THINK it’s impossible to eat out and lose weight without giving up your spectacular city girl social life? Not true.
To this end, Esther Blum – a nutritionist and registered dietician at N.V. Perricone – decided to break the bonds of diet despotism with her new book, “Eat, Drink and Be Fabulous” (Chronicle Books, $22.95).
The book attempts to serve up some of the simplest ways to look as beautiful as the night is long – while having your cake and eating it too.
According to Blum, when it comes to what’s cooking, there are easy ways to stay good-looking.
“So many of us are black-and-white about our eating habits. We will eat either the vanilla side or the chocolate side, but not both,” says Blum.
“The secret to keeping it all in balance is to eat right up the center of the cookie – that is, give yourself a little bit of what you crave.”
The foodie fashionista says it’s impossible not to indulge every once in a while when you live in the city that never sleeps. But as long as you balance your occasional bad food habits with healthier ones – protein-filled dinners and less-damaging cocktails – you can be happy and healthy.
“Living the high-octane lives we do, it’s nearly impossible to prepare three square meals a day, let alone one,” says Blum.
“We log long hours at demanding careers, we enjoy bustling social lives, and many of us live in tiny apartments with closet-size kitchens. It all comes down to choice and frequency.”
New Yorkers eat out all the time – and while there’s nothing wrong with this, per se, it’s not always the easiest alternative.
“Restaurants serve giant-size portions, and it’s difficult to know exactly what went into the meal,” she says.
“You want to make sure you’re eating foods that keep you stable the whole night long, so you can keep having fun, stay out dancing and have great sex until 4 in the morning.”
She suggests ordering high-protein foods – like lamb, chicken or fish – and eating them first. Send back the breadbasket and take note of the size of the appetizer, since generally they’re too big to be good – good for your health and diet, that is.
“If you get a really large plate, divide it in half and check in with yourself. If you keep eating, remember to eat slowly; it takes the body 20 minutes to register fullness.”
Of course, drinking can be tricky.
“You should dine while you wine, because drinking on an empty stomach will immediately loosen your inhibitions and open up your appetite, which can lead you to overeat.”
Instead of sugary-based drinks like margaritas, try drinking wine, or vodka, gin or scotch on the rocks or with club soda.
And if you find yourself at the Algonquin aching to order a martini, have no fear.
“Martinis are good, just make sure it’s on a full stomach and served with some fat juicy olives, to add a healthy dose of monounsaturated fatty acids,” says Blum. “If you approach your eating lifestyle with fun, passion and creative energy, you will carry that same enthusiasm across all realms of your life.”
Delicious and good for you
WHEN it comes to indulging in the finer foods on the menu, there are a few good rules of thumb. We put author Blum to the test, giving her menus from five trendy restaurants and bars. Here’s what to order:
* Churrascaria Plataforma (316 W. 49th St.; [212] 245-0505)
Start off with the shrimp cocktail, followed by the lamb with a side of beans. Load up on the hearts of palm, zucchini, green leaves, artichokes and grilled veggies. The lamb, which is a low-allergy meat, will balance your blood sugar when combined with veggies. “This will keep up your stamina for the night – a bonus if you’re on a hot date and want some late-night romance!”
* Fiamma (206 Spring St.; [212] 653-0100)
Begin with the carciofi (artichokes), add some branzino (sea bass) and finish off with chocolate. Artichokes help you digest your food and metabolize alcohol, while chocolate containing 70 percent cocoa is an excellent source of antioxidants. “This meal will leave you feeling light and satisfied, while providing excellent nutritional value.”
* Eleven Madison Park (11 Madison Ave.; [212] 889-0905)
Start with the heirloom beets and Muscovy duck as an entree. This is good because beets detoxify the liver and support digestive function – so you won’t feel bloated after a rich meal.
* Employees Only (510 Hudson St.; [212] 242-3021)
The oysters on the half-shell and a pear and endive salad are a good start. For the main course, go for the pan-roasted monkfish. Oysters are a good choice because they’re rich in zinc, which raises testosterone levels. Endives are bitter greens that stimulate the production of digestive juices, and the asparagus that accompanies monkfish is a natural diuretic. “Bye-bye after-dinner bloating, hello good loving!”
* D.B.A. (41 First Ave.; [212] 475-5097)
Have a glass of red wine to boost your consumption of polyphenols (plant antioxidants) and to lower your blood pressure and cholesterol. “A glass of red wine a day can add years to your life and your health. But don’t overdo it, or you’ll reverse the benefits.”