Beverage: Mont Clair Red Wine

Never underestimate the benefits of a tall glass of red wine! After spending a semester abroad in Florence, Italy, these benefits became all too clear for me. Unfortunately, in Chiang Mai, wine can be an expensive--and absent--commodity.

Luckily, I was introduced to a replacement for my wino days in Europe: Mont Clair Red Wine. Though I'm no wine expert, I know enough to say that the price is right on this wine--especially in Chiang Mai. Despite its qualm of being a boxed wine, this South African wine acts as a perfect table or every day wine for casual wine drinkers. Obviously there are better options; obviously these have higher prices.

A 5L bag of Mont Clair will run you 950 THB, approximately 142 THB per bottle. As far as I know, a glass of wine at most restaurants will be at least 80 THB: for the habitual wine drinker, this provides significant savings. Another advantage is that the box easily can fit in your refrigerator, making it a perfect option if you only want a glass or two.

Though drinking a glass with a friend is advised, Mont Clair makes a glass of wine a night possible even on your own--no need to leave an unfinished bottle lying around. Purchase at 7-11, Tesco, or any local licquor store.

Restaurant: The Salad Concept

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I have a sick, undying obsession with Salad Concept, affectionately known by me as S-Concept or, simply, "The S." This restaurant, which recently expanded to fill the growth of enlightened salad lovers, has exactly what most Thai food is missing: uncooked vegetables, organic produce, and healthy portions of MEAT (or tofu)! Bring on the protein.

Salad Concept, located on Nimmanhaemin, has the unique allure of allowing customers to individually create their own salad. Customers can pick 5 toppings (50 baht), add meat or tofu (25 baht), and then add cheese (20 baht). The ingredients are fresh, the dressings are original (choices include pumpkin, japanese soy sauce, tofu, carrot, and passion fruit), and the service is on-point. And, last but not least, the salads are HUGE!

S-Concept also has some notable beverages and sweets. Beverages include health smoothies like a banana peanut butter mix and hangover cures like wheatgrass shots or beetroot juice. Having a vivacious sweet tooth, I would definitely recommend trying some type of dessert while you're there--they are the closest thing that I've found in Chiang Mai to Western desserts (meaning over-sized, cream cheese frosting covered, and deserving of "I really shouldn't...).

My perfect (hungry man) Salad Concept order:

Salad: grilled chicken, Feta cheese, sweet corn, red beans, onions, whole-wheat noodles, beet root served with Japanese soy sauce dressing.

Beverage: iced caramel latte.

Dessert: Apple cheesecake strudel.

Highlights: Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, homemade salad dressing, amazing dessert selection, great service, indoor & outdoor seating.

Don't forget to order a homemade wheat roll or try a Salad Concept set salad!

Activity: Namo Yoga

When I am tired of my normal workout routine and am feeling particularly stressed, there's always one place that I know I can turn (no, not iBerry). Namo Yoga is a studio located on Moon Muang on the east side of the Old City. They offer massage and yoga courses, though I have only personally dabbled in the yoga classes.

The classes run at 200 baht each, though a nine-class pass can be bought for 900 baht. Depending on your needs, this could be a worthwhile investment. There are usually two classes a day (10 AM and 6 PM) and each class runs for an hour and a half. I liked Namo yoga because the classroom setting was laid-back and relaxing, necessary requirements for the type of yoga I prefer. Despite being located off of the Moon Muang, the hectic east moat road, the wood-paneled second floor of Namo is dark, quiet, and a great place to collect your thoughts. And the instructors are encouraging no matter your skill level.

Check out the schedule to figure out what works best for you! A must-do in Chiang Mai, even for the novice yogi. No need to bring your own mat, but water is a definite must--it gets a bit warm inside.

Snack: Broad Beans

When I'm out and about in Chiang Mai, I often find it difficult to avoid the temptation of purchasing a greasy street food snack. Initially, I saw no other filling option for hunger on the go. However, I have recently discovered broad beans.

These beans, found at any 7-11 store, are salty, crunchy, and full of protein to ward off hunger between meals. With one package at around 10 baht, they are definitely affordable as well. Also known as "fava beans," these are an alternative to almonds or peanuts (9g of fat per bag), and have considerably less fat. For one bag, there is about 210 calories. While this definitely is hefty, a bag is pretty big--and you can't discount the protein that you gain from this caloric investment.

For a light meal, grab a bag and a 0% Fat Coconut Dutchie yogurt--only 290 calories, 25 baht, and available at any 7-11.

Restaurant: Cathouse

Lots of Thai food should be "healthy": the ingredients usually consist of fresh vegetables and meat. However, without growing up on a Thai diet, the oil, coconut milk, and rice (not to mention MSG) can begin to unpleasantly add up.

To balance out my Thai meals, I usually go to a more Western restaurant a few times a week. One notable restaurant is Cathouse. This restaurant--located on Soi 3 Sirimankalagan--has a relatively simple, but refreshing, menu.

