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. Heather Moday from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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?
HM: I am a foodie and love eating out! I also live in a city with lots of options, so yes I even have a list of places that I want to try with great options.
CA: Most memorable restaurant meal in Philadelphia?
HM: Probably Vedge. Amazingly it's a vegan restaurant and argueably one of the best places to eat in Philadelphia period. It's is a gorgeous old turn of the century building, and what the chef does with vegetables is sublime. Seared Maitake, salt baked beets, grilled romanesco salad. All amazing, with a delicious wine from the volcanic soils of the Canary Islands. Simple and amazing.
CA: Most memorable restaurant meal outside of Philadelphia?
HM: Luckily, I have had so many. Probably Noche, on the island of Vieques. Tucked away in the jungle, they had amazingly fresh local produce and incredible sushi.
CA: For people with special diets, how do you suggest they talk with restaurant staff in order to get what they need?
HM: Be upfront but also understanding and polite. After all, you get to pick the restaurant and they cannot always guarantee things like lack of cross-contamination in regards to food allergies. Keep it simple and if it's nearby, go there often and get to know the staff. They will be more likely to accomodate you.
CA: Do you prepare an emergency meal when you travel? If so, what do you include?
HM: Yes. Fruit, nuts. Cut up veggies. Eggs are a little smelly so I avoid those. I also pack herbal tea and some green protein powder with a shaker bottle.
CA: Your favorite quick meal to prepare at home?
HM: Grilled or poached salmon with roasted veggies-like broccoli and cauliflower or stir fried garlic kale. Simple but it gets the job done. Or leftovers of course!
CA: In terms of food, what is your guilty pleasure?
HM: Ice cream — preferably sea salt caramel or chocolate. Deadly but delicious.
Dr. Heather Moday is a board-certified physician who is passionate about changing the way medicine is practiced in this country.
In most traditional medical practices, the focus is on diagnosing a patient with a disease and then treating the symptoms with medications. There is little emphasis on finding the cause of the problems and dealing with them at their source. Also, there is a prevailing opinion that chronic health problems like heart disease, diabetes, or autoimmune diseases are not reversible and the only treatment is more drugs.
Dr. Moday believes physicians need to spend more time working on lifestyle changes with their patients and emphasizing prevention of disease, instead of focusing on treating people with more medications. In addition, patients should be given tools and education so they can be active participants in their long term health care.
Read More Q&A's from the "What & Where They Eat" Series
