Road Food: "Convenience" Foods

I'm on the road again and this trip will be a little longer than usual at 6 days.  That's a lot of potential for naughty eating!  The typical hotel room I where I stay isn't an efficiency and there's no kitchen, but I can ask for a fridge if there's not already a small one in the room.  Convenience foods become a more integral part of my eating plan.  The phrase convenience food has typically been rather negatively applied when it comes to nutrition, but it doesn't have to be.  After all, what's more convenient than a banana?  It comes in its own biodegradable packaging, needs no refrigeration and packs away into any travel bag or purse.  When I got settled in my hotel, I made some inquiries about nearby markets and discovered a Walgreens less than 1/2 a mile away, so I made the walk over and stocked up.  Here's a list of my healthy "convenience" foods:

 Fruit, including bananas, apples and grapefruit, salad, cereal, granola bars, peanuts, cheese sticks, yogurt, peanut butter, whole grain wraps, hummus with pretzels, tuna and sardines, juice, milk and bottled water. 

With these nutritious options, there are no excuses.  I can prepare breakfast, lunch and  snacks every day, avoiding the trap of unhealthy convenience foods while I'm on the road.  By the way, some people turn up their nose at sardines, but if you like tuna, you will like sardines! They are an easy, portable source of nutrition and are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids.

OMG, she's so skinny!

I love fashion and I love the movies. That's why the Oscars are always such a fun night for me. I get all giddy watching the beautiful dresses walk down the red carpet, jewels glittering, white teeth shining between ruby red lips puckered up beneath a shiny flowing coif.   Somehow, this year seemed a little off.  Is it me or did the 2012 seem to highlight even thinner women than normal?  There were definitely a couple of times when I shouted, "OMG, she's so skinny!"  I mean, I know it's Hollywood, but seriously.  Remember, the camera puts 10 pounds on you (they say), so what does that mean for the emaciated looking red carpet goers to this year's award show?  I'm talking skeleton-with-skin, bones-sticking-out-in-places-they-ought-not thin.

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I am a big believer that people come in many shapes and sizes.  We're not all meant to be a double zero, for Pete's sake.  And being a size 22 is not the healthiest size either.  Somewhere in there is an "ideal" size for you and me...and it's not necessarily about a dress size, a number on a scale, or the number of ribs that can be counted.  Many of the women in films and of fashion fame today are no where near representative of a healthy or normal size.  Thankfully, there were also some really healthy looking women, with curves, and appropriate fullness that looks like healthy fitness (thanks to those women for flaunting it!). 

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As a dietitian, I focus on health.  I'm not even sure what that number is on the scale and I have clothes in at least three different sizes in my wardrobe.  The place where my jeans aren't too tight, I'm not afraid to eat dessert, and I feel good naked in a swimsuit is the place I try to maintain.  Unsurprisingly, the times when I feel most like this are the times when exercising regularly, eating nutritious meals, and am well hydrated.  So, rather than motivate me to be super skinny, watching the dress show last night reminded me that my focus needs to be on a healthy me - not on trying to meet some impossible thinness that's probably not healthy anyway.

What does a "healthy" you look or feel like?

Kiwi: The fat, furry egg

     Eating a kiwi starts with choosing the perfect fruit.  It should be symmetrical with a definite firmness, but not at all hard and without any soft or mealy spots.  The perfect size kiwi fits right inside your palm and allows you to wrap your fingers around it, but not so that they can reach completely around for that’s too small.  The skin on the kiwi should be unbroken and unblemished; its hairy brown case makes it like a fat, fur covered egg.   

     There are a couple of ways to break into that shell to eat the flesh and seeds inside and some remove the peel entirely. I prefer the easy route.  Using a sharp paring knife, dig out the stem end to create a concave doorway; furry brown skin gives way to the near neon green flesh.   

     The juice of the fruit will begin to flow making this is a good time for a first taste.  The scent of the kiwi is bright and citrusy, but also a little tropical flower.  Using a spoon, scoop out the flesh and the seeds and take a bite.  The shiny black and tiny seeds add the slightest crunch, while the flesh is soft and juicy.  Holding the fruit between the tongue and the roof of the mouth, mushing a bit releases the fragrant juice allowing the flavor to saturate taste buds and overwhelm the nose.  Eyes closed, the fruit is like a mini beach vacation and calls for a side of fresh coconut water and suntan lotion. 

    It’s a small fruit, so eating it slowly and savoring every bite makes it a particularly special treat.