in July, I came across the San Fermin in Nueva Orleans and was instantly curious. Turns out…you can participate in the running of the bulls…but the bulls…are roller derby ladies strapped with whiffle-ball bats!! WHAT?!?! IS THIS THE COOLEST THING I HAVE EVER READ?!? Yes. Indeed it was. Every single person we met was awesome. The drinks were great. The music was great. Everything about this festival was great. We will be back, hopefully every single year, to participate in this event.

We made it to the end of the race!

New Orleans Trip 2016: Where the good eats happened!

New Orleans is one of my favorite cities to visit. If you are a regular reader of my blog, you may have seen my NOLA Top 10 List & a few extra tips post. This trip, Alex & I went exploring with the help of the 2016 New Orleans Official Visitors Guide & the wonderful support of the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau. I have quite a bit to share, but lets start with one of the greatest things about NOLA…the food. All opinions are my own & are very much shared by my traveling companion- my husband Alex.

The Best Creme Brûlée Ever. Tableau Restaurant, NOLA

Gilled Gulf Fish @ Tableau Restaurant, NOLA

Tableau

This restaurant is a MUST! Everything about it was perfect. The ambiance, the staff (our waiter- Keith- gave us the best recommendations!), and the food were just wonderful. What really sparked my interest is when I was reading the menu and I came across the EAT FIT NOLA approved dishes which is an initiative that highlights the smart choices on the menu for those of us who are being mindful of healthy eating and healthy options while dining out. Alex and I tried the Truffled Crab Fingers for an appetizer. Alex had the Roasted Duck Breast: Blackberry gastrique, Creole mustard reduction, arugula & local blackberry salad, baguette and I had the Gilled Gulf Fish:Tamarind glazed, local summer vegetable ragout, spicy chilies, mirliton slaw. These were all good, but let me tell you something. Keith suggested we try the Vanilla Bean Creme Brûlée and I will not lie- IT WAS THE BEST I HAVE EVER HAD. Well done Tableau & thank you for the memorable dining experience!

Sports Nutrition Tips: Eating on the Road

I recall not so long ago when I was at a weightlifting meet with my husband and the hanger had set in. He was coaching a couple of athletes and competing and I wasn’t going to miss any of it because, to be honest, I find the sport to be incredibly exciting and when either him or his athletes are lifting, I like to imagine that I am an amateur sports photographer with my iPhone. At this particular meet, there were no food vendors and really no good time between athletes to head out to find food. The meet sessions started to go long and soon I found myself cranky and eating a bag of Skittles from the lonesome vending machine nearby. I started to wonder how many other people were as ill prepared as I was and even more importantly, how many of those people were the athletes competing in the meet? As a coach, athlete, friend, family member, or fan, the necessity of meal planning on the road is essential to keep everyone happy.  Eating on the road usually ends up in one of the Three H’s:  Happy, Hurting, or Hangry. 

My NOLA Top 10 & a few extra tips

New Orleans is incredible.  I have been twice now- one for business and a bit of pleasure and another time for my Honeymoon.  The first trip was in the heat of the summer- late July & it was so hot and humid that my husband had to go to the French Market to buy quite a few extra shirts because we had to change our clothes a couple times a day because of the sweat.  That might not sound appealing to you, but we could not resist walking the streets of NOLA, dipping in to the different places to shop and eat to cool off and explore.  We also had the opportunity to catch the Satchmo Festival where the music and the people were so fun.

2014 Favorites Part One

Part One of my favorites from 2014:

1.  My Garden- Last summer so was incredibly wet that I had a sad growing season.  This summer was just wonderful, however.  I did not intend on any of my watermelon actually making it but I had 3 and they were great (once I figured out how to tell if they were ripe or not).  I also grew my first round of peppers and eggplant.  I was very hesitant on even growing the eggplant because I always thought I didn't like it but I was wrong!  We made a lot of baba ghannouj and ratatouille with it.  I also had an abundance of bruschetta and pesto with all of the sweet basil I have growing year-round.  Looking to grow some amazing food?  Look no further than the best seeds available:Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Co.

2.  Olympic Weightlifting- Okay, I'll admit it.  I knew nothing about this sport until I met my husband (who just happens to be a great coach who really loves the sport).  But it is really, really fun.  I love feeling like I am getting better every workout.  And most importantly, learning a new sport when you are older feels different than when you're younger and just want to be really good and fast.  I just want to be strong and healthy and learn how to do lifts correctly, so I don't get hurt.  And it is such a great outlet for all of that energy from a hard day at work...hard day at school...hard day at home.  So, if you're reading this- thanks Love for the introduction
to "your weightlifting thing" because it is awesome.

