I aim to plan and consciously choose all of my indulgences. I have the knowledge and willpower to do so, but occasionally, I will have a substantial misfire.
I was in Boston, my home away from home, for the 2004 World Series reunion. I splurged nutritionally as I had intended, but I didn’t map out my large nutritional stumble while watching the game.
I had it all pre-navigated. My two men (12 and 14) and I love to experience travel through food. We think it’s the most efficient and interesting way to explore the culture of a city. We discussed the trip ahead of time and decided on three restaurants where we would fully indulge and eat like kings. We’d start with the team dinner at a fine steak and seafood house, follow it up with breakfast the next morning at a bakery, and finish it out with lunch at a tapas joint in the South End.
The first night the three of us shared bone in filets, swordfish steaks, oysters, giant shrimp, crab cakes, lamb chops, chocolate cake, apple crisps and cold vanilla ice cream. I enjoyed a few glasses of whiskey, neat, and my boys drank Sprite. We left the restaurant 1 for 1. Remember, this indulgence was planned.
The next morning, we went to a bakery suggested by a Boston-based chef friend. The boys picked up scones and French toast; I scored big with a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich on a crusty roll with spinach and tomato. The bite came complete with a Dijon mustard finish that struck a chord with me, managing to last all day. 2 at bats, 2 knocks.
After mobbing around on the T train all morning, making our way to Harvard and back to Downtown Crossing, we landed at our destination for lunch, Toro. Theo Epstein made the recommendation after I mentioned that my boys and I were on a food adventure. This is the guy who went out to get the “washed up” 2002 version of David Ortiz, so he’s proven his scouting mettle. If he thinks it’s a worthwhile trip, I’ll take his advice.
Back to food.
Rather than turn this post into a restaurant review, I’ll keep it simple. I had an out of body experience. Every small plate that arrived was visually captivating and stunning on the palate. We sprinted the gamut. From spicy curry beef empanadas to cauliflower with golden raisins and pine nuts to the pièce de résistance, roasted bone marrow with radish citrus salad and oxtail marmalade. This dish, holy fuck. Our waiter described it exquisitely as “like rich, hot, beef flavored butter.” I was now 3 for 3 and ready for my final at bat.
A theme throughout this entire trip was advance planning. My first mistake was not preparing for this final meal. I figured my boys and I would just eat at the ballpark and didn’t put much thought into it. I knew that the options would be plentiful and come in large quantities. I wasn’t necessarily wrong, but I quickly got off course.
I was running around at Fenway from this place to that, answering questions and meeting folks. My boys were on their own and already up in the suite by the time I arrived around the start of the first inning. They had eaten pizza, snacks and fruit, totally what I expected for them. I walked in starving, my second mistake. I reached for a plate and piled on decent looking veggies, a huge mound of guacamole, and the only available protein, stale fried chicken strips. I could have reached into my bag and opened a can of wild caught salmon. I didn’t. My defenses were down. I hadn’t snacked. I ingested that garbage and suffered strike one.
You know my stance on processed foods. Those frozen chunks of flour covered meat product provide little nutritional value. I had already experienced a whirlwind day filled with emotion and exertion, and the pizza under the heat lamp began to look lovely.
I advocate indulgence, but I advocate planned, quality indulgence. This was neither. I scarfed down a piece and the drugs hit my bloodstream. I couldn’t chew fast enough. Strike two.
The final pitch of the at bat came in and I chased it. I scarfed down a few more slices, knowing even as I did so that it wasn’t my finest hour.
3 for 4. In baseball that’s a hell of a day. Nutritionally, I expect 4 for 4s from myself almost always. I’m in control, so the high bar is appropriately set. Rather than dwell on it, I’ll do what Manny tells us to do after a rough at bat. “Turn the page, papi.”
I write this from the plane the following morning. I’ve turned the page. Today, I’ve ingested steel cut oats, fresh organic blueberries, a pile of kale, a chunk of a ham steak, a few fresh scrambled eggs and organic black coffee.
