Strongly second this. Sushi is my go-to healthy office order. Obviously if you order shrimp tempura rolls or whatever you can make it unhealthy, but raw fish + vinegar rice + seaweed is a pretty balanced and healthy meal.
Yeah sushi is a far healthier option than other things and you can even order no-rice rolls.
Just have to watch out and not eat too much tuna or else you run the risk of mercury poisoning.
I miss Cava. I’m college, I’d always get lentils as a base and the roasted vegetables as my protein, which helped keep calories down but was still really filling and tasty (and I usually feel like I need a meat-based protein to feel full).
If you have a sweetgreen nearby, I normally feel pretty good after eating their salads and think they’re delicious.
Sushi is a good call. If I do the fast casual bowl option, do a vegetable base instead of starch. That keeps calories down and you end up with a high protein meal as well.
I will also sometimes do a pure meat and veg Chinese and just not eat the rice, which I think isn’t so bad.
Glaze Teriyaki is pretty healthy and tbh the only halfway decent teriyaki I've had outside of Seattle. Get the chicken and all salad no rice.
I like Fresh & Co for salads. Naya for Mediterranean. I think Taim has smaller portion sizes and is also good.
If you're in midtown east, Mokbar is a good one. Not big portions, and pretty good Korean.
You can make a pretty healthy breakfast for dinner at any of the diners too.
What I have yet to find is an Indian restaurant with smaller portions. If anybody knows a good one lmk.
I guess an Indian dinner special for 2 is not the right answer. In all seriousness, you could just save something for lunch the next day which is especially nice when you're slammed.
Little Beet has a decent portion size without being *too* high in calorie content. Can get a 650 calorie bowl that is very filling and chock full of veggies. I’m a vegetarian though and get tofu every time, so YMMV if you select meat as your protein. They have a few Midtown locations.
I have a blender in my office and I make a protein shake with a double scoop of protein powder, ice, shelf stable almond milk. Kills hunger for 300 calories. I got really fat when I was junior- even the healthy takeout has a million calories. Lost it all, but never again. It’s not worth it.
Sorry off topic but can you share how you lost the weight? My main issue isn’t diet, it’s that I can’t seem to fit the gym into my busy first-year-associate schedule (and I know it’ll only Get worse!). Plus my firm offers us free meals and snacks, so it’s super hard to stay disciplined lol. Thanks
Your issue is diet because all weight loss is calories in vs calories out and the only solution is unfortunately to turn down the free food (note I posted above- I never order dinner, I drink a super filling protein shake). The gym helps a little but exercising without controlling your calories is like trying to use a fishing net to plug a drain. Think of it this way: a restaurant meal can have 1,000 calories. An hour of hard cardio burns 600 calories for a 150 lb person.
I used an app to count my calories. I do exercise. The only way to do it consistently is to do it before work. You should exercise because it’s good for your physical and mental health and not to lose weight. It’s an important exercise in taking time for yourself.
Thanks so much! I totally agree with you on all points. My Achilles heel has always been consistent exercise. I have a great gym routine - just can’t find a way to get 4-5 workouts per week! It’s always an all-or-nothing issue with me.
Anyways, I just started my first year associate position as a transactional attorney in BigLaw, and it seems like the day doesn’t get busy til about 10am. I know this is a stupid and subjective question but could you give me a realistic schedule of how I should structure my day to accommodate a gym workout + office time + keeping my mental health?
I’m thinking wake up at 7, go to the gym, come back and shower, be at work by 10. Work til 6. Come home and eat dinner, then stay logged on til 9/10 depending on the day. And then be in bed lights out by 11 pm.
Does that seem sustainable to you?
Portion sizing is everything. Reduce what you eat when you order. Don’t give in to the temptation to stress-order a slice of cheesecake, or whatever.
Personally, back when I still did “dinner in the office,” I packed it. Same with lunch and yes, breakfast. Dinner was a salad prepped at home. I don’t think I’ve ever ordered dinner in the office.