3.  New Orleans, LA- I've been to NOLA two years in a row and just cannot get over how amazing it is.  I've made a Top 10 List of my favorite NOLA happenings, which I will share soon, but it is really difficulty to list only 10 things about that city to love because there are hundreds of things that come to mind.  The food, the music, the buildings, the streetcars, the festivals...I just can't get enough.  So, my goal is to get back for a third year in a row.  I dare say...it might be my favorite city in the entire USA.  Boston, MA is a close second.

Healthy Airport Eating

I have to travel quite a bit for my job and it is always a very anxious experience finding food that is healthy in the airports.  The last thing I want to do is resolve to eat fast food and get an upset stomach or feel sluggish when I am on business trips.  I really paid attention to what was being offered in the airports I visited (Detroit, Boston, Tallahassee, Charlotte, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Atlanta, etc.) and was pleasantly surprised with what I found.  Charlotte International Airport by FAR had the best options available.  The picture above features a Goat Cheese Salad with Roasted Peppers and Pistachios with a delicious balsamic vinaigrette, as well as healthier options for chips and beverages.  It was delicious.  When you are traveling to the airport, here are some ideas to make your food choices healthier:

• Pack some snacks if you have room:  It is okay to bring items such as trail mix or granola bars through security.
• Several of the fast food companies are offering oatmeal as a breakfast option.  This is an excellent choice, full of fiber to keep you satisfied longer.
• Choose grilled chicken sandwiches over fried.
• Look for fruit and yogurt parfaits, and I saw hummus and vegetable to-go items in almost every airport I was in.
• When ordering a salad, make sure to have the dressing on the side.  Sometimes getting the dressing on a salad can provide more calories than a Big Mac!
• Look for deli sandwiches that have whole wheat/whole grain bread options (such as Subway!)
• If you can, get a Kids Meal for a more appropriate portion.

And most of all STAY HYDRATED!  Flying can dry you out and sometimes when people are thirsty, then can mistake thirst for hunger and eat too much food.

Travels to Daytona Beach, FL

I have a lot of traveling to do with my job & in the beginning of November, I was able to take a journey to Daytona Beach, FL for the Certificate of Training in Childhood & Adolescent Weight Management which was probably the best conference I have ever attended.  The content was incredible, fun, and energizing.  I am sure my interns and I all walked out of there ready to battle the obesity epidemic.  And of course, since I had never been to Florida before, I wanted to take in the scenery as well to unwind from such intense training.  The training was held at The Shores Resort & Spa which I give a hearty 4.5 out of 5 stars.  The only reason why they did not get the entire 5 stars is because they have minimal privacy on the balconies.  I could see at least 9 different balconies from my balcony, which is not very romantic.  Even though I was by myself.  I would still consider taking my family here for vacation since the rooms are large, clean, and gorgeous.  The beach was wonderful and not too busy.  The on-site dining was fantastic, especially for the price.  Ask for the fish tacos and for a nightcap, ask the bartender for the hot chocolate with kahlua.  The hotel features smores kits and fire pits, which allowed for some peer bonding time.  It was lovely!

Here I am (on the right, on my knee) with my lovely LRU dietetic interns!

Some of the places we ate were the Ocean Deck Restaurant and Beach Club and Inlet Harbor Restaurant & Marina

The Ocean Deck is exactly what I wanted for a beach town.  It was well decorated, great food, and open seating.  Also, a great beer selection.  The Inlet Harbor Restaurant was fun.  I felt as though I was walking into a Jimmy Buffett tailgate when we entered the restaurant.  The waitstaff was wonderful and not too bad on the eyes...  I had their bacon-wrapped shrimp, tried alligator (yum!), and all in all thought the atmosphere, food, staff, and drinks were something to recommend!  My only complaint is that the lobby of the portion of the restaurant we ate in smelled like a dirty bathroom.  Toxic, dirty bathroom.  I'm sure they've taken care of that by now. 

Inlet Harbor Restaurant's Complimentary Hush Puppies

Passing through Daytona Beach and seeing the Daytona 500 is pretty cool.  Some of my interns drove to Disney (which apparently is only 1.5 hours away) after the conference for some international cuisine.  The airport was clean and easy to use.  And really, you can't help but love scenes like this after a long day of conferencing...

Sunset over the Atlantic Ocean