Anatomy of a Healthy Meal

It was lunchtime and I was in the middle of a 4-hour road trip. I knew I could pull off of any major freeway exit and find the regular options: McDonald’s, Wendy’s, or a gas station Subway. I decided I was craving some local flavor, something homegrown and healthy. What I really wanted was a big juicy hamburger.

My search began a few miles off the main drag and caught a glimpse of a small town burger joint. I’d been hiking for 10 hours in a Zion National Park slot canyon the day before - and the 4 days before that too - so watching calories was the least of my concern. But I decided to order the chicken tenders instead. Chicken is always the healthier choice, after all, right?

I thought there was a mistake when my order was called. In the basket was a heaping pile of poop-brown matter. The chicken tenders were fried to a crisp and piled on top of orange-brown crusted waffle fries. Covering the pile of crunchy stuff was an enormous brown scone. It must have been 8 inches in diameter. In my cup was brown Dr. Pepper (gulp).

There was no question in my mind that the monochromatic color scheme on my plate did not equal a healthy meal, chicken or not. The thought occurred to me to ask for my money back, to leave this joint and run to the closest McDonald’s and order a Salad Shaker (do they still make those?). At least I would be assured of meeting at least one of the six dietary guidelines of the USDA’s My Pyramid: Variety.

“So this is how most American’s eat, huh?” I asked myself. I could put my food snobbery aside and take a few bites. I added some reds to my brown color palette. Those greasy chicken tenders, dowsed in BBQ sauce, were quite satiating. And the fries, covered in bright red ketchup, weren’t half bad. I couldn’t bring myself to taste the scone. No need to overdo it here.

A few bites were enough for me. Looking at the enormous heap of brown somehow stifled my appetite. I pushed the basket aside and walked dejectedly back to the car. I think I had a banana in there somewhere, and a jar of Nutella. I never said no brown was allowed, after all!
TECHNO CHICKEN Warning. Watch this and you might never eat chicken again!!

About that Bottled Water You're Drinking

Cheers to Zion National Park calling attention to the wasteful American habit of purchasing bottled water by the boatloads. The park has installed several bottle refilling stations, where park visitors can fill reusable bottles with fresh spring water.




Americans use about 50 billion plastic bottles of water yearly,
167 for each person.
About 38 billion end up in landfills.
End-to-end they would circle the equator 217 times.
Making them uses around 20 million barrels of oil and creates more than 2.5 tons of CO2.

You can refill an average, reusable bottle with tap water once a day for 10 years, 5 months, and 21 days before it would cost as much as one quart of bottled water.

Desert Nutrition

CLICK HERE to receive 15% off Hammer Product.

I was extremely physically active during my 3-week stint in the Zion National Park Area. If I wasn’t doing two-a-day workouts, road biking and taking short, steep hikes, I was busy hiking anywhere from eight to 13 miles, sometimes in a slot canyon but more likely in full exposure to the desert sun and heat.

Eating to fuel all this exercise and staying hydrated was critical. The simple act of breathing in this arid climate can contribute to dehydration. I needed more than sweet water. I needed some real nutrition. I’d used Hammer Nutrition years ago when I was training for a triathlon and was always ravenously hungry. Since that time, Hammer has come out with a broad range of products to suit various exertion needs.

I bought samples and spent several weeks experimenting with the different combinations of what to eat/drink when, and which flavors I liked most. After I’d deciphered my tastes I went back to purchase the full size. And the winners are:

HEED High Energy Electrolyte Drink. One scoop provides 100 calories. But, more importantly, electrolytes including sodium, potassium, and calcium support optimal cardiac and muscle performance and help prevent cramping. Mix this in a water bottle and your good to go. Melon flavor is great if you can keep the water cold, but I soon learned that the unflavored was the way to go in the desert heat.

HAMMER Gel. One shot provides 90 calories. These convenient little shots are handy enough to stash in your backpack or pocket. Simply rip off the top and squeeze the pie-filling consistency nutrients into your mouth. Comes in a variety of flavors, but apple cinnamon has always been my favorite.

PERPETUEM Extreme Endurance Fuel. One scoop provides 270 calories, 54 grams of carbohydrates, only 7 grams of sugar, and 7 grams of protein. I put this product to the test the day I got caught in a thunderstorm hiking Zion’s Subway. I had to cover five miles of the North Fork of Left Creek as quickly as possible before rising water and possible flashflood waters caught me. I was already hungry but there was no time to sit and eat, and even less to let food digest so I could run without cramping. I mixed a bottle of PERPETUEM and virtually ran the remaining five miles of rocky streambed in just under an hour. Vanilla hit the spot that day, but it also comes in Caffe Latte.

RECOVERITE Glutamine Fortified Recovery Drink. One scoop provides 180 calories, 33 grams of carbohydrates, only 2 grams of sugar, and 10 grams of whey protein. Muscle recovery after a big workout is essential to perform at peak levels the next day. Eating a meal within 60 minutes of exercise is critical to optimize recovery and reduce the risk of muscle soreness and atrophy. When a meal isn’t possible, reach for RECOVERITE. This was another product that came in handy the day I raced the elements. I reached the point of the exit route still high on adrenaline. But soon after that high wore off I hit a wall of fatigue. I needed nutrients and I needed them quickly. Surprisingly, I wasn’t the least bit tired or sore the next day. My flavor of choice again is unflavored, but the subtle citrus is super tasty.