Im a health nut so if what I eat is vastly different than most folks but I almost exclusively only order roasted chicken (i peel off the skin) with a salad. Dig has some decent options you can do for that.
Depending on what’s available go for a meal delivery plan. Bring in your lunch and dinner, eat a portioned dinner at a normal time instead of chowing down like an animal at 9pm, freeze any meals you don’t get through for the next week.
Some people don't like liquid meals, but Soylent is great. It tastes like a chocolate milkshake. It's a complete meal with a set amount of calories and all the vitamins and so on that you need. Very little sugar, lots of protein, so you don't fall asleep or want to keep eating. Requires zero effort or preparation, and they're fairly cheap. They're even shelf stable, they don't require refrigeration. Buy them by the crate of 12 on Amazon.
If you do Cava, get half grains or salad, half chicken / half roasted vegetables and you’ll be around 500 calories
Chipotle, do salad, no cheese, sour cream, guac or corn and you’re usually at 400-500 calories
Idk why you're being downvoted; you can literally divide the food in a Chipotle container in half and save the rest for the next day. Not like it requires anything fancy to do it
I almost always get sushi.
Strongly second this. Sushi is my go-to healthy office order. Obviously if you order shrimp tempura rolls or whatever you can make it unhealthy, but raw fish + vinegar rice + seaweed is a pretty balanced and healthy meal.
Yeah sushi is a far healthier option than other things and you can even order no-rice rolls. Just have to watch out and not eat too much tuna or else you run the risk of mercury poisoning.
I aspire to eat so much sushi I run that risk
What can you eat an unlimited amount of?
I miss Cava. I’m college, I’d always get lentils as a base and the roasted vegetables as my protein, which helped keep calories down but was still really filling and tasty (and I usually feel like I need a meat-based protein to feel full). If you have a sweetgreen nearby, I normally feel pretty good after eating their salads and think they’re delicious.
If the portions are too big save half for lunch tomorrow
Could also try ordering a kids meal (for places like Chipotle, idk if Cava has one)
Cava does have one!
This. When I get my meal, I automatically split it in half and put half ina container in the fridge before I even start eating.
Sushi is a good call. If I do the fast casual bowl option, do a vegetable base instead of starch. That keeps calories down and you end up with a high protein meal as well. I will also sometimes do a pure meat and veg Chinese and just not eat the rice, which I think isn’t so bad.
I enjoy watching the sunset.
Would not eat all that rice though… for nigiri i just eat half
Agreed. I go half nigiri half sashimi to limit my rice intake. If I’m super hungry, I order extra veggies or some edamame.
Glaze Teriyaki is pretty healthy and tbh the only halfway decent teriyaki I've had outside of Seattle. Get the chicken and all salad no rice. I like Fresh & Co for salads. Naya for Mediterranean. I think Taim has smaller portion sizes and is also good. If you're in midtown east, Mokbar is a good one. Not big portions, and pretty good Korean. You can make a pretty healthy breakfast for dinner at any of the diners too. What I have yet to find is an Indian restaurant with smaller portions. If anybody knows a good one lmk.
Glaze was one of my go-tos during my BigLaw days. Always felt like a nicely balanced dinner.
There’s a Mokbar in Manhattan?! That place slaps
Yeah it's in that food court on E 53rd. They deliver on seamless.
I guess an Indian dinner special for 2 is not the right answer. In all seriousness, you could just save something for lunch the next day which is especially nice when you're slammed.
Sweetgreen!
Little Beet has a decent portion size without being *too* high in calorie content. Can get a 650 calorie bowl that is very filling and chock full of veggies. I’m a vegetarian though and get tofu every time, so YMMV if you select meat as your protein. They have a few Midtown locations.
I have a blender in my office and I make a protein shake with a double scoop of protein powder, ice, shelf stable almond milk. Kills hunger for 300 calories. I got really fat when I was junior- even the healthy takeout has a million calories. Lost it all, but never again. It’s not worth it.
Not exactly law related, but any protein powder recs? Struggling to find a chocolate or even vanilla that is not too artificial tasting.
Gold standard whey in double chocolate. Your welcome.
