And you'll never believe what happened next! Thirty pounds disappeared, just like that!
However . . . I still love to eat and I still love restaurants and I still love to eat in restaurants. So I have profound gratitude for restaurants that allow me to eat healthy when I'm tired of eating like a rabbit. Or too lazy or too bored or too busy to cook. (Hey, I never claimed to be an epicurean goddess.)
Here are my picks:
1. Vibrante Cafe and Shoppe on North Valley Mills Drive - the best kept secret in Waco, TX. Feel free to eat anything chef and part-owner Robin Jeep prepares. This is the ideal place to have lunch with friends. Before you leave, buy a bottle of Cinnamon Pear Balsamic Vinegar to use on your home-assembled salads. Order dinner before 2 p.m. and pick it up any time before 6 p.m. Everything about this place is pure heaven. When you have a little time, check out Robin's Antioxident Diet cookbook, too. The woman IS an epicurean goddess.
2. Crave Cafe on Highway 1637 - Healthy and delicious food AND the convenience of China Spring dining. (It's worth the drive, too.) Their menu offers fattening along with healthy options, so it's culinary fun for the whole family. And when you want to cheat a little, get a slice of cheesecake to go. Take a couple of bites, then refrigerate it until breakfast. (I don't lose weight when I do this, but I don't gain it either. And believe me, this cheesecake is worth the sin -- occasionally.) Their fruit smoothies are great for lunch, and the staff won't ridicule you too much if you ask them to throw a few fresh spinach leaves in with the bananas and strawberries.
3. Jason's Zucchini Grillini. WOW! A hot sandwich with 9-grain artisan bread (whatever that is), zucchini, onion, roma tomatoes, cheese, red pepper, olives, and hummus. I'm pretty sure I could make this at home, but why? I've enjoyed Jason's ever since their Waco location opened, but this sandwich is by far my favorite.
4. Cheddar's Bourbon-Glazed Salmon, lunch portion, sans the deadly buttered croissants. The Grilled Tilapia is addictive, too. Be sure to order their carrots as one of the sides. Great food. Great prices. Great aquarium.
5. Light lunch deliciousness: Chicken Tortilla Soup at On The Border. If you fall of the wagon, the best place to do it is over a couple of their Chicken Empanadas. Give one to your spouse and suffer only half of the guilt -- although I don't recommend sharing these.
6. For great food on the run, I recommend Golden Corral take out. They weigh it and it's much less expensive and damaging than the buffet. And the dessert bar will not follow you home.
These are only a few of my favorites. More coming soon. Please share your healthy discoveries, too.
5. Light lunch deliciousness: Chicken Tortilla Soup at On The Border. If you fall of the wagon, the best place to do it is over a couple of their Chicken Empanadas. Give one to your spouse and suffer only half of the guilt -- although I don't recommend sharing these.
6. For great food on the run, I recommend Golden Corral take out. They weigh it and it's much less expensive and damaging than the buffet. And the dessert bar will not follow you home.
These are only a few of my favorites. More coming soon. Please share your healthy discoveries, too.
