New York City: Healthy Eatin' on the Run!

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Look, I'm as busy as the next person, and I'll be the first to admit that eating healthy is not always the easiest or most affordable option. Plus, temptation is everywhere (I mean... I can walk two blocks and get 2 slices of pizza and a Coke for $2.50). But here's the thing, eating healthy CAN be good. It can be really, REALLY good actually. So good that I get excited about grabbing a healthy lunch or dinner to go.

Today, I've compiled a list of some of my favorite healthy eats-on-the-run in New York City! If you're lucky enough to live here but have never tried these excellent establishments, it's time you got to work. So here we go! Grab a pen... you may want to take some serious notes!

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Dig Inn Seasonal Market 

I give this place 5 stars, 2 thumbs up, a high-five and all that jazz! First of all, it smells delicious every time I walk by, and the food is fresh and hearty. Plus, I can get behind the philosophy on their website: "Bottom line - we believe that you don't have to be a health food martyr to eat well. Quality, healthful food is about abundance, freshness, and flavor - not deprivation!".

Here's why you can consider Dig Inn a solid meal-on-the-go choice:

*Their meat comes from animals that are raised humanely, without hormones and antibiotics.

*They source their produce from local, sustainable farms and actually visit these farms to see for themselves!

*All meals are prepared from scratch!

*They believe in full transparency and post all the nutrition information on their website!

So what's on the menu? You can create your own plate, choosing one meat (like rosemary turkey or wild salmon salad), one green or grain (like tomato brown rice, house greens or baby spinach), three market sides (like kale & apple salad, roasted local Brussels sprouts or organic whole wheat orzo & arugula salad), and one sauce or spread (like tzatziki spread, house hot sauce or guacamole). They also have an array of cold-pressed raw juices. The best part? It doesn't break the bank!

There are 5 locations in the city. Click here for more information.

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Hummus Kitchen

When I lived on the Upper East Side, Hummus Kitchen was my go-to spot when I wanted a light and healthy meal for brunch, lunch or dinner! If you choose to dine-in, the atmosphere is warm and inviting. It almost transports you to another place and time. And if you order out, you can rest assured that what you're eating is of the best quality.

Here's why you should try Hummus Kitchen:

*Their menu is packed with simple, healthy Mediterranean dishes!

*They have a seasonal kitchen, using top end raw ingredients - lots of vegetables, whole grains and beans!

*Their menu highlights the health benefits of certain dishes and provides tasty vegan options!

*Their staple - hummus - is made with organic chickpeas and believe me, it's delicious!

So what are my favorites? The Mediterranean chopped salad is excellent for a light meal - the ingredients are finely chopped and super fresh. Their Moroccan chicken wrap is my favorite dinner option - roasted chicken, hummus, mild Harisa sauce, cucumbers and parsley. And if you're in the mood for brunch, you can't go wrong with the green shakshuka!

There are 4 locations in the city. Click here for more information.

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Energy Kitchen

Energy Kitchen is going to take over the world. Yes, it's true. I've met one of the owners personally, and his vision is exceptional. The company's slogan says it all: fast food, not fat food. I love the idea behind their company, which they explain on their website, "Energy Kitchen was created with the belief that you shouldn't have to compromise health or taste when it comes to fast food".

When you need your food fast, here's why you should stop by Energy Kitchen:

*Everything on the menu is under 500 calories!

*The food is always grilled, baked or steamed... never fried!

*Their beef is grass-fed, free range, 90% lean and all natural!

*Their buns and wraps are made with whole grains!

*Calorie content is listed on the menu!

*All their food is cooked to order so you know it's fresh!

So what's on the menu? I love the kitchen chopped salad, a tasty mix of romaine, grilled chicken, scallions, tomatoes, blue cheese and turkey bacon. Then there's the delectable thai chicken wrap filled with grilled chicken breast, carrots, baked Chinese noodles, cucumbers and spicy peanut sauce on a whole wheat wrap. Even their sides are guilt-free! Try the asparagus salad, corn & edamame salad or the baked fries!

There are 7 locations in the city, but they are also open in Florida and New Jersey (with more states coming soon)! Click here for more information.