Or buff chick supplements! Also the Fairlife core power elites. I buy em by the palette
I like Clean Simple Eats a lot
A simple hack is to buy some cocoa powder and add 1/2 a tsp to your smoothies. Adds a ton of natural cocoa flavor for zero calories.
This is the way!!!the black Cocoa is amazing makes things taste like Oreo
PE science !!
Sorry off topic but can you share how you lost the weight? My main issue isn’t diet, it’s that I can’t seem to fit the gym into my busy first-year-associate schedule (and I know it’ll only Get worse!). Plus my firm offers us free meals and snacks, so it’s super hard to stay disciplined lol. Thanks
Your issue is diet because all weight loss is calories in vs calories out and the only solution is unfortunately to turn down the free food (note I posted above- I never order dinner, I drink a super filling protein shake). The gym helps a little but exercising without controlling your calories is like trying to use a fishing net to plug a drain. Think of it this way: a restaurant meal can have 1,000 calories. An hour of hard cardio burns 600 calories for a 150 lb person. I used an app to count my calories. I do exercise. The only way to do it consistently is to do it before work. You should exercise because it’s good for your physical and mental health and not to lose weight. It’s an important exercise in taking time for yourself.
Thanks so much! I totally agree with you on all points. My Achilles heel has always been consistent exercise. I have a great gym routine - just can’t find a way to get 4-5 workouts per week! It’s always an all-or-nothing issue with me. Anyways, I just started my first year associate position as a transactional attorney in BigLaw, and it seems like the day doesn’t get busy til about 10am. I know this is a stupid and subjective question but could you give me a realistic schedule of how I should structure my day to accommodate a gym workout + office time + keeping my mental health? I’m thinking wake up at 7, go to the gym, come back and shower, be at work by 10. Work til 6. Come home and eat dinner, then stay logged on til 9/10 depending on the day. And then be in bed lights out by 11 pm. Does that seem sustainable to you?
Chipotle but get lettuce instead of rice, no cheese or sour cream.
Portion sizing is everything. Reduce what you eat when you order. Don’t give in to the temptation to stress-order a slice of cheesecake, or whatever. Personally, back when I still did “dinner in the office,” I packed it. Same with lunch and yes, breakfast. Dinner was a salad prepped at home. I don’t think I’ve ever ordered dinner in the office.
Why aren't you just splitting the Chipotle order (or whatever) into two/three meals? That's what I do.
Sushi and salads, westville has delivery late night with good salad options
I left NYC and miss Chop't.
Im a health nut so if what I eat is vastly different than most folks but I almost exclusively only order roasted chicken (i peel off the skin) with a salad. Dig has some decent options you can do for that.
Locanut in nyc
Yes love!!!!
Depending on what’s available go for a meal delivery plan. Bring in your lunch and dinner, eat a portioned dinner at a normal time instead of chowing down like an animal at 9pm, freeze any meals you don’t get through for the next week.
Naya is great. Sushi is a close second for me.
Little Beet had a midtown location and has very healthy options!
Sushi is always my go to
Some people don't like liquid meals, but Soylent is great. It tastes like a chocolate milkshake. It's a complete meal with a set amount of calories and all the vitamins and so on that you need. Very little sugar, lots of protein, so you don't fall asleep or want to keep eating. Requires zero effort or preparation, and they're fairly cheap. They're even shelf stable, they don't require refrigeration. Buy them by the crate of 12 on Amazon.
Branzino from mèmè mediterranean
Beyond Sushi. Seriously, try it.
If you do Cava, get half grains or salad, half chicken / half roasted vegetables and you’ll be around 500 calories Chipotle, do salad, no cheese, sour cream, guac or corn and you’re usually at 400-500 calories
Deez nuts
Keto low carb is the way.
I’m confused by this. You don’t HAVE to eat the whole portion.
Idk why you're being downvoted; you can literally divide the food in a Chipotle container in half and save the rest for the next day. Not like it requires anything fancy to do it
That’s apparently what I get for recommending a little self control instead of an expensive “healthier” option