My Struggle: Or, A Week of Healthy Eating

Five things I learned by not eating processed foods for one week. 

A wholly unfamiliar shopping cart. 

A few months ago, my dear friend Shayna Schmidt, talented actor, passionate cook and yogi, and sometime health expert, decided to more seriously pursue that last description and become a fitness and nutrition coach. One of her first exercises, which I gamely (and slightly naively) agreed to take on, was a weeklong “Clean Eating” challenge. As someone whose weeknight meals consist of Easy Mac and a glass of wine more often than I’d like to admit, this was a challenge met with more than a bit of apprehension. But after all, I’ve seen Shayna convincingly play everything from a young girl to a deranged veteran, so I feel there is little with which I cannot trust her. And so into the world of healthfulness I followed our brave leader.  

While the shopping list did little to assuage my fears and confusion (“those gourds on display in the Thanksgiving section are edible?”  “What the hell is Flax seed?,” “no SUGAR in my coffee? This was a mistake.” etc., etc.), soon enough I was on my way, and eventually succeeded at lasting an entire week sans bread, cheese, processed food, and alcohol. Temptations were plenty and some minor kitchen chaos ensued, but in the end I felt pretty accomplished. While I could go on about the trials and tribulations of an amateur chef in the brave new world of health-conscious cuisine (quinoa overflows and blender misadventures included), I’ll boil it down to the most surprising things I learned while masquerading as a health nut.

Eating My Way Through Scandinavia: Norrebro Bryghus, Copenhagen

The first night of our stay in Copenhagen we ate at the brewery in the “hip” neighborhood of Norrebro. I put “hip” in quotes here, because this is precisely how the neighborhood was described to my parents by our friendly concierge and subsequently, precisely how my parents insisted on referring to themselves throughout the evening for having ventured coolly into this Williamsburg of Scandinavia. Hip hop we went to the brewery where we selected a 5 course tasting menu which included a beer pairing with each course. Wether under the influence of jet-lag or delusions of hip-ness I can’t be sure, but it evidently did not occur to us that two members of our five person party do not, in fact, drink beer. True champions in the fight against wastefulness, my brother, father and I bravely accepted the challenge of imbibing 20 beers over a filling Nordic meal. (I’m expecting my medal any time). 

The brewery from above.

Eating My Way Through Scandinavia: Oliver's Black Circus, Copenhagen

Oliver’s Black Circus, Copenhagen

For a restaurant whose slogan is “let’s be weird together,” Oliver’s Black Circus did not disappoint. Carefully concocted dishes of myriad locally-sourced ingredients made for a menu which sounded more like a garden catalogue than anything searchable on Seamless. I’m certainly no culinary master, but I had no idea that so many types of “root” could even be cooked.  But it won me over, roots and all. 

The scene:

The façade has a deer silhouette, so obviously I like it immediately.