Dancefloor Workout

I've had a couple amazing weekends recently. For the past 2 weekends I've been away at dear friends' weddings. After the ceremony is done, cocktails and dinner have been had, and the couple has had their first dance, my favorite part begins--the dancing. Just 30 minutes of vigorous dance floor breaking it down burns can burn up to 200 calories, or enough to compensate for a shared piece of wedding cake.  

Check out the sweaty dancefloor from a hot summer night
at a beautiful and clearly outrageously fun Charlottesville wedding!

Fish Tag

I recently had a delightful date night at Fish Tag, a new restaurant on the UWS opened by the same owners as the delicious Kefi Greek restaurant. Our favorite dishes were the appetizers and cheese plate that followed dinner.

Grilled Prawn, Feta, & Spicy Chilies Bruschetta

Chilled Sweet Corn Soup with Maine Crab Meat
(Our favorite dish of the night)

Smoked Octopus
Perfectly done--not chewy at all!

One of the other novel concepts about this restaurant is the layout of their menu to support perfect wine pairings--they even offer wine by the half glass, full glass, half bottle and full bottle to help you have the perfect wine with each bite. I had a great glass of rose, which was perfect for a hot NYC summer night.

Here's just part of the wine list as a preview. 

It was a great night out, and comes highly recommended!

Braving the Cereal Aisle

Boxes and boxes everywhere, but not a crumb to eat. The cereal aisle is full of everything from the sugar-laden to the cardboard tasting. It is critical to pack your breakfast full of nutrients--make it a consistently healthy meal (and one that you remember to eat!) in order to boost your metabolism and ensure you get AT LEAST one well-rounded meal each day.

Making a healthy choice is easier than you think. Read the label and go with this rule: 5 or fewer grams of sugar and 4 or more grams of fiber. Then read the ingredients list and make sure the first ingredient is a whole grain. 


If you don't have time to check the label out, try some of these that I've personally taste-tested:

Nature's Path Organic Mesa Sunrise
(also comes in an EcoPack)

  

Barbara's Shredded Spoonfuls Multigrain

Kashi Heart to Heart Toasted Honey

FiberOne
Try it mixed in with
another cereal to boost fiber!

     

Coconut Water Craze

On store shelves for a few years now, coconut water has developed quite a following as the "perfect all-natural sports drink." We're used to some pretty over-the-top marketing ploys in the health and fitness market, but this claim actually has some truth to it. Here's why:

• Like other sports drinks (i.e. Gatorade), coconut water contains electrolytes, which your body needs to replenish as you sweat them out to prevent muscle cramping and dangerous dehydration. 
• Coconut water also contains carbohydrates, which are necessary to consume if you are doing one hour or more of high-intensity exercise, like running. 
• Unlike other sports drinks, coconut water is natural. It contains these fitness-focused nutrients without the artificial stuff. 

In addition to serving as a sports drink, coconut water is also a great choice for a lower-calorie substitute for juice or a low sodium cooking alternative. Give these quick and easy recipes a try:

• Smoothie: Blend 1 cup frozen fruit + 1/2 cup low-fat Greek yogurt + 1/2 cup coconut water. Perfect breakfast for the summer heat! 

• Coconut rice: (makes 4 servings) Boil 2 cups coconut water in small heavy saucepan. Add 1 cup brown rice, cover, and reduce heat to simmer for 45 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed. The coconut water gives the rice a slightly sweet flavor--perfect stir fry accompaniment! 

Prune

Yesterday I had an amazing lunch date at Prune in order to catch up with a good friend. The quaint, homey feel of what turned out to be a stellar LES restaurant made me comfortable enough to even begin with a noon cocktail! Just check out this menu that we couldn't resist: 

Beefeater and Bitter Lemon, a light and refreshing, Tom Collins-like drink for a hot NYC day and Ghost of Mary--a whimsical hint of a Bloody Mary. 

