Menu Monday - Where to Eat When The Plan Fails

I love plans. Hot dang, they are my favorite. I do not even need to go on a road trip, as much as I need to plan one. Plans are thrilling. However, things rarely go to plan.

For instance, some times it snows  a lot, and I cannot make it back to Bolivar, so I end up gypsy living in Springfield for a week.

Sometimes, you end up meeting a folk band who invites you to their show. And you go, and they end up reminding you why it is you love folk,  and you have an earth-shattering conversation with the lead singer, that makes you believe in love and God and music and harmony all over again.

Sometimes, you end up talking late into the night on a back porch with people you barely know, and laughing at the neighbor walking his obnoxious dogs. Sometimes, you get stressed out and being lazy sounds better than planning and cooking.

My life is wonderfully unplanned most of the time. That is all grand and dandy, but when it comes to overhauling bad habits in your life you need structure, and that means having a backup plan.

When I was at SBU, we had a guest speaker who talked about event planning. When she was interviewing for a job her boss asked her, "What makes you stressed out?" She answered, "When my plan E fails."  That's right this girl not only had a plan B, but a plan C, D, and E. The quote has stuck with me. I know I will never have a plan E, but I do want to acknowledge that I fall off track and need to have a plan B. Maybe it's just me, but if I do not have a backup plan, I'll just end up eating whatever is near by.

So for this Menu Monday, we are talking about a few great places you can eat, when your life falls apart for a day (or a week). The restaurants are not as cheap as Taco Bell's value menu, but not so expensive that you will have to take out a loan. Remember, these are fall-black plans, not your every day. I would rather spend more money going out less often, than going out to crazy cheap (and gross) restaurants all the time. These places will not make you feel like you just threw away weeks of progress.

Chipotle 

Was that too obvious? Chipotle is a fresh Mexican grill that allows you to build your own meal. I know this has to be redundant. No way I am talking to someone who has not been there. If you haven't, WHY? I am a huge fan of Chipotle. They source all of their meat responsibly, and even stop selling it if they cannot find enough responsibly-raised meat. Sure, it might be a PR stunt, but I do not care. That is amazing. You can customize your meal as much as you want. I highly recommend the guacamole. It is delicious.

Panera/St. Louis Bread Co

Panera is so yummy, but can also be incredibly tempting for the weak of mind (me). Those scones are like the siren of pastries, they call to me tempting me. Do not go here if you are in the middle of a major sweet craving. However, they do have excellent, healthy food. I suggest sticking to breakfast here, as lunch and dinner get pretty expensive. If you are going in the morning, try the Power Bowl. It is NOT on the menu! That's right, this is a secret item. It has antibiotic-free turkey, spinach, red peppers, eggs, and pesto. Yum! They are also great if you are in a hurry. Order online, and have it ready to pick up!

Your Local Health Food Store 

If you are in a major city, you probably have a Whole Foods. Did you know that they have an entire section of prepared foods? Whole Foods has a massive salad bar, filled with organic veggies. They also use bio-degradable plates and bowls! There is also a buffet full of prepared yummies, and a huge deli seleciton to chose from. Then you turn the corner, and there is even more. I am not kidding, I could live in Whole Foods. If you are like me, and you live in a city without Whole Foods, you probably have a health food store. Pick up something from there. Mamma Jeans, here in Springfield has this burger man who stands outside and grills up grass-fed burgers no matter how bitter cold it is outside. They are the best burgers I have ever had.

Snack

I am so serious about this. If it is between taking a break for a meal, and shoving death, shaped like a burrito or cheeseburger, down your throat, choose to wait! I know this is not always realistic, but just pick up some trail mix from Wal Mart and wait till the worst of the hunger storm passes. I really do think you will be glad you did.



I know I did not list many places. If you live in the Springfield or St. Louis area, I would love to suggest some more particular favorites. For those of you who live in small towns, there are not any options besides just preparing food and sticking to the plan. It is all about deciding what it more important to you.

Hope this helped. I would love to hear some of your favorites!

Much Love,
Sarah