Archive for June, 2010
On my current vacation in Khon Kaen, Thailand, I had the opportunity to visit one of my favorite restaurants.
I wanted to take my girlfriend’s mother out to dinner and was told lunch would be a better idea. Not one to argue, I agreed.
My lady asked me where I wanted to take her mom for lunch and the choice was simple. Having been to Khon Kaen a few months ago, I told my girl that I wanted to go to Bontonmairimnam Restaurant.
This is a small restaurant just outside the city limits and right on the bank of a river. It is cool and peaceful and has small, individual eating areas in gazebo-like wooden structures.
There is usually a cool breeze running through this outdoor restaurant and today was no exception. After ordering a couple of cokes, some water, and a cold beer, it was time to study the menu.
Fortunately for me, the menu is in Thai and English. This is unusual for the area and especially for a restaurant so far away from the few English-speaking tourists that visit Khon Kaen.
After poring over the menu, decisions by all were made. We placed out order to the very attentive young lady servers and chit-chatted while we waited for our lunch.
Within 5 minutes or so, the parade of food started to arrive. Boiled eggs, spicy papaya salad, oyster salad, squid, vegetables, and steamed rice arrived. I had to wait a couple of more minutes for my fried dishes.
Soon, my fried shrimp and onion rings and spring rolls arrived. I had already started with the food that the ladies ordered, as all is shared.
Picking from eight different plates and complimenting them with the rice on my plate, the food just kept on coming.
Conversation and drinks continued to flow and we ate and ate and ate. The pace was slow, the breeze lightly setting off the wind chime, and the river flowed behind me.
Continuing to eat, it was time to order another beer from one of the girls hovering near our table. She got it in an instant, and poured me another cold one.
After dinner goodies were available, but none of us could eat another morsel. From veggies to seafood, to salads and friend shrimp, it was all delicious.
A final bottle of water was ordered to wash it all down and some more relaxing conversation continued.
It was time to head back to the hotel so I called for the bill and since I had been here before, was not surprised. The grand total was 860 Baht, or roughly, 27 US dollars for 8 dishes, 2 large beers, 2 cokes, and a bottle of water. Adding a small, 40 baht tip and we had a feast for under 30 dollars.
One of the many reasons I love Thailand.
It’s a trite but true refrain that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. For most of us, it’s been about 12 hours since our last meal and our bodies need a good refueling. Yet, statistics show that as many at 50% of us don’t eat breakfast.
We’re too busy. We don’t like breakfast foods. We’re not hungry. We’re trying to lose weight.
Sad to say, none of those reasons are valid. There are many healthy breakfasts that can either be bought or made that are fast and even portable. There’s no law that says you have to eat breakfast foods for breakfast. You legitimately might not feel hungry in the morning, particularly if you aren’t accustomed to eating breakfast. But you should eat something, even if you make a fairly light choice, like fruit and yogurt. Trying to lose weight is the worst excuse of all. Study after study shows that people who skip breakfast end up eating more the rest of the day than people who eat a solid breakfast every morning.
So how do you get the magical mix of the right nutrients that will give you energy and send you healthfully into your day?
It’s not that hard, really. Spend a little bit of time thinking about what you like and then plan some healthy breakfasts. Here are some ideas to get you started:
* If you need something portable, the ever-popular smoothie is a good choice. Be careful when you purchase a smoothie at a shop, however, as some can have as many as 600 calories. You can purchase a good blender or smoothie maker to have at home and whip up your own smoothie in less time than it takes to stop at a smoothie store, and you’ll know exactly what’s in it.
* For an even faster breakfast, try making some breakfast burritos and keeping them in the freezer. You can use regular or whole-wheat tortillas, scrambled eggs (either whole, all whites, a mix, or an egg product), some veggies like peppers and onions, and soy sausage. These freeze beautifully. Pull one out, and while you’re pouring your coffee, it can be heating in the microwave. Add a banana or apple for on-the-go dining.
* Cereal is a fine breakfast, as long as it’s not the only thing you eat. Consider adding some banana or blueberries on top, or fixing it with soy milk for a healthy dairy addition. Otherwise, stick to skim milk.
* If you don’t like breakfast, consider making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on wheat bread. Grab a banana on the way out the door. Have some leftover vegetarian pizza from dinner? That’s a fine breakfast, though you will want to add a glass of milk or some fruit to round it out.
* Trying to lose weight? Breakfast might be the easiest meal to fill up without using a lot of calories or fat. Have oatmeal with soy milk, or a high-fiber cold cereal. Consider a homemade version of a fast-food sandwich. You can fry up an egg, add a slice of Canadian bacon and put the two into a toasted English muffin for a 200-calorie, filling breakfast.