Despite what you'd like to think, it's not your long underwear that's making you look a little heftier than usual.
That's OK! You, along with about a million other people, are contemplating a method to compensate for your vast indulgence in holiday revelry. People who wish to keep pesky pounds at bay should read up on healthier menu options.
Discerning the redeeming qualities of restaurant food can be a formidable task. It's difficult to know the details of your meal's preparation. (Did the chef use butter or olive oil? How much salt? How much sugar? How many calories? Are my arteries going to hate me for this?) At some chain restaurants, the nutrition information is obtainable upon request or online, but often, the facts aren't available, and when they are, they're usually not pretty.
REVUE Mid-Michigan to the rescue. Here are some yummy items to keep in mind.
Spotted Dog Café
221 S. Washington Square, Lansing
(517) 485-7574
American
A favorite for Lansing businesspeople on their lunch breaks, the Spotted Dog Café offers charm and substance, with made-to-order salads (dressing always on the side) and specialty sandwiches (choose from a plethora of breads and cheeses like smoked Gouda, Havarti and Jarlsberg). Salads can be made with mixed greens or spinach, as well as standard leaf lettuce, and many of the salads incorporate fresh fruit like nectarines, pears, strawberries and blueberries as a healthy, antioxidant-rich addition to standard salad.
Choosing a spinach salad over one made with iceberg lettuce will give you almost your entire daily requirement of dietary fiber (one cup equals 20 percent), and a huge dose of antioxidants, anti-inflammatory carotenoids and bone-healthy Vitamin K. Vegetarian options are bountiful here, but meat-eaters can find high-quality, low-calorie meats like smoked turkey and chicken breast.
Woody's Oasis
1050 Trowbridge Rd., East Lansing / (517) 351-2280
Mediterranean
The foundation of Woody's Oasis is Mediterranean cuisine, a heart-healthy eating plan that emphasizes good fats, fruits, veggies and fish. Herbs and spices replace salt as the main seasoning, and carbohydrates come from whole grains and legumes. Hummus, a staple in the diet, is full of Omega 3 fatty acids and monounsaturated fat, as well as vitamin B6 and manganese, a mineral that supports enzyme function. Studies have suggested a link between Mediterranean eating and reduced risk of cardiovascular mortality, as well as reduced cancer rates. Try any of Woody's kabobs, the meat is grilled instead of fried, and Lebanese rice replaces bread as the main carbohydrate.
But not all Mediterranean options are created equal. Be wary, for example, of fried items on the menu like falafel. Avoid spinach pie and meat-stuffed grape leaves, which are surprisingly high in calories.
Seif Foods
325 City Market Dr. (at N Cedar St.), Lansing / (517) 347-9987
Mediterranean
Though it's not a traditional sit-down restaurant, Seif Foods in the Lansing City Market specializes in gluten-free and sugar-free healthy take-out, with bountiful vegan and vegetarian options as well as baked goods. Co-owner and Culinary Arts professor Magda Seif teaches courses on vegetarian cuisine and Middle Eastern cooking at Lansing Community College.
Sindhu Indian Cuisine
4790 S. Hagadorn Rd. Ste. 132, East Lansing / (517) 351-3080
Indian
Sindhu makes the list because its traditional tandoori-style meats are baked in a clay oven called a tandoor, which uses extremely high temperatures to cook the small pieces of meat quickly. This makes the meat tender and avoids the caloric sacrifice of other cooking methods that utilize oil or breading. Sindhu's tandoor dishes like chicken tikka, fish tikka and lamb peshwari are flavorful, lean, protein-rich options. Sindhu's Aloo Gobi is another healthy dish made from cauliflower and potatoes in a tomato-based sauce. One of the main spices in Aloo Gobi is turmeric, which studies suggest may boost your liver's ability to detoxify blood and fight disease. Avoid cream-based soups like the Dal soup, as well as anything that uses the word "pakoras"- these dishes are usually breaded and fried.
Maru Sushi & Grill
5100 Marsh Road, Ste. A1, Okemos / (517) 349-7500
Sushi and Hibachi
Maru Sushi & Grill is the go-to place for beautifully presented, high-quality sushi, which can actually be a vitamin-rich, low-calorie source of nutrition. Try the Tuna Roll or the Salmon Roll-both are simple and classic, made with nori, rice and fish; more than half the 200 calories in one of these rolls come from protein, which means that you'll feel fuller, longer. For something more substantial, order the Rainbow Roll, which is essentially a standard California Roll (nori, rice, avocado, surimi) with assorted sashimi arranged on top; since it has more calories, a single roll should fill you up, and you'll benefit from the nutrients in the variety of raw fish. Don't forget to order a pot of green tea, which boosts metabolism.
Of course, anything labeled "tempura" is battered and deep-fried, and rolls like the Philadelphia Roll that contain cream cheese add unnecessary calories to an otherwise smart meal.
