It can be a challenge to find healthy meals when you are eating away from home. But just because you’re in training doesn’t mean you have to miss out on great times with friends at some of the area’s hottest restaurants—or blow your diet, either.
One of those hotspots is Crü in the Bell Tower Shops in Fort Myers. Chef and owner Harold Balink’s menu at Crü offers something for everyone, even the heath conscious. Registered and licensed dietitian Karyn Capozzo of Appleaday Lifestyle Consulting in Bonita Springs chooses three menu options you can feel good about eating when you’re there.
Ahi Tuna Crudo
CALORIES: 140
TOTAL FAT: 2g
SODIUM: 100mg
CARBOHYDRATES: 0g
PROTEIN: 28g
This is a great starter. Tuna is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA, both of which may help reduce your risk of heart disease. (According to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the benefits of the DHA and EPA are seen when folks consume at least 250mg daily.) Fresh tuna, like the Ahi in this dish, provides approximately 500mg of omega-3 fats.
Pappardelle
CALORIE
S: 453
TOTAL FAT: 9g
SODIUM: 150mg
CARBOHYDRATES: 70g
PROTEIN: 18g
There is nothing better than an amazing pasta dish, and Cru has several. My favorite, though, is the pappardelle with wild mushroom, truffle, carrot and ricotta.
Pasta, of course, is a great source of carbohydrate, which helps fuel our muscles. This dish also includes mushrooms, which are not only a good source of fiber but also provide essential B vitamins and potassium. B vitamins are important for everyone, but some athletes may require more then the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI), depending on their energy expenditure. B-vitamins assist energy metabolism—in other words, they help your body make energy from the foods you eat.
Remember, vitamins do not give you energy or enhance your athletic performance; however, a shortage of a specific vitamin may deplete your energy level and decrease athletic performance.
Black Bass
CALORIES: 420
TOTAL FAT 8g
SODIUM 175mg
CARBOHYDRATES 25g
PROTEIN 20g
This is a light dish with a lot of flavor—perfect for the athlete who is watching his or her waistline. This entree is well balanced, providing adequate intake of not only micronutrients (vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients) but also macronutrients (carbohydrate, protein and fat). Eliminating entire food groups can mean inadequate amounts of both macro and micronutrients, possibly affecting your training or competing negatively.
CRÜ
Bell Tower Shops
13499 S. Cleveland Ave., Suite 241
Fort Myers, FL 33907
(239) 466-3663