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Organic Avenue

I'm having a love affair with Organic Avenue, and it's a downright disservice to humanity that there's not one in my neighborhood yet. What's a girl supposed to do?!? Organic Avenue is known for their juice cleanses, but they also have a solid array of smoothies, salads, wraps, snacks and sweet treats! 

Organic Avenue should be on your list of spots to try (as soon as today) because:

*All the menu offerings are Certified Organic! You can rest assured that what you are eating is of the highest quality!

*Most of the menu items are raw, which means that you take in the most nutrition possible! Nothing is destroyed or lost by cooking!

*The company's founder Denise Mari practices what she preaches! She has been a vegan for the last 13 years, and her excellent health and glowing skin are proof of what the diet can do for you!

So what are my favorites? My lunch of choice is the big kale salad, a lip-smacking combination of shredded kale, arugula, red onion, carrots, hemp seeds, raisins and sun dried olives topped with possibly my favorite dressing in the whole wide world (I think that recipe might be top-secret). I also like to round out my lunch with the turmeric tonic - alkaline water, lemon, ginger and turmeric. This juice aids in digestion and relieves menstrual discomforts, among other things.

As of now, there are 8 locations in the city. Click here for more information.

Food Rules: Food So Fast It Makes Your Head (and Stomach) Spin!

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I studied abroad in Australia the summer after my junior year of college. While I saw lots of kangaroos and other exotic things typical of Australia, I also encountered a lot of chickens. Not the kind of chickens you would imagine - the cute little guys clucking around in the chicken coop. No, this was more of the Kentucky Fried variety. Not cool, Australia, not cool.

Kentucky Fried Chicken has laid it's claim on Australia. There are so many that it's actually frightening. The rate at which fast food restaurants have taken over our country (and now the world) is totally alarming to me. This unfortunate phenomenon brings me to the next food rule I'd like to discuss from Michael Pollan's book Food Rules...

IT'S NOT FOOD IF IT ARRIVED THROUGH THE WINDOW OF YOUR CAR

It's OK to laugh out loud. It may sound comical and obvious, but it's the truth! Let me tell you why... The whole point of food is to provide your body with the necessary nutrients to function. Fast food and processed food provide little to none of these things. 

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Our concept of 'food' began to change in the 1950's, with the advent of TV dinners and fast food restaurants. America had been through some rough patches in the previous decades and now it was time to sit back, relax and enjoy the convenience of a microwave dinner or a made-to-order meal from the drive-thru window. Life was good. Health stats... not so much.

As soon as Americans began consuming foods that were highly processed, containing preservatives, artificial flavors and additives, the health of the general public began to take a turn for the worse. If you've ever seen the 2004 documentary Super Size Me, these health repercussions should be painfully obvious. In the film, Morgan Spurlock ate McDonald's 3 times a day for his experiment. Almost like clockwork, he started to experience major health problems. Granted, the average American doesn't eat fast food 3 times a day (I know, I know), but his experiment did make the point that fast food consumption only does bad things for your body.

Fast food and processed food have direct links to obesity, insulin resistance, high cholesterol, higher risk of heart attack, increased risk of developing allergies and possible sexual dysfunction. I don't know about you but this doesn't sound like a Sunday drive through the countryside to me. It sounds like a life spent in the doctor's office or waiting in the pharmacy line. It sounds expensive and it sounds debilitating.

Now if health risks aren't enough to keep you from that glorious Big Mac (believe me, I've savored a Big Mac or two in my time), then maybe the thought of its immortality will. You and I both know that real food goes bad, often quickly. It wilts, decomposes or grows mold. Studies have been done on the buns at fast food restaurants and in one study, the buns stayed good for up to two decades... that's 20 years, folks! Real food wouldn't come close to that. 

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But it doesn't stop at the buns... burgers contain excessive amounts of sodium, fries contain all the bad fats (like omega-6 oils) and even chicken nuggets have harmful additives that can affect your health. You can go for the salad option, but once you've added the dressing, you're still done for!

Listen, I grew up at McDonald's. I have vivid memories of eating Happy Meals and running around on the playground. I also grew up in the South, surrounded by Chick-fil-A's. I'm not going to deny that a chicken biscuit tastes like heaven, especially when you're on the run.