 As any perfect lunch date goes, we decided to split the 2 items we both had our hearts set on. Their daily salad special, with sharp, delicious blue cheese and pork lardons that were DIVINE as well as a Greek Salad Sandwich--a deconstructed and refreshing version of a diner favorite. 

It could not have been a more perfect "ladies who lunch" event...especially since we finished by walking across the street for gelato. 

Building Bones: Effects of Slow-Release Calcium

A new mineral supplement is on the market: slow-release calcium citrate, in the brand form of Slow-Release Citracal 1200, manufactured by Bayer. Thought I'd answer some questions about it:

• Why a calcium supplement? Many Americans, especially women, do not get enough calcium + vitamin D3 to build strong bones and prevent osteoporosis. While 3-4 servings of low-fat milk and yogurt daily can provide needed calcium, many of us fail to consume that. 
• Why slow-release? Your body can really only absorb about 500mg of calcium at a time (and you need about twice that amount daily). Most calcium supplements are in 250mg pills, meaning you need to take about 2 LARGE pills in the morning and 2 LARGE pills again later in the day. With slow-release, you would need only 1 pill per day. 

But are the slow-release supplements better? Here's what I gathered:

• An independent (not Bayer-sponsored) study showed that slow-release calcium supplements may preserve vitamin D levels over standard calcium supplements, helping to build strong bones.
• According to package instructions, slow-release Citracal (unlike their other calcium supplements) contain calcium carbonate (vs. calcium citrate), which MUST BE TAKEN WITH FOOD.
• REASON TO BE SKEPTICAL: The only "study" Bayer cites for the effectiveness of its new product in meeting the Recommended Daily Intake level of calcium with just one dose is "Data on file."

My recommendation, as always, get your calcium through food instead of pills. If you aren't getting enough, consider a supplement whose effectiveness is well-documented. As far as Slow-Release Citrate, in my opinion, we have yet to see enough real studies to know whether it is actually effective. 

Momofuku Noodle Bar

Yesterday I had a delightful lunch at Momofuku Noodle Bar. I know it's nothing new, but still thought I'd take the chance to rave about it. We started with the pork buns, which are now on my unofficial "Best of New York" list. After delicious pork belly, I decided a lighter main dish was necessary. The Charred Octopus with fennel, yogurt, and grapefruit was just right. On my way out I saw some people with the fried chicken, so I will definitely be returning!

Refrigerator Clean-Out Idea: Rice Salad

Grain salads are easy to prepare and a fast, one-dish lunch if you add the right stuff. Check out below how I cleaned out my fridge and pantry to make a healthy lunch for the next couple days. 

The simple recipe (and what I used) 

Cooked whole grain (brown rice and leftover corn) 

Protein (leftover canned chickpeas and chopped, cooked uncured bacon) 

Vegetables (red and green bell peppers, finely chopped)

Dressing of sorts (Dijon mustard + Red wine vinegar + tabasco + salt/pepper + carraway seeds--poured on while rice was still hot)

Summer (strawberry) Lovin'

It might be approaching 90degrees in NYC, but at least one GREAT thing is coming from this summer heat--BERRY SEASON! Check out my friends from Bradley Farms at today's 97th Street Green Market tasting the goods. They may have also "twisted my arm" to eat about half a pint while I purchased.

In case you need more reason that sweet deliciousness to buy them, strawberries are low in calories and an excellent source of vitamin C, an important antioxidant to help you fight disease and reduce signs of aging. So grab a pint (or 3 like I did!) and enjoy.

Danji

Last weekend I got to try Danji, a modern-meets-traditional, tapas-style Korean restaurant. The company, wine, and food were all wonderful in this small, 36-seater Hell's Kitchen Restaurant. Go before it gets too packed. We were talked into the "Tofu with Ginger Scallion Dressing"; after a 30-day vegan experiment last summer, I'm not one to talk up tofu, but if you're not a fermented soy fan, this dish WILL change your mind. The Gruner Veltliner was also a wonderful addition to the meal, and made a nice addition to my newly purchased wine journal! 

Tofu with Ginger Scallion Dressing(This picture does NOT do the dish justice!)