Real Food?

Hello everyone, I hope you are all doing well. 

I wanted to share with you an experience I had with a long-time friend of mine while we were out one warm summer evening in downtown Chicago a few months (and believe me, we have had a lot of them here in Chicago) ago. 

Let's take a brief intermission here, okay?

This is not a story about diet and healthy meal plans (although we do highly recommend them here on Relax and Reclaim!). This is all about pre-concieved notions and a serious need to assimilate new information. 

Sounds weird, doesn't it? You'll see how this plays out shortly.

The Restaurant Compromise 

Anyway, we were looking for a place to "cool our heels" so to speak and have more time to chat.

My friend knows that I am a bit of a health fanatic, so he was quite apprehensive about suggesting some of his normal chow-down spots for us to get refreshments. You know, the places where "fat is king & lean is mean"? 

Unhealthy food?

There's a lot of great spots in downtown Chicago to eat (one day I'll have to give you a list of some of my favorites), but finding one that fits with a healthy lifestyle can be a bit challenging at times...unless you know where to look.

We were on foot on Michigan Avenue, which didn't bother me because I used to do that for a living for about five years, but my friend was clearly getting frustrated and after six blocks (downtown Chicago blocks...mind you) he decided he couldn't continue any further. 

In fact he looked a little winded. He asked me, "Just tonight, why don't you knock off that diet you're on and try some real food so we can find someplace we can both eat?"

My first thought was to become offended at the notion that he starved himself because of me, but then I realized he misunderstood what my lifestyle is all about. 

He expected me to criticize his "less-than-healthy" meal plans as we dined. I assured him that I would not do that and I would only focus on conversing with him.

surf and turf meal for me

We dined at a very nice steakhouse on Michigan Avenue and he enjoyed both the meal and the conversation. As we left, he apologized for offending me with his assumptions. 

I responded that I was not offended and that I do eat real food, but it is in line with a specific health and weight objective. 

He was having a bit of an issue with his weight, so I suggested something for him that helped me out a couple of years ago

He politely nodded in agreement and I felt I did a good deed for a dear friend with my advice.

Or, so I thought....

Epilogue: Because this story wasn't completely over yet..

A few weeks later, my friend called me laughing.  

“Hey, health guru! Remember that steakhouse I dragged you to? 

Just got featured as one of Chicago’s top heart‑healthy restaurants! 

Grass‑fed beef, olive‑oil everything, even ‘smart’ cheesecake. 

healthier than a kale smoothie??

Guess you’ve been on trend without knowing it!”  

I nearly choked on my kale smoothie. All these years avoiding places like that—and it turns out I’d been skipping over the *new* definition of “healthy.” So naturally, I had to go back (purely for research, of course).  

My Take 

The ribeye was perfect.

Balanced. Guilt‑free.

  

And as I walked out, I couldn’t help but smile—apparently the only thing overdue for a cleanse was my food philosophy.  

Who says irony isn’t part of a balanced diet?  

"Your Health Is Your Wealth!!"