Category: Meal Inspiration

The big game is right around the corner (ICYMI, the Super Bowl is this Sunday) and it’s time to focus on the most important part of the day: the food. If you’re not taking advantage of a  Super Bowl special at your favorite bar or restaurant, it’s time to get your menu ready for the snack-a-thon that Super Bowl Sunday is known for.

Lucky for you, we’ve taken the liberty of breaking down the recipes of some of our favorite football eats that are always a crowd-pleaser. Not only are these appetizers delicious, they’re easy to make and don’t take more than 30 minutes from prep to passing to your guests. Plus they’re lighter and less greasy than your typical football finger foods so they won’t make you feel as guilty for cheating on that New Year’s diet (we all do it, the diet gods forgive you). Check out the recipes below and start perfecting your touchdown dance, cause these snacks will have you #winning all game long!

Buffalo Chicken Egg Rolls

Recipe makes 10-15 pieces

You’ll Need:

1 package egg roll wrappers

1 8 oz package cream cheese

1 cup Cheddar cheese

1/2 cup Buffalo sauce

2 chicken breasts OR 1 cup of shredded or diced chicken

1 egg

2 scallions (for garnish)

For this recipe, you have the option to buy a cooked rotisserie chicken and shred it OR buy raw chicken, dice into small 1/2 inch pieces and saute in a pan with 1 tablespoon of olive oil- either way works! When your chicken is ready, add cream cheese, Cheddar cheese and Buffalo sauce in a bowl and mix until combined. Once you have your mixture, add 2 tablespoons to the center of the egg roll wrapper and roll (following the instructions on the egg roll wrapper package). In order to seal the egg roll, you’ll need to use the scrambled egg. Use a brush to dip into the raw egg and rub along the edge to secure it (if you don’t have a brush, your finger works as well). Once secured, bake in the oven at 425 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Once cool, serve with your favorite condiment (we recommend Ranch or Blue cheese)!

Pro tip: If you have it, these Buffalo Chicken Egg Rolls taste even better in the air fryer. Cook for about 8 minutes and enjoy!

Zucchini “Fries”

Recipe serves 4 

You’ll Need:

2 zucchini

1 cup Panko breadcrumbs

1 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs

1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

1 egg

On a flat plate, add the Italian seasoned breadcrumbs, Panko breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese. In a separate bowl, scramble the egg. Next cut off the ends of the zucchini and slice into individual “fries”. Once the zucchini is cut up, dip in the raw egg and then in the breadcrumb/cheese mixture to coat the zucchini. Repeat until all of the zucchini are prepped. Set the oven to 425 degrees and bake for about 20 minutes or until golden brown. Plate and serve with your favorite marinara sauce or garlic aioli. Yum!

Pro tip: You can make the Zucchini “Fries” in the air fryer as well! Cook for about 6-8 minutes and serve!

Guacamole

Recipe serves 4-6 

You’ll Need:

3 avocados

1/2 small red onion

1 Cubanelle pepper

1 lime

1 small handful of cilantro

2 large cloves of garlic

2 plum tomatoes

salt

pepper

Chop red onion, Cubanelle pepper, garlic and tomatoes and place in a bowl. In a separate bowl, smash avocados up before adding to the bowl of vegetables. Add in chopped cilantro, salt, pepper and lime juice. Mix together until all ingredients are thoroughly combined. Serve with your favorite tortilla chips (for a healthier, grain-free option, we used Siete tortilla chips with lime) and indulge!

If you’re testing out our recipes, we want to see! Take a picture of your creations and tag us @foodtoeat. Happy eating (and footballing)!

The Keto Diet. If you’re like us, at least one person you know is on it or talking about starting it. It seems like this diet has become more and more popular in recent years (we’re looking at you Vinny Guadagnino) so we decided to do some research to learn more about the diet itself and how it affects the body.

As it turns out, the Ketogenic Diet is not a recent fad, it was actually used by physicians in the 1920s to treat epilepsy. A diet rich in fat and low in carbs was proven to produce ketone bodies in the liver. The increase in ketone bodies causes a change in metabolism, which scientists believe allows the body to remove the toxins from the intestines that cause the convulsions that plague epileptics. However, although ketone bodies have proven to help in reducing symptoms for those suffering from epilepsy, scientists still don’t completely understand why. The ketone bodies seem to have an anti-electrical effect on the brain but why that is is still under investigation. As for the diet being used to aid in weight loss, that’s also under investigation, as doctors have mixed feelings about if the benefits outweigh the costs. However, it has proven effective when men and women commit to this lifestyle change, rather than using it as a quick weight loss fix. 

What is the Keto Diet?

The Ketogenic Diet is a low-carb, high-fat diet. The purpose of the diet is to reduce carb intake and replace it with fat. The reduction of carbs from your system puts your body in a metabolic state called ketosis, which tricks your body into believing that it’s starving so it begins to efficiently burn fat for energy. 