In my bag, I have a large salad with tons of fresh veggies, almonds, chicken, organic Hannah yams. I also still have that wild salmon I passed over for pizza in a box.
I’m back on track. I remember last night’s at bat and will make the adjustment without carrying the emotion of yesterday over into today’s game.
I hope you’ll share your stories of strikeouts or home runs in the comments section below.
Kap
Mary Reagan says
Fenway has definitely been improving the food choices lately. There still aren’t a lot of really healthy choices, but the variety of less healthy stuff has improved. My planned indulgence lately is the cheeseburger at the new Tasty Burger stand behind third base. I do miss the grilled cheese stand that they used to have behind the bleachers though. That was my indulgence a couple of years ago. They’d make each one to order as you waited.
Gabe Kapler says
Thanks as always for sharing, Mary. Good stuff.
Kap
Colt says
What steakhouse?
Gabe Kapler says
Abe and Louie’s.
Michelle Williams says
I am a person who plans everything. Including my meals (every sunday). Once a month I have my girlfriends over and I plan out my splurge meal with them. This last time was homemade croissants with a delicious mushroom and lamb filling, dessert was homemade lavender cheesecake with lemon curd and Jameson with ginger ale and lime. What I didn’t expect was that later that weekend one of my girl friends was planning having us over for homemade tapas and sangria. Like I was going to skip out on that, these were recipes from her Cuban grandmother.
By the end of the weekend I had some major internal dialog. I reminded myself that sometimes we have to treat ourselves and tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes. And my new Sunday began with some quinoa, milk and almonds. And back to my normal healthy routine.
It’s nice to know other people have a nutritional fail sometimes. : )
Thanks!
Gabe Kapler says
Michelle,
Thanks so much for the share.
Kap
Terri Torrez says
At a major league stadium, I usually plan an indulgence for the most interesting foods available. But we went to a AA stadium a few weeks ago and I was stumped. Nothing good enough to count as an indulgence and nothing remotely resembling healthy food.
I’m assuming that the catered food options in your suite were even better than the average ballpark food. (Not sure I’ve ever seen fruit for sale anywhere.) And a lot of parks don’t permit outside food at all. So what do you recommend for fans spending the day at a ballpark?
Gabe Kapler says
I really like this topic for a post, Terri. Stay tuned.
mtkr says
Fenway has a fruit stand. Not sure that it gets many customers though.
Bryan says
Miller Park in Milwaukee has one of the most open carry-in policies I’ve ever seen. I’ve regularly seen families bringing in Cousin’s Subs, packaged snacks, and even gallons of water. Check the websites of your local teams and see what their policies are, you may be surprised.
Mike says
Yet another great piece, Kap. I love that you addressed the emotional connection to over eating. I took your almond challenge at the Mets games last week: 54 almonds, about 350 calories, 1 almond for every out. I kept my money in my pocket and got home without the urge to commit any frenzied, panicked eating. Good looking out, as always!
Mike
Gabe Kapler says
You’re a beast, Mike. Nice work.
gavin mogan says
Okay, thanks for the offer to step up to the plate. My yesterday may provide some perspective on your self disappointment. My son and I had the day together since the ladies of the house attended a musical. This would be nice.
After some degree of research and negotiation by both parties, my son and I came to an agreement for the day’s activities. We struck a deal whereby we would pull off the very rare two-movies-at-two-different-theaters afternoon. I was poker-faced thrilled that I was able to coax him to see “Fed Up”, the great expose of our country’s pending health catastrophe. The price was letting a nine-year old see the PG-13 rated “Captain America”.
