48 hours in NYC taught me to eat like a true blue New Yorker. World cuisine meets the appetite along with to go meals in cups and plenty of the O word thrown in – O for organic, in case you were wondering! So, I decided to eat like a New Yorker – although I did resist the perfunctory slice of Pizza, because who wants to be yet another tourist, right – and my cooking has been gently altered for the rest of my life. Here’s what I ate:
- A smoothie in the morning while I went through the map and Subway routes to help me decide where to go and how to get there. Because while the rest of America does Bagels and Doughnuts, New Yorkers go walking with filled to the brim rucksacks and measure the almonds they eat on the way.
- An organic sandwich for lunch, which was surprisingly tasty. I was expecting a delicious as cardboard meal after reruns of the Raw Food restaurant experiment on Sex and the City! I downed this with some fresh juice in a sparkling concoction. Yum!
- Chicken liver pate and salad for dinner in a pretentious hole in the wall near Times Square. The food was gorgeous and just as good to taste, while the sparkling rose helped me hold on to my non Cosmopolitan status (literally), a little longer.
- The next day, we had brunch at an Irish pub, TVs blaring around us with the latest scores from the game. A layered turkey sandwich with a lobster bisque kept us going for the rest of the day!
- I also tried a Pretzel, which I had to abandon after a few bites. What was with all that salt?
- I cheated with a Turkish meal which I absolutely loved! Chicken kebabs on a bed of rice and the pickled delights that they served along side reminded me of India!
So, with my New York Hangover still underway, I now eat like I have someplace to go, and like a model who has to put in the required number of days at Barry’s Studio in Tribeca (which I did spot too, by the way! Here is my meal plan for the day.
- A Smoothie for breakfast. My favorite would have to be the ultra light but oh so filling Parsley and Lemon juice smoothie, which has admittedly added some punch to my morning workouts as well. Post Workout, I bring in some fresh fruit and add a dollop of greek yogurt.
- I now skip lunch in favor of a meal at noon, which usually comprises of a salad, some dressing on the side and a serving of boiled rice twice a week. Plenty of herbs and a dash of vinegar makes it a great meal while I switch legumes and beans for a protein kick.
- I munch on pumpkin seeds and some almonds while I wait for dinner. I couple this with a cup of green tea.
- Finally dinner! I now make corn tortilla tacos with a different filling for each day of the week. Meat in a home brewed barbeque sauce, or chickpeas with a French dressing, or a salad with plenty of guacamole, eggs poached – I have discovered a whole new world of fillings. And the kids love it too! I crush a few corn chips and add some dressing of choice before I dig in with a bowl of soup nearby.