What are the do’s and don’ts? 

The main focus of the keto diet is eliminating foods that are high in carbs, such as sugars and starches, and adding more proteins, vegetables and natural fats to your diet. However, it does allow for limited carb intake, depending on how strict you choose to be. A true ketogenic diet suggests under 20 grams of carbs a day but if that’s difficult for you to start out with, aim for staying under 100 grams of carbs a day. This will give your body more time to adjust to the diet and then limit the carbs from there, if you would like to. We’ve listed the common do’s and don’ts of the diet below. 

Do Eat/Drink:

Meat

Fish and Seafood

Eggs

Natural Fats (butter, olive oil, cheese and yogurt)

Vegetables (leafy and green vegetables are best: cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, zucchini, avocado)

Nuts in moderation (pecans, almonds, peanuts, walnuts)

Berries in moderation (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)

Water

Coffee (without sugar and limited milk or cream)

Tea

Bone Broth

Don’t Eat/Drink:

Sugar (candy, cakes, cookies, candy bars, doughnuts)

Starch (bread, pasta, potatoes, sweet potatoes, potato chips, french fries)

Grains (rice, quinoa, bulgur, barley, oats)

Beans (kidney beans, chickpeas, black beans, lentils)

Fruit

Soda/Soft Drinks

Juice

Beer

Cocktails

Pros of the Keto Diet:

Quick weight loss

Decreased appetite

Increased energy

Lowers risk of heart disease

Lowers blood sugar

Reduces insulin levels and inflammation

Cons of the Keto Diet:

May reduce muscle mass

Causes headaches and nausea 

Digestive issues such as constipation

May increase risk of coronary disease

Difficult to commit to following the diet

If you’ve done your research into the diet and are interested in trying it out, we’ve got the perfect meal to get you started: our keto quesadilla! The recipe is below along with step by step cooking instructions. Test it out at home and let us know if you’ve become a #ketoconvert.

Keto Quesadilla

Recipe serves 1

You’ll Need:

2 Siete almond flour tortillas

shredded Mexican cheese (use as much or as little as you’d like)

1 tablespoon ghee

1/4 lb ground turkey

1 clove fresh garlic, minced

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon chili powder

1 teaspoon olive oil

Heat skillet on medium heat. Add the teaspoon of olive oil as well as the minced garlic. Next add the ground turkey and all spices. Mix until cooked through. Once cooked through, remove from heat and set aside.

Wipe down your skillet with a paper towel (you can wash the skillet if desired but wiping with a paper towel should be enough to remove all of the turkey mixture). Return skillet to medium heat and add the ghee. Once the ghee has melted, add one Siete tortilla and cover in shredded Mexican cheese. Next add the cooked ground turkey and cover the ground turkey with more shredded cheese. Then place the second Siete tortilla on top. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side or until both sides are crispy. Pro tip: add avocado slices to make your quesadilla even more delicious or add a side of your favorite salsa and sour cream for dipping!

We served ours with sauteed purple cabbage and kale (which we sauteed with olive oil, fresh chopped garlic, salt, pepper and a dash of chili powder) but a mixed green salad or roasted vegetables are also good alternatives!

Resources:

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/ketogenic-diet-101

https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/keto/foods#keto-diet-food-list

https://www.news-medical.net/health/History-of-the-Ketogenic-Diet.aspx

https://perfectketo.com/ketosis-for-epilepsy/

https://perfectketo.com/ketogenic-diet-foods-to-avoid/

https://eatsmartproducts.com/fitness-and-wellness/the-pros-and-cons-of-the-ketogenic-diet/

The weather outside may have finally turned frightful (ugh) but our turkey chili really IS delightful (we promise)! And it’s the perfect way to beat the cold as sweater weather commences. This chili recipe is simple to execute and really flavorful without requiring any fancy ingredients- everything you need is at your local grocery store! Our recipe makes about 6 servings, which is perfect for Sunday football with your friends or meal prep for yourself. Once you create this dish, you can freeze whatever you don’t use and reheat it as needed. It should last about 2-3 months in the freezer, making it the ideal meal for those crisp nights when you just don’t feel like cooking!

Try it out and let us know what you think on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook @foodtoeat! We can’t wait to see how you chili!

Turkey Chili

Recipe serves 6

You’ll Need:

1 lb ground turkey

1 yellow onion, chopped

1 can of crushed tomatoes (28 oz)

1 can fire roasted tomatoes (small)

1 can kidney beans

1 can black beans

1 can chickpeas

1/2 cup chicken stock

1/2 bunch of cilantro, chopped

2 teaspoons olive oil

1 tablespoon fresh garlic, chopped

2 tablespoons chili powder

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

Heat olive oil in large pot over medium heat. Add in chopped onions and saute for 3-5 minutes. Add in ground turkey and cook for 3 minutes. Then add in your chopped garlic, salt and pepper. Cook for another 3-5 minutes. Add in the rest of your dry seasonings (chili powder, paprika, dried oregano, cayenne pepper and ground cumin), mix together and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes.