“Fed Up” went down well, in that it made us both sick of the situation we’re all in. This time, I would be committed to taking full ownership of my body’s treatment. But this is sort of my Christopher Moltisanti (Sopranos) “I’m done wit’ that stuff, Tony” commitment. It occurs every few weeks. But we still mutually agreed to hit Whole Foods between the first and second shows to stock up on better quality sustenance. By the time the credits for Captain America” were rolling, I looked over at my son to see that his face was the 9-year old equivalent of the Red Sox lifting that ’04 World Series trophy over their head. The second feature was entertaining, but just too beyond reality for me to really embrace. Nonetheless, a doubleheader sweep for both of us today – so far.
Well, my best intentions did last through dinner. Unfortunately, they didn’t even survive dessert. But I’ll be a little better today, a little better than that next week, and so on. The battle is constant, like-minded friends, but it’s generally marching in the right direction. Gabe, perfection is only attained in Hollywood. Cap Am is a great role model for my son, but there is no real Captain America. In 2004, how many games did the Sox lose? But they won the war.
It’s a helluva grind to undo a 30 or 40-year prior mentality. But you are dishing out double-digit assist games every day to your readers. You’re a player-coach now, or again, or whatever. Your relative number was 3-for-4 the other day. But the way I see it, and you usually seem to get it as well, is that absolutes are the value here. Total base hits, not average is the desired metric. You helped many others go 3-for-4 instead of 1-for-4, or maybe just 2-for-4, but who otherwise may have taken an 0-fer. You’re racking up Pete Rose hit counts, if not random perfect games.
Maybe way too deep here, but can one even obtain personal perfection and still be a perfect person? Perfection of “self” has to require too much “self”ishness, doesn’t it? I think you’re 3-for-4 day, while sharing your passion with all that want to hear, outslugs any 4-for-4 effort that only you are tracking. If you or I can have even small impacts here or there, maybe my kids and your kids enjoy better lives because of it. Need to conclude here, I guess. We don’t have to be Captain America, just real people who are fed up. Fight on, Kap’n!
Gabe Kapler says
Now that’s a well thought out reply. Excellent food for thought, Gavin.
Ed H says
Deep? Yes…Too deep? No. I’ve written this before… Golf is a great analogy. What’s a perfect score in golf? 18, but who can do that! We start out trying to shoot par, then get better from there. Perfect is just not meant to happen!
Ed H says
Wow, that took a long time. You finally confirmed you are human 🙂 . Manny’s advice is perfect for this occasion.
It must be awesome being part of that ’04 group. Not to understate your entire career, but you do have some interesting moments.
Gabe Kapler says
Amazing. Unforgettable.
Kevin McNeil. says
Heard you on the Darrin Smith show in San Diego and have recommended your blog to half dozen people already. My other go to source is called Beating Cancer with Nutrition (no time like the present to put up the defenses).It comes with a CD and an awesome food chart all of which seem to be right up your alley. After a workout or combatting desease, you want to have a rich electrolyte environment for your cells to rebuild and reproduce in. Chocolate milk and Ezekiel bread with natural peanut butter and cinnamon for everyone.
Enjoy your coffee and cheese cake on Thursday. Any Stevia with that?
Gabe Kapler says
Thanks so much, Kevin. Really appreciate it. Sounds like you’ve done your homework. Stay well.
Kap
Brad says
Gabe,
I eat 5-6 eggs maybe every other day for breakfast, and sometimes hear it from my parents that I’m consuming too much cholesterol. I know you scarf down around 7 eggs per morning many days as well. What have you read that challenges this conventional thinking that eating too many eggs is unhealthy?
Terri Torrez says
I stopped bothering to try to fight that battle with family members. Which is particularly silly because the only person in the family with high cholesterol is the one who consumes the least; it’s hereditary not dietary. Short answer is that ingesting cholesterol does not necessarily lead to higher cholesterol in the body. YMMV.
http://authoritynutrition.com/how-many-eggs-should-you-eat/
http://health.clevelandclinic.org/2012/08/should-i-stop-eating-eggs-to-control-cholesterol-diet-myth-4/
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/expert-answers/cholesterol/faq-20058468
Brad says
Useful stuff! Much appreciated Terri