NOLA

The Big Easy. So festive – full of history, music, and nightlife. 

But, you know what comes to my mind when I hear New Orleans?

Gumbo. Oysters. Jambalaya. Muffaletta. Po-Boy. Etouffee. Crawfish. Are you hungry yet?

A melting pot of cultures, this city has an vibrant and eclectic food scene. So what’s a dietitian to do? EAT!

I just got back from spending a few days in NOLA. While most of my time was spent attending a seminar to receive my Certificate in Adult Weight Management, free time was spent eating my way through the city! Oh so many restaurants – so little time.

What? Did I really just say that? Eat my way through the city. I mean I’m a dietitian – I’m not supposed to say things like that, right?

Why not? I love food. And I’m not afraid to eat it.

But I also don’t use “being on vacation” as an excuse to go hog wild on anything I see. When I go out, I truly enjoy my food and don’t feel guilty about it. I may eat a little differently than the norm, but the premise is the same – watch portions, eat real food, and don’t waste time on food that doesn’t taste good. Oh yeah, and try to move as much as possible.

I don’t like feeling deprived. And I am pretty sure you don’t either.  So how do you do it?

• Choose foods you really want to try – maybe it’s something new, a local delicacy or something you would never make at home.
• Look for small plates – a popular trend now on many menus, you know what that means? Smaller portions.
• Split the dish – get a few dishes and split them, this way you get to try more without overindulging.
• Table hop – try a couple restaurants in one night – get a dish (or 2 of you’re splitting) at each.
• Move – walk between restaurants or talk a sightseeing walking tour or check out the hotel gym (remember something is better than nothing).

Remember – enjoy yourself but in moderation. Trust me, you’ll thank me later.