Once all of your dry seasonings are in the pot, add in crushed tomatoes and fire roasted tomatoes and cook for 10 minutes. Next add in your kidney beans, black beans, chickpeas and chicken stock (you can do more or less than 1/2 cup of chicken stock depending on how thick or thin you like your chili) and simmer for 30 minutes over low heat.

Ground turkey will be cooked through after 30 minutes. Remove from heat, mix in chopped cilantro and your chili is ready to eat! Add your favorite toppings (we suggest shredded cheddar cheese, scallion, sour cream and tortilla chips) and enjoy! Need a vegetarian option?! Leave out the meat and add your favorite root vegetables! We love potatoes, carrots and butternut squash- perfect for fall!

When you think about Halloween the first thing that usually comes to mind is candy, candy, trick-or-treating and more candy! But Halloween doesn’t just have to be about the candy (unless you want it to be, then we fully support that) and it doesn’t just have to be for kids 13 and under. There are plenty of ways for you to celebrate the most frightening day of the year at the office without doing the same thing that you did last year, aka running out the morning of to buy decorations and overloading on sugar. Get creative this year and try something new! We promise it won’t take up too much of your time or energy because whether you’re throwing a monster mash or planning a simple treat for your team, we’ve got fang-tastic food ideas that every office manager can execute!

Ghoulish Breakfast: If you don’t have a huge budget or are looking to do something simple to get your office in the ghosting spirit, a lot of bagel vendors do orange bagels or orange/black swirl bagels to celebrate Halloween. This is a small but fun way to get your team excited when they walk into the office on Halloween morning! Not into bagels? Try some pumpkin spice pancakes or pumpkin muffins with cinnamon cream cheese to really spice things up!

Boo-tiful Lunch: A lot of people think that Halloween is all about snacks and candy but there are plenty of ways to incorporate Halloween colors and ideas into a terrifying lunch! If Halloween isn’t a huge celebration in your office but you do a team lunch once or twice a week, make it special by doing a Halloween-themed lunch! You can do grilled cheese with tomato soup syringes, “decomposed” salad, “bloody” chicken fingers, pumpkin bisque soup- any number of items can be dressed up or given eerie names to get your team excited to sit down together. And if you don’t do a weekly lunch, suggest a Halloween-themed lunch as a special event just for that week! Even if it seems silly, it’ll give your office something to look forward to and your coworkers will enjoy it (even if they don’t admit it!).

Blood-Curdling Snacks: Holiday themed snacks are always a safe bet when you’re feeding a bunch of people, especially when you need to account for different dietary preferences. Having a variety of frightening finger foods ensures that there are a few bites for everyone and that you have options that satisfy each restriction. And the best part about the snack option is that you can schedule it for a time during the day that works best for everyone in your office and make the celebration as long or as short as you would like! If Halloween is big in your office and you’re looking to take it a step further, have your team vote on their favorite horror movie and host a viewing party while enjoying your creepy eats! Talk about netflix and chill. 

Haunted Happy Hour: Not in the mood for food? We got you covered there as well. Set up a boo-zy after work party at your office and invite all the ghouls and goblins to attend! Sip on some “magic potions” (dry ice is key) and jam to your favorite Halloween tunes all night long! Really feeling the holiday spirit?! Make it costume party and have everyone select the best dressed of the night. You can reward the winner with a small gift, like a Starbucks gift card or a spooky candle, whatever you see fit! Just make sure you’re prepare for a night of gruesome delight!

Whatever you’re looking for to celebrate Halloween, we’ve got a menu to fit your needs! Email us at catering@foodtoeat.com to get a custom Halloween-themed proposal for you and your team and let the bewitching begin!

It’s fall in NYC, which means it’s time for comfy sweaters, pumpkin spice everything and heartier meals! And we’ve got the perfect recipe to keep you warm all season long, without making you feel like you’re getting ready to hibernate!

Our fall grain bowl recipe combines the best of summer and fall: it provides light and healthy ingredients that fill you up but don’t give you the heaviness that you might feel with soup or stew. It also gives you the chance to incorporate some of those autumn veggies back into your diet: sweet potatoes, kale, cabbage, etc., that you may have forgotten about during the summer. The recipe is best served warm and only takes about 45 minutes from prep to plate, so it’s ideal if you’re looking for an easy meal on a chilly afternoon or evening. Also, if you’re into food presentation, the colors in the dish make it as appetizing for your eyes as it is for your stomach! See for yourself by checking out our Instagram highlights: @foodtoeat! Happy eating!

