I have just returned from a super duper fabulous weekend in Chicago, where I celebrated my 29th birthday with Jay,one of my oldest friends. Both Jay and I are incredibly health conscious and mindful of what we eat. I had been warned that finding Meghan friendly restaurants in Chitown would be a challenge, given that I don’t eat meat, bar food, potatoes … (and I will stop that list because it could go on). I did a little research before I left which didn’t help much. The hotel was able to recommend some great restaurants, but I really couldn’t get over how difficult it was to find clean, simple, fresh and healthy food. I also couldn’t get over how large and in charge most of the people were. The term ‘Super-Size” came to mind.
It makes sense that a population inundated with the option to ‘Super-Size’ their meals on every corner would in turn become super-sized (and super sick) themselves. The size of the cups at 7-Eleven could hydrate an entire family, and people fill these cups with diluted high-fructose corn syrup (aka Coca-Cola). If we eat foods preceded with the phrase ‘super size’ or ‘big’ or ‘large’ or ‘grande’ or ‘ deluxe’ we can expect to eventually use those very same adjectives to describe ourselves. We are what we eat after all.
On the morning of my birthday, Jay and I asked for a recommendation for breakfast. We were pointed in the
Lots whipped butter, Milk Duds and Equal... Just part of the offering
direction of Lou Mitchell’s, one of Chicago’s oldest diners. While waiting in line they were passing out donut holes, we were given boxes of Milk Duds as we were seated and offered free ice cream (vanilla or chocolate) following the meal. Donuts, chocolate, and ice cream outside the meal!
Being the nutrition nerds that we are- we both declined all three. I did my best to avert my evil nutrition eyes and keep the nutrition antennae out of service as I ordered my poached eggs and rye toast. I did my best to keep the environmentalist/farm girl in me repressed when I received rye flavoured toast and four yolks to the two eggs I ordered (Apparently they are double yolked eggs- naturally so? Doubtful. Ugh). Jay and I were full for the day following that ‘healthy-sized’ meal.
After a bike ride and a little shopping we found our saviour snack in the form of little bags of mixed nuts from Starbucks. Needless to say- healthy snacks and healthy restaurants were not easy to come by. It would have been much easier to get a big gulp, a super sized something or other and a large pastry than the healthy options we searched out. However- the healthy option is always there.
If our goal is to be smaller in size, than we order food preceeded by the words small. The best option, however, would likely be to avoid eating anywhere that gives the option of super-sizing, unless of course, we are wanting to describe ourselves in the same way.
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Haha… what hardship! So I’m guessing you avoided the world-famous deep dish at Pizzeria Uno, which had, as I recall, about 1 kg of mozzarella per slice.
you two have the self-control thing down to an art! I’m pretty sure I don’t have to describe what my reaction would have been in that diner. the cookie monster comes to mind.
Next time come 2 more hours drive to Madison, Wi for some lovely natural foods!!
[...] November 7, 2008 by Meghan Telpner A couple of weeks ago, I took a little a weekend jaunt to Chicago to celebrate my 29th birthday. I went prepared with some organic apples hidden in my luggage to have as end-of-day/pre-dinner hotel room snack. As I’ve mentioned, even out and about in the city, my friend Jay and I had a challenge finding healthy options. [...]
[...] It is rare when you are in your thirtieth year of life to have a best friend that you have known for thirty years. I often describe Jay as my very first friend, for that is what he is. Our brothers, who are two years older than us, went to pre-school together so Jay and I have literally known each other my entire life (he is six months older than me). We went to pre-school together, grew up on the same street and also went to the same overnight summer camp for a good ten years or so. I have no recollection of meeting him, as I have always known him. We had a tumultuous love affair that lasted from the age of 3 until 10, when we were torn apart, broken hearts and all, with my family’s move from Winnipeg to Toronto. We have been on many adventures together: camped in Lake of The Woods, travelled through Israel, met up in in New York, and most recently, celebrated my 29th birthday in Chicago. [...]
Next time try the Green Zebra: http://www.greenzebrachicago.com/
it isn’t cheap but it is amazing.
wow…very interesting that you had this experience
my best friend and I had the exact opposite!!
we also went down there to celebrate my birthday (40th) and both of use are vegetarian plus she leans heavy on the raw foodie side.
We had no problem finding places to eat during the day and night – even found an award winning raw food restaurant.
Our condo (we rented off of Craigslist) had a Vegan Times magazine on the table when we got there – we never said a thing to the owners about our eating habits.
In the months leading up to our visit I signed up for Daily Candy Chicago and just saved their restaurant recommendations….we were there for 5 nights.
We had a harder time finding eco friendly clothing….
but having said all this …
there is NO DOUBT – this city is a meat eater’s paradise…
[...] talks about how huge (no pun intended) this problem is in America. I witnessed it for myself on my trip to Chicago. The issue is not about pointing fingers and deflecting blame, as the Corn Refiners Association [...]