But the point is this... The choices you make today regarding what you feed your body directly affect the way your body will treat you later. If you give your body the love and respect it deserves, then it will serve you well AND you will reap the benefits of a happy and healthy life.

The good news is once you start eating real food, you'll probably be so disgusted by your former favorites that you won't even be tempted to hit up the drive-thru. Your food cravings will begin to change as you alter your diet for the better. I guarantee it.

Label-Reading 101: Odwalla and Naked Brands

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A few years ago, I worked as a real estate agent on the Upper East Side. I started my day at 9 am and sometimes didn't leave work until 9 pm. Clients would meet me at my office, but by the end of our appointment, I'd find myself halfway across the city in Tribeca, Harlem or the Upper West Side. Having lunch at a specific time each day was just not an option, and I often found myself grabbing food on the fly because 1) I needed to close the deal quickly (NYC real estate is right up there with 'The Amazing Race') or because 2) I was experiencing a major blood sugar crash, leaving me with no energy to bust it to my next appointment and make that money, honey.

Most of my lunches on the fly were an Odwalla Brand protein smoothie or a Naked Brand juice (That's right, I didn't even have time to chew). Yes, they were expensive (as a drink alone), but if you considered them a meal, they were quite affordable. I justified it and chugged those drinks like it was my job, feeling especially proud of myself for choosing something so healthy when I could have easily opted for the fast food option.

I should have saved the self-praise for another day. Odwalla and Naked are not horrible for you in the grand scheme of things, but if you take time to look at the labels, you'll notice a few things...

1) The nutrition label can be deceptive. The label for Naked usually reflects 1 serving size, when there are often 2 servings in the bottle. In essence, you have to double everything listed. This is a Naked issue, more so than Odwalla. Take a look at Naked's Blue Machine label (taken from their website www.nakedjuice.com). If you are drinking this along with a meal (which I can only assume many people are), you're adding 340 calories to your meal (almost enough calories to equal a light meal).

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2) Much of the fiber is lost when processed into the drink form. When you consider how many fruits and vegetables are included in one bottle, you'll be disheartened to see how low the fiber content is in comparison. Fiber plays a major role in making you feel full. So if you're using this as a meal replacement, then you'll probably find yourself hungry shortly thereafter, causing you to consume more calories by having another snack or an additional meal.

3) These drinks are PACKED with sugar. Yes, it is natural sugar derived directly from the fruit itself (vs. the big bad alternative, processed sugar), but that still doesn't make it healthy to consume that much sugar in one sitting. At 40 grams per 12 oz. bottle, Odwalla's C Monster Smoothie packs more sugar than a can of Coke (39 grams per 12 oz. bottle). Granted, it's not processed sugar, but your body won't notice the difference. You'll get the same sugar rush, followed by the same hard crash afterwards. 

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4) If you're not a fan of big corporations, you'll be disappointed to hear that Naked is a subsidiary of Pepsi and Odwalla is a subsidiary of Coke. They put out products that are wrapped in 'good-for-you' labels, but at the same time have no problem producing drinks that are completely lacking in nutritional content and natural ingredients. Now, don't get me wrong, I love a good Diet Coke every once in awhile (I am from the company's hometown after all), but even I can recognize that Coke and other soda products are not that good for you - bottom line.

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Before I come off as a raving lunatic, I'd like to point out that I WOULD recommend these drinks in a few specific situations...

1) If you hate vegetables and absolutely refuse to eat your fruit in its natural form, I'd suggest these drinks as a last resort to get the nutrients that your body needs. These drinks provide a decent variety of the vitamins that your system requires to function, and they are an easy, on-the-go option for those who need a fast, non-messy alternative to eating actual fruit and vegetables.

2) If you have a sugar craving after dinner but don't want to indulge in the usual cookies, ice cream or cake, I can support drinking a few sips of Naked or Odwalla. It will appease your sweet tooth in a healthier way, keeping you from the processed ingredients and empty calories of a traditional dessert. 

My point is this: Be aware of what you are consuming and consume with moderation. These drinks are not ALL bad, but they are definitely over-indulgent and should be 'rationed' accordingly.

I'll get off my soapbox now before Coke and Pepsi come looking for me.