BYO Fall Grain Bowl

Recipe serves 4-6

You’ll Need:

2 cups lucinato kale (also known as dinosaur kale or black kale)

2 cups spinach

2 cups escarole

2 cloves minced garlic

2 bags Uncle Ben’s brown rice (or any instant brown rice or grain)

2 sweet potatoes (large)

6-8 carrots

1 head purple cabbage (small)

1 package of chicken tenderloins (large, at least 10-15 pieces)

olive oil

garlic powder

onion powder

paprika

chili powder

salt

pepper

First step is to roast your veggies in the oven while you prepare the rest of your ingredients! Preheat the oven to 425 and cut your sweet potatoes into 1/2-1 inch cubes. Place in a large bowl and coat with about 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add in 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of onion powder, 1 teaspoon of paprika, 1 teaspoon of chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper and toss. Line a sheet pan with tin foil and spray with non-stick baking spray. Transfer sweet potato pieces onto lined sheet pan and spread evenly to bake. Bake for about 25 minutes.

Once your sweet potatoes are in the oven, begin cutting your carrots into 1 1/2 inch pieces (or smaller if you’d like). Repeat the process that you did for the sweet potatoes. Place in a large bowl and coat with about 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add in 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of onion powder, 1 teaspoon of paprika, 1 teaspoon of chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper and toss. Line a sheet pan with tin foil and spray with non-stick baking spray. Transfer carrots onto lined sheet pan and spread evenly to bake. Bake for about 25 minutes at 425.

Next, prepare your pulled chicken! Remove chicken tenderloins from package and rinse. Place on paper towels to remove the moisture, pat dry. Season chicken with 1 teaspoon of pepper, 1 teaspoon of paprika and 1 teaspoon of chili powder. If you have it, heat your cast iron skillet on medium/high heat. If not, a regular non-stick skillet works as well! Place seasoned side of chicken down on skillet first, then season the other side. Cook for about 8-10 minutes or until cooked through. Place on plate and let cool. Once cool to the touch, shred chicken with your hands and toss with your favorite BBQ sauce (we used Stubbs BBQ Sauce).

Once your chicken is done, move onto your greens and cabbage! Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pan on medium heat. Add in 1 large clove of minced garlic. Add in lucinato kale, spinach and escarole (feel free to use just one type of green or your favorite green if you don’t want all 3) and saute for 3-5 minutes. Once the greens are wilted, remove from heat and set aside in a bowl. Cut cabbage into quarters and then into thin slices. Repeat the process that you did for your greens. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pan on medium heat. Add in 1 large clove of minced garlic. Add in sliced cabbage and saute for 3-5 minutes. Set aside in a bowl until you’re ready to build your grain bowl!

The final step is to create your grain! We love Uncle Ben’s instant brown rice because you simply add water and microwave. However, you can use your favorite grain as your base. We suggest brown rice, farro or quinoa!

Once all your ingredients are ready, combine in a bowl and enjoy! Pro tip: top with pumpkin seeds for an added crunch!

ROMAINE CALM!!!! We know you’re dying to learn more about our Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps and we’re here to tell you that they’re as delicious as they look and creating them is a breeze. With minimal ingredients, you have a healthy and flavorful meal in less than 20 minutes. 

As usual, the lettuce wraps can be customized to fit your needs: served with or without rice; chicken, beef or tofu as the protein; and topped with hot sauce or keep it plain! It’s up to you! And unlike the lettuce wraps you’re getting from a restaurant, you know exactly what’s going into the wraps that you prepare: only simple ingredients that you can feel good about. Served hot or room temp, these wraps are perfect as a meal prep lunch option or pretty enough to serve to guests if you’re hosting a happy hour! Whatever you prepare them for, these Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps are always a hit!

Asian Ground Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Recipe serves 4

You’ll Need:

1 lb ground chicken

2 teaspoons olive oil

5 tablespoons hoisin sauce (we use Soy Vey hoisin sauce with garlic)

1-2 tablespoons soy sauce (we use low sodium soy sauce)

1-2 teaspoons sriracha (optional)

1 tablespoon rice vinegar

1 teaspoon sesame oil

1 teaspoon honey

2 large cloves of garlic minced

1 tablespoon of ginger minced

3 scallions sliced

1 pack of baby portobello mushrooms chopped

1 large head of bib or romaine lettuce

1/4 head of thinly sliced purple cabbage

pepper

Heat olive oil in skillet on medium heat. Add scallions and ginger to skillet and cook for 3 minutes. Add ground chicken and mushrooms to skillet and season with black pepper, to your preferred taste. Use a spatula to break down the chicken into crumbles and cook for 3 minutes. Add in minced garlic and cook until ground chicken is fully cooked through. While chicken is cooking, combine hoisin sauce, soy sauce, sriracha, rice vinegar, sesame oil and honey in a bowl and whisk together. Once the chicken is cooked through, pour sauce on chicken mixture and mix well (for a stickier sauce, add more hoisin sauce). Serve warm chicken in a lettuce wrap and top with fresh sliced scallions, thinly shaved purple cabbage and sriracha for a little kick!

