Beating Holiday Weight Gain
Ah, New Year’s resolutions. We all start the year off with the best intentions. Lose 10 pounds, eat right, exercise more. Every year, there’s always some challnege that can derail even the best intentions.
Let’s address a common weight loss challenge: eating light while on the run or out on the town. Not everything mentioned in this article is categorically “healthy” and a number of the dishes are not served in appropriate portions, but they are all lower in calories and fat than most of the items you’ll find on a typical restaurant’s menu.
With that in mind, here are some of my favorite picks for dining out in Buffalo when chicken wings aren’t an option.
Brodo Ű° 765 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo 14222 Ű° 716.881.1117
Any of the soups that are broth based (as opposed to cream based). Steamed mussels, baby field greens salad, stir-fried shrimp & vegetables. Go ahead, have a piece of bread. Just don’t eat the whole basket.
Cecelia’s Ristorante ۰ 716 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo 14222 ۰ 716.883.8066
Italian wedding soup, mussels Provencal, shrimp cocktail, chicken marsala, whole wheat penne with broccoli, pasta marinara, puttanesca (with chicken or shrimp). Big portions on the entrees here. Eat half and take the rest home.
Harry’s Harbour Place Grill ۰ 2192 Niagara Street, Buffalo 14207 ۰ 716.874.5400
Prawn cocktail, seafood martini, yellow fin tuna, bouillabaisse (pictured above), Australian lobster tail (no butter), grilled asparagus.
Mode Urban Bistro Ű° 520 Elwood Avenue, Buffalo 14222 Ű° 716.885.1500
Pho (vegetarian or seafood)
Papaya Ű° 118 W Chippewa Street, Buffalo 14202 Ű° 716.856.2444
Tom Yum Goong (soup), Asian chicken salad, summer rolls, pepper tuna, miso ginger green salad, grilled butter fish, steamed bok choy, steamed tofu.
Saigon Café ۰ 1098 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo 14222 ۰ 716.883.1252
Tom yum goong (soup), vegetarian soup, plar goong (salad with shrimp), yum nua (salad with steak), summer roll, nem cuon (warm summer rolls with pork), pho, vermicelli.
Viking Lobster Company Ű°366 Tonawanda Street Ű° Buffalo 14207 Ű° 716.873.1079
Any fresh, steamed seafood (without the butter, of course).
Vino’s Italian Restaurant ۰ 1652 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo 14207 ۰716.332.2166
Vino’s has recently added a new line of sugar-free desserts! I know this doesn’t necessarily mean “light eats,” but there are lots of diabetics out there who might be happy to know this. Pass it on!
As a final disclosure, this is, by no means, a comprehensive list of the slimmer than usual fare in Buffalo– just my favorites. Now it’s your turn! Where are your favorite places to grab a light meal when you’re out?
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BuffaloCook
Pho 99 Fast Food on Bailey Baby!!! Their entire menu.
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Metropolis
My favorite lite meal that doesn't leave me feeling gross is Kuni's miso soup, spicy tuna sushi or the salmon. Just nothing with avocado or tempura cause that kind of kills the healty effort.
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lauras
A few of my lunchtime, downtown favorites: tofu wrap at Globe Market (get the chips on the side - I never do - very hearty meal); the duo of soups plus a salad at Fables.
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