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.
Warren Willey from Chubbuck, Idaho
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?
WW: Not putting thought into where you eat is as silly as not putting thought into where you sleep or put your money. Occasionally, situations such as breakfast meetings that are not in my control require me to improvise but that is very simple at restaurants. We forget that restaurants are a service business, and being a customer, I have never had a restaurant not make what I requested.
CA: Most memorable restaurant meal in (or near) Chubbuck?
WW: Sushi. And it's not just trout. We have a great sushi restaurant in our area that flies in fresh fish all the time.
CA: Most memorable restaurant meal outside of Chubbuck?
WW: I would have to say Rodizio Grill in Salt Lake City and/or Denver. It's most memorable because it's where my kids love to go. We can sit there for hours and taste all the different delicacies and meats, as well as their extensive salad bar, and just hang out together. That's why it's most memorable. There's no rush and I'm with my family.
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CA: For people with special diets, how do you suggest they talk with restaurant staff in order to get what they need?
WW: Just be open and honest and ask it as a question not a demand. Just the other day my daughter and I were sitting at a restaurant and the person behind us was letting everyone know in the restaurant that she was a vegetarian. She was very demanding on the poor waitress, and was actually quite rude. She got served dinner all right, but I guarantee it had a side of someones spit the way she acted.
CA: Do you prepare an emergency meal when you travel? If so, what do you include?
WW: My emergency meal is always a protein source and simple to carry, such as nuts or seeds or a homemade protein bar.
CA: Your favorite quick meal to prepare at home?
WW: I don't think you can do a lot of quick meals and still stay within the realms of healthy. Being healthy, in a lot of instances, removes convenience. Planning ahead is what allows for quick meals. For example, making all your food on the weekend and keeping it in glass containers in your refrigerator to use during the week allows for preparation of a quick meal. Having a baseline protein source such as chicken or fish, an easy and maintainable salad such as quinoa allows one to make a quick meal by changing how you spice or season it.
CA: Do you consume alcohol? Explain why you think it is or isn’t a good idea.
WW: On occasion. In general, it is probably not a good idea in the big picture. For one, the word moderation always tends to be taken out of your vocabulary after the first couple of drinks, and second of all it sets you up for eating a lot more later.
CA: In terms of food, what is your guilty pleasure?
WW: See the question above. I don't really have a favorite guilty pleasure that I can chew on. I really enjoyed micro breweries and beer. But as I stated above, it's best if that's only done on the rare occasion.
Dr. Willey is highly sought after, dynamic speaker and does regular speaking engagements around the country concerning obesity medicine, laboratory medicine, hormone replacement, and other medical and fitness related topics. Dr. Willey is an established author having written a medical textbook in the late 90’s and What Does Your Doctor Look Like Naked? Your guide To Optimum Health, re-released in 2003. This book has helped thousands of people lose weight and obtain and then maintain optimal health. One of his books, Better Than Steroids! , is sold internationally as it is the most concise summary of what you need to know to get that ultimate physique! Other books to his credit are The Z Diet, The secret to long term dietary adherence, and The T Club – A Medical Guide to Male Hormones! He also writes for a number periodicals and web sites. He has 30+ years experience with exercise development and nutritional intervention.
Read More Q&A's from the "What & Where They Eat" Series