Want to make this meal more filling?! Add brown rice to the lettuce wrap before topping with scallions, cabbage and sriracha or serve it on the side! We suggest Uncle Ben’s 90 second brown rice. 2 bags should be good to serve 4 people!

Team lunch is a perk that we suggest all offices get in the habit of doing on a weekly or monthly basis! Not only does it improve your office culture by bringing everyone together, it also provides an avenue for collaboration between departments that can give birth to new projects, solutions to existing issues and re-invent outdated processes. We advocate for it so much so that we even do it ourselves! Every Thursday our team gets together, orders lunch from a restaurant that we love or want to try and discusses everything and anything from work to our personal lives to the most recent Cardi B clapback on Instagram.

However, work can stressful and overwhelming for everyone and sometimes just getting out of your office can give you that reset that you need to renew your focus and handle tough situations. Which is why every once and a while, if we need a pick me up during a tough week or if we’re celebrating a birthday or a big work anniversary, we’ll take team lunch out of the office, venturing to a restaurant to get some time away from our desks! Although going out to lunch may be a normal occurrence for different people in your office, getting the whole team together and sitting down for a meal is a simple way to make each person feel valued. Even if it’s only once a quarter or twice a year, getting away from your desk for an hour or two and interacting with co-workers outside of your office walls can foster a sense of community within your office and keep up morale!

Based on the lunch ventures that we’ve gone on as a office, we’ve compiled a list of our top 10 favorite restaurants to go to for team lunch! All of them are great for a group (some more than others depending on the size of your group) and, of course, the food is delicious! Check out some of our favorites below!

1. The Smith. This restaurant is on the pricier side but the food quality is always good and every meal is delicious. There’s always a great atmosphere with friendly staff who are willing to give recommendations if you’re stuck between a burger or pasta. We love the Midtown location because when the weather is nice, they’ll open the doors in the front so you can people watch while you dine. Also, this location is crowded but big enough that when you walk in with a group, you can usually combine a few tables to fit everyone in your party.

2. Carmine’s. This place may get a bad reputation for being too touristy because it’s better known location is in Times Square but being in business almost 30 years, they must be doing something right! This restaurant is awesome for a group because it’s strictly family style Italian, which means you can order for about half of your group and everyone will still get fed (depending on their appetite..) and the food is great as well! You can make a reservation for up to 20 people, which is a huge plus, but both locations do get very busy during lunch and dinner so we highly suggest making a reservation before stopping in. 

3. Blockheads. Blockheads has 5 locations throughout NYC so you’re never too far away from one (unless you’re in the West Village… sorry!). But the best part about this casual restaurant is it’s pricing. $10 lunch for an entree and a soda?! You just can’t beat it. The food isn’t gourmet but it is filling and definitely worth the visit. However, the restaurant does get pretty packed because of their awesome lunch/happy hour deals, so it might be hard to sit down if you have a bigger group. 

4. Westville. Westville is notorious for being crowded, since their tables always seem to be very close together,  which can be frustrating when you’re with a group. But the healthy options make it a fan favorite with our office. The menu is on the pricier side for a casual place but their focus on fresh, high-quality ingredients make it worth the few extra dollars. This place is also well-known for their market veggies and salads, so it’s a great place to try if you have a lot of vegetarians on your team.

5. The Park. The Park is a little more expensive in regards to lunch prices but the ambiance is really what you pay for here. Seating is available in both the main room and the garden, both of which are beautifully decorated; especially the garden where birds will be hanging out in the trees that are nestled every few feet in this enclosed space. As an added bonus, the food at this restaurant is varied and delicious, which makes it even more enticing! However, they cap the size for dining in these areas at 24 people and under, so if your office is 25 or more, this isn’t the best option for a big group.

6. Ippudo. Ippudo is one of the best ramen places in NYC, which is why it had to make our list, despite the fact that this restaurant doesn’t take reservations and the space is pretty limited. The restaurant recommends only a handful of people per table so a smaller team is ideal. However, the service here is always great. The staff is very friendly and welcoming and the food comes out pretty quickly, so even if you do have to wait for a table, your waiting will be rewarded with their insanely delicious noodles and broth! If you don’t have time to wait for a table at one of their locations, Ippudo recently launched Kuro-Obi (the quick service ramen bar), which is their “take out ramen recipe”, available at the Urbanspace on Lexington and 51st Street or the Urbanspace on Vanderbilt and 45th Street. The Urbanspace locations provide much more room for your team and allow you to experience Ippudo’s amazing food in a more comfortable setting.

