NYC Day 1
When I run through suburbia, back in Texas, I see very few other runners. So it was really exciting to run with a lot of other people in Central Park. The energy in that place is electric. I made up a new running game, called Pass or be Passed.
Basically, the rules are: you get a point for every runner you pass, and you lose a point for every runner who passes you. I passed fourteen runners and was passed by zero… although three of the runners I passed were together, so maybe that should only count as twelve. Eh, it’s my game. I can make up my own rules ;).
Post-run breakfast was a Single-Serving Oatmeal Cake.
I made this one Elvis-style, with banana and peanut butter. I also grabbed some fresh honeydew from the breakfast bar downstairs. Our little hotel room is so cool: it has a microwave, fridge, freezer, pots and pans, even a dishwasher! Did they have me in mind when they set it up? I could easily make all my own meals here. But considering NYC is right outside, I’ll probably stick to making oatmeal breakfasts… and taking full advantage of the fridge for storing to-go meals from all the restaurants I want to try!
Josies Restaurant West:
When Jessica finally woke up, we headed over to Josies–a veg-friendly establishment on the upper west side–for lunch.
Choosing between the pumpkin ravioli and the veggie lentil loaf was so tough. In the end, I decided to go for the loaf, which features organic lentils, mushrooms, sweet potato, and tahini, with miso-sautéed bok choy. (Note: the loaf is usually only available for dinner.) Good, good choice! The greens were just your average greens (not that this is a bad thing). But the loaf, itself, was fabulous—flavorful, soft, and chewy without being tough. Love love love.
Peacefood Cafe:
After lunch, we walked a few blocks to a place called Peacefood Cafe, for some chocolate-dipped macaroons. Peacefood Cafe is an awesome vegan restaurant that boasts whole-grain desserts and uses no refined sugars.
We took our chocolate macaroons to-go and ventured into Central Park.
Eventually, we made our way up to Belvedere Castle.
It’s a tiny castle (although not as tiny as my Harry Potter Castles). But it gives you a BIG view of the city. Then we found a quiet spot in the park to devour the incredible macaroons. I’m already thinking of going back to Peacefood—I want to try their coconut cream pie!
Well-fed, we walked all the way back to our hotel, taking advantage of the beautiful NYC day. (I read that it was 106 in Texas. Definitely not sorry I missed that!)
I love making up games to play while exercising – they make the time pass SO much faster!
Looks like you’re having a ton of fun already!!!! I have never been to those restaurants or that castle so I am definitely going to have to check those out next time I’m in the city!
I like the sound of your game! I definitely don’t see enough runners to do it though.
Your hotel room sounds cool – I always want to bring my own food and buy groceries. Have a great time Katie! 🙂
Ughhhhh yum!!! That loaf looks so darn good. I love lentils. And MACAROONS!!!
wow, great job with the running. unfortunately, i don’t eat macaroons anymore; i’m addicted to macarons. too bad they need egg whites; i just love that they come in so many different flavors.
If you could send some of that sunshine and heat from either NYC or Texas my way, that would be awesome. We have yet to truly get summer – today it is 13 C and cloudy/rainy…much like most of July. It will probably warm up to almost 19C at some point in time, but that ain’t even summer!
Looks like you’re having a good time there in the Big Apple!
Yey for 2 posts a day 😀
Looks like you are having a lot of fun- so happy for you! The food looks delicious, and running in Central park sounds like a dream! I always take early morning runs when I visit new places! Cant wait for my Paris tip in October!
Enjoy all he glorious vegan food NY can ofer 🙂 How I miss that city.. 😉
Two posts per day AND you’re on vacation…you go girl!
I pass by so many other runners on a daily basis that I would be in a constant state of math if I tried to play any counting games while I run. My brain usually just checks out.
Wow the food looks awesome…that loaf looks soooo good. The sweet potatoes, the bok choy, wow, that would be perfect for me!
No, what would be perfect are those choc dipped macaroons. Delish looking.
Have fun while you’re there and don’t worry about blogging!! 🙂
Lovelovelove NYC! Long posts (and two posts a day) sound great, if it means drooling over more delicious food pictures. Nothing wrong with that! 😉
love that running game! def gonna try it once i can get out of this injury and back to running!!
Is that castle the one in enchanted? *cough* not that I watched that film obviously! Actually I think I watched it at work, so that doesn’t count!
Oh my goodness, I never noticed. I have *cough cough* seen the movie twice (Mine was worth two coughs ;).)
I like making games like that while running..and the passing game is my favorite during races!
Wow! I would love love love to visit NY, but I thought it would be difficult being vegan, as in how would I cook and what would I eat at restaurants? What hotel are you staying at that has all the kitchen equipment?
Staybridge Suites on 40th and 8th.
I’ll (hopefully!) be going to college in NYC next year, and was wondering whether you had any other restaurants to recommend, other than the two you mentioned here? I would love to know some places to get some tasty, healthy eats!
Hi Emily! Here’s a link to my posts tagged “restaurant.” Many (most?) of the restaurant posts are NYC restaurants: https://lett-trim.today/tag/restaurant/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Thank you so much! I really appreciate this. Hopefully I’ll get into the NYC colleges I’m applying to so I can go to these places! (Food is very important to me XD)
Hello Katie,
I found your site about two months ago and have been loving it ever since. You and I are fairly different in looks and probably lifestyle. I’m not a chocolate lover (I only like chocolate) but I am chocolate covered. I’m not vegan but I do like eating pretty much everything. I recently found I have a sensitivity to gluten and that’s what brought me to your site. I think you’re amazing! I recently made your copycat Amy’s Mexican Tamale Pie. I shared it with people who get much of their canned food from the free food pantry. They loved it! It’s also wonderful for the elderly and disabled because it’s so easy. Personally, I love your single serving sweets. You are a life saver!
If you find it a bit maddening to follow the daily fluctuations of the scale even though you are eating properly, pick three days of
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example, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday). It’s old news that tracking
food intake could lead to losing a few pounds [2].
Who does not need that little bit of elevation when trying to
diet.