"We wanted to make healthy food within reason for a reasonable price. Because there are places [in Chiang Mai] that have really healthy food, but it's always expensive," explains owner Steve Harjula.

And affordable it is! The menu has four categories: "Big Green Salad," "Sandwiches," "Spaghetti," "Fries." The salads range from 50-70 baht; the sandwiches range from 75-85 baht; the spaghetti is 60 baht (or the spaghetti and salad combo is 80 baht); and the fries are 35-40 baht.

Highlights: price, Wi-Fi, variety of fries (zucchini, eggplant, sweet potato, pumpkin), salad dressings (creamy ginger, sesame olive oil, sweet and sour pumpkin passion fruit).

Don't forget to try the Garlic Mayonnaise dipping sauce!

They also have YOGA upstairs! Check them out at cathouse-cm.com

Article: Eat Well to Be Well

Proof that this blog is, in fact, relevant: New York Times' Article, Eat Well to Be Well.

Article: The Asian Diet

An interesting article about the Asian diet with an explanation of stressed food groups and nutrients.

Beverage: O-Lyte Electrolyte Beverage Powder

In the spirit of my last week in Chiang Mai--consisting of hospitals, thermometers, and way too many blood tests--I have decided to impart some of my Dengue Fever wisdom upon the Stay Fresh community. We all know that Thailand. Is. Hot. Too hot, at times. In order to keep that hydrated homeostasis intact, I have adapted by of course, drinking lots of water.

However, when water simply won't cut it (perhaps if you too have been struck with a tropical illness), I recommend O-Lyte Electrolyte Beverage Powder packets. These packets, sold at any local pharmacy (which are everywhere) come in Orange Flavour, and you simply pour them into a glass of water and drink up! A cross-cultural alternative to Gatorade (available, but expensive by Thai standards), and an easy, healthy option if you're on the go--these packets can be tucked away into a purse or wallet.

Snack: Meiji Yogurt

One food that I have come to appreciate in Thailand more than I ever did at home is yogurt. Perhaps this is because my diet lacks much of the dairy that I was able to get at home; finding fresh dairy like cheese in Chiang Mai is possible, but it will cost you (plus it's just not the same).

Whatever the reason may be, yogurt is a great option for those who are looking for a high-fit, low-fat snack. According to the American Dietetic Association, yogurt is made with "friendly" bacteria; these bacteria are thought to aid with digestion as well as boost immunity. And, as most dairy does, yogurt provides a lot of calcium which can be hard to get here. I tried a variety of yogurts in my search for the "one," and the following are my results. Luckily yogurt is a food that can be easily located, especially because it is located in every 7-11 (and 7-11 is everywhere).

1) Dutchie Original

The first yogurt on the roster is made by Dutchie brand. The original flavor has 150 calories per container with 4 grams of fat. This yogurt is absolutely delicious, but, at 150 calories, perhaps not the best Fit Farang option.

2) Dutchie Original 0% Fat

After this, I moved on to the 0% Fat Dutchie Original. However, I am always hesitant to choose the "fat-free" options over the original; oftentimes, fat-free means that food is just packed with more chemicals while still containing the original amount of sugar. 80 calories per container.

3) Meiji Original

However, the winner of this challenge remains Meiji Original flavor. At 70 calories, this plain yogurt has no sugar added, making it the most natural choice. Though it is unsweetened (which I personally don't mind), it can be complemented with fruit to make up for the lack of sugar if you are craving something sweet.

Introductory Hor D'oeuvres

Hello readers!

I dedicate this blog to all of those readers who, like myself, came to Thailand (or perhaps Asia in general) hoping to maintain a healthy diet, and, unfortunately discovered the difficulty in meeting this goal. This blog is meant to help those in Thailand, and other places where it applies, to stay healthy despite all of the tempting Asian delicacies that flood the streets, convenience stores, and every place in between.

Getting Personal
Before I came to Asia, I would have classified myself as very health conscious, even while in college. Though beer pong almost never contributes to a healthy lifestyle, I took the other aspects of nutrition seriously: a low-fat, high-fit dietary regiment and frequent trips to the gym. However, upon moving to Thailand after graduation, I was shocked into the realization that--gasp--maintaining this sort of health routine would not be possible without a lot of the Western comforts I had come to hold so dear. As I walked down the street in my first few weeks in Thailand, I was amazed and tempted by the infinite array of battered, fried, and sugar-coated foods that littered the carts on the sidewalk. Like most foreigners, I dug in. With most street snacks costing less that $1 USD, why not? Unfortunately, these snacks began to cause problems...all over my body. Soon, after feeling pubescent because my body was changing in ways I didn't (and still don't) understand, I decided to become proactive in recreating the healthy diet that I had enjoyed at home while still adjusting to the Thai nutritional way.

I hope this blog will interest and help those like me to remain trim in Thailand!