Eating Healthy when Traveling

On January 24, 2018 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Food, Recipes, Travel Tips8 Comments

Regardless of the length of the trip or the exotic nature of the location, it is always difficult to eat healthy when traveling. Whether it is having to grab a quick bite at the airport or train station, eating a meal while sightseeing, or eating the local cuisine, healthy options are either not readily available or your eyes naturally shift to the more decadent options. Believe it or not, we always weigh ourselves before we leave on a trip and then compare it when we return so that we know whether we need to work on losing any weight we might have gained.

Salmon Chesapeake in Alexandria, Virginia

Although it isn’t always easy to find healthy options when traveling, that doesn’t mean that it is impossible. We love seafood and can’t always get a good variety at home, so one thing that we do is to look for fish or shellfish on the menu and try to select dishes that aren’t necessarily covered in a sauce. Another trick that we use is to share a meal or eat small plates to avoid over eating. Eating healthy doesn’t mean not eating things with flavor, it is more a matter of paying attention to how the food is prepared and whether the restaurant uses fresh ingredients.

We try to be realistic and understand that we will want to eat a variety of food some of which is going to be fried, smothered in a rich sauce, or covered in cheese and we are okay with that. As with anything, it is really a question of moderation. For example, just because you are in Italy doesn’t mean that every dish has to be pasta or pizza. We are firm believers of eating like a local, but that doesn’t mean that locals don’t have some healthy choices. What do you do to eat healthy when you are on the road?

Shedd Aquarium in Chicago

On January 19, 2018 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Chicago5 Comments

We had been to Chicago several times before visiting the Shedd Aquarium, but we were glad that we finally made our way to this attraction. The aquarium hosts an amazing variety of species of both saltwater and freshwater fish and other animals. It is certainly a great place for families as there is plenty for children or adults that are children at heart. Not everyone agrees with zoos and aquariums, but it depends on both the treatment of the animals as well as their commitment to rescuing injured animals and conservation of animals in the wild. It truly seems that the Shedd Aquarium is committed to both and we were even told about a giant sea turtle that was rescued after being injured by a boat and now lives in the large Caribbean Reef exhibit.

There are some very interesting exhibits including Amazon Rising, Polar Play Zone, Wild Reef, Caribbean Reef, and more. In addition to the exhibits there are also several interactive activities that you can enjoy such as animal encounters, animal chats, and aquatic presentations. We were able to watch and listen to a diver as he fed fish in the Caribbean Reef exhibit, which has a prominent location in the center of the aquarium. If you are willing to reach out to the aquarium in advance, there are opportunities to do a variety of special activities like sleepovers in the aquarium, behind the scene tours, and even the opportunity to be a trainer for a day.

Diver Feeding a Stingray in the Caribbean Reef Exhibit

We really enjoyed watching the Beluga whales play with what appeared to be strips of fabric, almost like scarves. They would grab them with their mouths, drop them, and then grab them with their fins or tail. It seemed that they really enjoyed playing with them and they were not doing it as part of a show or to receive any treats from a trainer. Another favorite thing to see while at the aquarium are the penguins as they are always cute and adorable. On the flip side, watching the sharks as they circle the large tank is equally fascinating, but everyone is certainly glad to be on the other side of the glass.

Diver Talking about Caribbean Ocean Life

Sharks Circling the Tank (Sorry It is Blurry)

If you are planning a trip to Chicago, visiting the Shedd Aquarium is certainly well worth the visit. It is a perfect place to go when the weather outside is cold and rainy or snowy. Prices for non-Chicago residents are twice the price of Chicago residents although it is included in the CityPASS ticket, which makes that a preferable option to just buying tickets to the aquarium itself.

Pan Fried Tilapia with Oven Roasted Asparagus

On April 6, 2016 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Recipes7 Comments

We try to have some sort of seafood every week and tilapia is a mild fish that is easy to prepare and typically inexpensive. We cooked this as a weeknight dinner because it is quick and easy, but also very tasty. Because tilapia has such a mild flavor, there are plenty of options to serving it, from sauces to cooking techniques such as baking, poaching, and pan frying. Asparagus is also very versatile, but oven roasting it is one of our favorite ways of preparing it as it gives it a robust flavor and is very easy, especially for a weeknight dinner. We’re providing the recipe that serves four people, but we did half of this recipe since it was just the two of us. Enjoy :).

Ingredients

1 lb Fresh Tilapia Filets
1 cup Panko or Bread Crumbs (we used Panko)
2 eggs
1/4 cup Milk – optional
1 cup All-Purpose Flour
1 tbsp Spanish Paprika
1 tbsp Garlic Powder
1 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Ground Black Pepper
1 tbsp Fresh Rosemary – finely chopped
6 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 lb Fresh Asparagus
Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions

Toss the asparagus with 2 tablespoons olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Place the asparagus on a baking sheet, ensuring that they are not crowded, and put into a pre-heated oven at 350 degrees. Roast in the oven for 30 minutes or until the asparagus begin to caramelize. On plates or in shallow bowls, prepare the breading ingredients. In the first bowl, combine the flour, paprika, garlic powder, tablespoon of salt and half tablespoon of black pepper. In the second bowl, whisk together the eggs and, if desired, milk. In the third bowl, combine the Panko or bread crumbs and the rosemary. Heat 4 tablespoons of olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Dredge the tilapia in the flour and then coat with the egg mixture. Finally, completely cover with the Panko and place the fish in the frying pan. Cook the fish until golden brown and thoroughly cooked, about 4 minutes per side. Squeeze some lemon juice over the fish and serve with the asparagus.