7. Shake Shack. There are many Shake Shack locations throughout NYC but the one in Madison Square Park is the best for groups because it has so much seating available! Even if you can’t sit in their designated seating area, there is plenty of room on the grass for a team of any size because everything is outside at this location. Combine the space with the drool-worthy burgers, fries and milkshakes that they serve and you’ve got your office’s favorite spot for a cheat meal! Although this isn’t a sit down restaurant, it still ranks high on our list because it’s great food that isn’t too expensive and an interesting option for your team to try together.

8. The Bonnie. This Astoria hot spot is a little bit outside Manhattan but worth the trip for it’s delicious bar food and outdoor seating. It’s quieter than most places in Manhattan so taking over an area in the back with a larger group shouldn’t be a problem. The menu isn’t as extensive as we’d like it to be but everything we’ve tried has been amazing. The only downside is that it’s only open for lunch during the week on Fridays, 12 – 4PM. So you might be required to make it a late lunch and stay for their happy hour, which starts at 3PM, and try their wide array of beers and cocktails!

9. The Frying Pan. Technically this isn’t a restaurant… it’s actually a historic lighthouse that was built in 1929. But it does have a kitchen on board that creates delicious small plates, street eats, burgers, salads, fries, and of course, traditional fish & chips and lobster rolls for customers to order and enjoy a table! Because you can order at the counter and then sit down, this is a great place for a group to get a bunch of tables together and enjoy the beautiful views this spot offers. Again, it’s not a sit down restaurant so the vibe is a little more laid back but it tends to get pretty crowded the after work crowd descends so it’s better to go early and leave early. Also, disclaimer about The Frying Pan: it sits at Pier 66, on the water. So if you have any team members that get motion sickness or don’t do well on boats, we don’t suggest trying this out!

10. Roberta’s. Would this list even be complete without a staple pizza spot?! Roberta’s in Brooklyn has the best of both world with indoor and outdoor seating to be as formal or relaxed as you’d like. The indoor area has an option for group dining with a prix fixe menu that centers around family-style portions. However, it’s only available Monday-Thursday at 11AM, 12PM or 1PM. If you’re looking for something cheaper and more laid back, you can order from their take out counter next door and eat at the picnic tables outside which are first come first serve. To avoid half of your team standing, it’s better to get there early and take over a few tables! Or, if you can’t get to Brooklyn, Roberta’s pop up at the new Urbanspace on Lexington and 51st Street does the trick, although it lacks the hipster ambiance that the real location provides.

It’s hard to keep yourself on a healthy routine, especially during the summer months when the warm weather is constantly calling you outside to all of NYC’s amazing restaurants. With all of the delicious foods that we love to indulge in being available to us 24/7, it gets difficult to maintain a balanced lifestyle when it comes to food. However, it’s important to feed your body the nutritious foods that it needs and that keep you energized during the workday. The best way to make sure that you’re getting the sustenance that you need and to avoid unhealthy foods is to meal prep! The task may seem daunting at first but once you make it a part of your regime and get into the habit of meal prepping, it will make creating meals and eating healthy quicker, easier, more enjoyable and your body will thank you for it!

Make a Schedule: It’s important to be realistic about your schedule and figure out how many days a week you’ll hold yourself accountable to prep the meals that you’ll be eating at the office. If you know that you’re usually on the go on Fridays, focus on meal prepping Monday-Thursday and bringing options for breakfast, lunch, and snacks that you can eat at your desk. Pick one a day a week that you’ll go grocery shopping (we suggest Saturday or Sunday) and plan out your meals for the entire week so that you know exactly what you need when you go. Dedicating a specific time each week to get all your shopping done will keep you from getting overwhelmed and is much easier than trying to plan something out for the next day.

Our Suggestions for Healthy Meals: Every person has different tastes in what they like to eat and how they like to eat. Some people love a big breakfast in the morning and a small lunch and others skip breakfast altogether and go straight to a heavier lunch. We’ve found that skipping meals only makes us hangry, so we suggest prepping breakfast, lunch and 1-2 snacks throughout the day to keep you feeling full. However, it’s important to find what’s right for you and customize your meal prep based on your preferences! Below are some ideas of healthy foods we’ve found that are really easy to transport to the office and store in a fridge or at your desk until you’re ready to eat!

