Food and the Highway
Big dilemma, maintaining a healthy diet while traveling.
Regardless the eatery, there will always be short cuts, usually resulting in unwanted calories, and sometimes unhealthy prep.
Fast, fried and salty, this is why the shit taste so good! The choices around and about the Interstate (any interstate) are mostly shabby, walking hand in hand with the shabby hotel/motel scene.
I am a grazer. I will eat a few heathy snacks during the day, and then enjoy my dinner. This is what Todd and I have taken with us on the road.
Starting the day with a small breakfast and cup of Joe. During the day we nosh on some nuts, and a cliff bars, later to sit down to a nice dinner, hopefully.
With this said, last night after a 16 hour drive, we hadn’t many (any) alternatives to fast food. Picking the less of all the evils, we settled for Chili’s. I bit the bullet, figuring I would have a salad, NOT!
As I licked my hungry chops, I opened the menu (which was a bit greasy).
To my surprise, next to each snack, entree, non alcoholic and alcohol drink, the caloric intake was posted.
I was in total disbelief, salads ranging 900 – 1700 calories, a quesadilla entree, 2000+.
I remained! How is this possible, even if dressed? I continued to read the menu and all entrees ranged from 480 (the lighter fare) – 2075 calories per serving.
It took me 15 minutes, a few dirty looks and grunts from Toddy, to make a choice. Finally, I went with the steamed broccoli and 6 ounce sirloin, total calories, 480, leaving me a few extra calories for a glass of Pinot!
I went with a healthy choice, so I thought. My dinner came out looking very naked. My food actually looked ugly. The broccoli was overcooked and broken and the steak looked microwaved; cooked but not seared; and very salty.
Lesson learned, and I will definitely pay more attention to menus and ask questions about the prep from now on. I wish all restaurants were mandated to list the calories and watered down nutritional facts on their menus, it might help us to make healthier choices. Watch this couple ask questions about their menu choices.
Somewhere in America 