We all talk a good game about how to eat, what to eat, and the importance of preparing our own food from quality ingredients. The truth is that everyone faces the same dilemmas from time to time. Whether it's travel, working late, business lunches, social outings, or simply not being interested in cooking, there are many reasons that eating that home cooked meal may not always be possible.
I've decided to pose a series of questions to our members on a weekly basis on what gets them through these situations. You might be surprised at some of the answers and others might be exactly what you expected — either way, I'm hopeful that this will help you navigate your way through the myriad of awkward, inconvenient, or simply lazy situations you find yourself in.
Dr. Alberto Pertusa from London, United Kingdom
CA: Do you put much thought into where you eat out? Or do you simply go anywhere and try to make do with what's on the menu?
AP: Whenever possible, I do put quite a lot of thought in terms of where I eat out, as I tend to like restaurants offering a good choice of fish and salad.
CA: Most memorable restaurant meal in London?
AP: My most memorable restaurant meal in London was in a restaurant called Fishworks in Marylebone and it was thermidor lobster. What made it memorable is the fact that they are fishmongers and you can see the fresh fish, and also the fact that it was delicious.
CA: Most memorable restaurant meal outside of London?
AP: I do not tend to eat out outside of London.
CA: For people with special diets, how do you suggest they talk with restaurant staff in order to get what they need?
AP: I have had actually quite a bit of experience regarding this as I was experimenting with the Whole30 for a while and I had to be very specific with the restaurant staff to make sure that dishes would not come with sauces containing dairy and other ingredients that I was looking to avoid at the time. My advice is to ask the waiter not just about the ingredients but actually about the sauces, which often are not listed in the menu.
CA: Do you prepare an emergency meal when you travel? If so, what do you include?
AP: Yes, I tend to carry things such as bone broth, activated nuts, 100% dark chocolate and canned fish such as salmon.
CA: Your favorite quick meal to prepare at home?
AP: Green smoothie containing mostly vegetables as well as some fruit.
CA: Do you consume alcohol? Explain why you think it is or isn’t a good idea.
AP: I think I could be considered a teetotaller. I also think it is fair to say that I do not experience significant positive effects when I consume alcohol in terms of feeling particularly calm or happy as other people do. On the other hand, I have noticed that it affects my sleep and that I sleep for a shorter time and my sleep is less restorative. Although wine can have some positive effects on your heath, including those derived from the antioxidant Resveratrol, from the information I have read there seems to be more benefit in not consuming any amount of alcohol so that has been my stance for over a year now.
CA: In terms of food, what is your guilty pleasure?
AP: Activated macadamia nuts with raisins and 100% dark chocolate.
Dr. Alberto Pertusa is a Consultant Psychiatrist working in private practice in Central London. He has a biological and cognitive-behavioural approach to Mental Health. This means he sees mental health problems emerging from a combination of factors including biology, genetics, upbringing, psychological tendencies and our environment.
He believes in promoting a healthy style of living and providing psycho-education as a way to help the person understand and be better able to deal with their psychological, emotional or mental health problems.
Dr. Pertusa has extensive experience in using medication to treat mental health problems, however, in most cases he also explores other options, including psycho-education, talking therapy or lifestyle changes (among others) before considering starting a new medication. He endeavours to empower his patients to be part of the decision-making process regarding the best medication and treatment plan, by discussing the various options including any potential side effects of the medication.
Read More Q&A's from the "What & Where They Eat" Series