Breakfast: Oatmeal; Yogurt Parfaits; Green Smoothies; Overnight Oats; Fruit Salad; Egg Frittatas; Whole Wheat Breakfast Wraps; Avocado Toast; Breakfast Grain Bowls

Lunch: Quinoa with Grilled Chicken and Veggies; Shrimp and Vegetable Stir Fry; Lettuce or Whole Wheat Wraps; Salad; Brown Rice or Quinoa Bowls; Assorted Bean and Veggie Salad (no greens); Sweet Potato or Zucchini Noodles; Salmon with Lentils and Veggies; Chickpea Pasta Primavera

Snacks: Hummus and Veggies; Hard-boiled Eggs; Fruit; Nuts (almonds, pistachios, walnuts); Granola Bars; Dried Fruit; Roasted Chickpeas; Trail Mix; Whole Grain or Veggie Crackers; Air-Popped Popcorn; Almond Butter with Fruit or Veggies; Pumpkin or Sunflower Seeds; Granola; Dark Chocolate 

Keep Yourself Hydrated!!!!: One thing that we do suggest that is crucial to a healthy lifestyle is keeping yourself hydrated! The recommended amount of water that you drink per day is eight 8 oz glasses or about 2 liters, which most people don’t drink! Drinking water is the best way to get rid of waste in your body, help your body burn calories and keep you feeling full. People often confuse thirst with hunger and start snacking when their body is really craving water, since our body depends on water to survive. Drinking water during and between meals will make you full faster and keep you full longer. If you don’t want to be chugging water all day, green tea is another great option for keeping yourself hydrated between meals. It has a bunch of antioxidants and nutrients that your body craves and also improves brain function!

Think Outside the Box: The best thing about meal prepping is that you can get creative with the meals that you make. If you really love a specific fruit or vegetable, check out some recipes that include it so that you can find other ways to incorporate it into more of your meals! Interested in making zucchini noodles as a pasta replacement for lunch?! Research how it’s cooked and give it a shot! There are so many different ideas available to you for healthy meals that you can test out and see what you like or don’t like! You don’t want to get bored with the same meals day after day so be committed to trying out new foods that are delicious and still good for you!

Be Kind to Yourself: Even with your meal prep schedule and your best intentions, there will still be days that you just need pizza or tacos or fries for lunch. And then there will be some weeks where life/work gets really crazy and the meal prep just ain’t gonna happen at all. And that’s okay! A healthy meal prep also includes a healthy mindset, so it’s key to learn to accept when you slip up and move on from it rather than beat yourself up. Treat each individual meal or snack as a clean slate and a new opportunity to get back on your plan. But remember that you know your body and what it needs, so splurge every once and a while so that you don’t ever feel like you’re depriving yourself of something that your body wants. Be proud of the hard work that you put into your meal prep and allow yourself those cheat meals that you need! With food, it’s all about creating the balance that works best for you!

The NYC humidity is no joke in July! With the temperature staying around 80/90 degrees the last few weeks, turning on the oven to cook these days is no longer an option. So we’re cooling it down with our delicious taco salad recipe that’s super easy to prepare and will keep you full for that post-work Pilates class or (who are we kidding?!) happy hour drinks! For our salad, we topped it with some zesty, seasoned shrimp but the best thing about this recipe is that you can customize it any way you want: include jalapenos if you’re feeling spicy, or top with tofu if you’re a vegetarian! Mix and match any ingredients that you want to celebrate Taco Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday/Friday/Saturday….. 😉

Taco Salad

Recipe serves 3 – 4

You’ll Need:

2 heads of romaine lettuce

shredded taco cheese

sour cream

1/2 red onion, chopped

1 jar medium salsa

1 avocado

cilantro

tortilla chips

Chop romaine lettuce and toss with salsa as a low fat and flavorful dressing. If desired, add a spoonful of sour cream to make dressing creamier. Chop red onion and avocado and add on top. Add cheese, cilantro, tortilla chips as desired.

Seasoned Shrimp

Recipe serves 3 – 4

You’ll Need:

1 tablespoon of avocado oil or olive oil

1/2 pound of fresh, raw shrimp (peeled and deveined)

1 teaspoon chili powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 tablespoon fresh chopped garlic

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon pepper

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon fresh chopped cilantro

Combine dry seasonings except cilantro in a bowl. Add in shrimp and mix until shrimp is well coated. Heat avocado oil or olive oil in a skillet on medium heat. Add chopped garlic. Cook for 30 seconds and then add shrimp. Cook for about 5 minutes on medium heat or until shrimp is fully cooked. Turn off heat, add fresh chopped cilantro and mix. Once done, add shrimp to taco salad and enjoy!

If you’re looking for a side dish to complement the taco salad, our go to is always the classic Mexican rice and beans. Check out our 5-minute recipe below if you’re looking for something a little heartier to serve on the side or mix into your taco salad!

Mexican Brown Rice

Recipe serves 6 – 8

You’ll Need:

1 tablespoon of avocado oil or olive oil

2 bags of Uncle Ben’s 90 second brown rice

1 small can of sweet corn

1 small can of black beans (we used reduced sodium)

1/2 jar medium salsa

1/2 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon pepper

2 tablespoons fresh chopped cilantro

Cook both bags of Uncle Ben’s brown rice in microwave for 90 seconds. Heat avocado oil or olive oil in a large skillet or pot on medium heat. Add all of the ingredients listed above except for the cilantro, starting with the cooked brown rice, black beans and corn. Mix well. Cook for 3-5 minutes on medium heat. Turn off heat, add fresh chopped cilantro on top and mix!

Okay so we don’t mean that we’re going to teach you how to get rich overnight or become really successful….. but we ARE going to teach you how to make 3 different types of delicious meatballs that you can feed to your family and friends! All of the recipes listed below are super easy to make and provide a unique twist on the “traditional meatball”. We’ve also suggested ways to pair each meatball option to dispel the belief that meatballs are only served in marinara sauce or with pasta! So check out your options below and make your favorite one! And if you’re feeling really “ballsy”, why not try em all?!

Traditional Italian Turkey Meatballs

Recipe yields about 25-30 meatballs

You’ll Need:

1 pound ground turkey

1/2 yellow onion, finely chopped

3 large cloves of garlic, chopped

3 heaping tablespoons of tomato sauce

2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

2 tablespoons chopped flat leaf parsley

1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese 

1/4 cup seasoned Italian breadcrumbs

1 egg

2 tablespoons dried oregano

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

salt (to taste)

pepper (to taste)

In a large bowl, mix all of the above ingredients together and form into 1 & 1/2 inch balls. Put meatballs in a large skillet with 2 tablespoons of olive oil (or avocado oil). Cook meatballs on medium heat on each side for about 3-5 minutes or until outer layer is brown and crispy. Transfer meatballs to a large pot and cover with sauce (we recommend Rao’s Tomato Sauce but feel free to use your favorite jarred sauce or make your own sauce from scratch!). Cook on low heat for about an hour and a half to two hours, stirring occasionally.

Pro tip: Pair these Italian turkey meatballs with some whole wheat spaghetti for a lighter pasta dinner!

Greek Turkey Zucchini Meatballs

Recipe yields about 25-30 meatballs

You’ll Need:

1 pound ground turkey

1/2 red onion, finely chopped

3 large cloves of garlic, chopped

2 heaping tablespoons of tomato sauce

2 large zucchini grated

2 tablespoons dried oregano

3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley 

4-6 tablespoons seasoned Italian breadcrumbs

1 egg

1/2 small container of crumbled feta cheese (about 3 ounces)

salt (to taste)

pepper (to taste)

In a large bowl, mix all of the above ingredients together and form into 1 & 1/2 inch balls. Put meatballs in a large skillet with 2 tablespoons of olive oil (or avocado oil). Cook meatballs on medium heat, turning them every few minutes. Cook for about 20-25 minutes or until cooked through and brown on all sides.

Pro tip: Top these Greek turkey meatballs with some homemade Tzatziki Sauce (recipe below) and serve with brown rice and a side of veggies if you’re trying to cut down on the carbs!

Homemade Tzatziki Sauce

Recipe yields about 3 cups

You’ll Need:

2 cups plain Greek yogurt (we recommend Siggi’s)

2 mini seedless cucumbers, diced small

2 teaspoons chopped fresh dill

juice of 1 lemon

2 large cloves of garlic, minced

salt (to taste)

pepper (to taste)

In a large bowl, mix all of the above ingredients together and refrigerate at least 30 minutes before serving.

Vegetarian “Meat”balls

Recipe yields about 25-30 meatballs

You’ll Need:

1 can lentils, drained and rinsed

1/2 yellow onion, finely chopped

1 large carrot, peeled and finely chopped

2 celery stalks, finely chopped

2 large cloves of garlic, finely chopped

1/4 cup flat leaf parsley, finely chopped

3 tablespoons of tomato paste

4-6 large Crimini or button mushrooms, wiped clean and finely chopped

2 eggs

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup seasoned Italian breadcrumbs

1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

salt (to taste)

pepper (to taste)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Drain and rinse lentils and set aside. Add 1/4 cup of olive oil to a large pan. Bring heat to medium/high and add in chopped onions, celery, carrots, garlic, salt and pepper. Stir frequently for 5-10 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Add the tomato paste to the pan and continue to cook for another 3-5 minutes. Add the mushrooms to the pan and continue to cook for another 10 minutes. Once cooked, transfer mixture to a large bowl and let cool. When cool, add in the lentils, eggs, Parmesan cheese and walnuts. Mix by hand until all ingredients are well incorporated. Place in the refrigerator for 25 minutes. Remove mixture from the refrigerator and form mixture into 1 & 1/2 inch balls, making sure to pack the mixture firmly. Use cooking spray to coat a baking sheet and place balls on cooking sheet. Cook for about 30 minutes until meatballs are firm, cooked through and crispy on the outside. Allow meatballs to cool before topping!

Pro tip: Try these vegetarian “meat”balls in a whole wheat pita with arugula and topped with chimichurri sauce! YUM!

Tag us on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook @foodtoeat with pictures of the meatball recipe that you chose and what you paired it with for your meatball-inspired lunch or dinner!