The holidays are here, and with them come a lot of things: Mulled wine and eggnog. Milk and cookies for Santa. The 12 bia hois of Christmas. The holidays are fun and exciting and filled with joy, but they can also be stressful and leave us forgetting to take care of ourselves. This year, in particular, has been tough. From lockdowns and quarantines and life as we know it being thrown out the window, 2020 has been nothing short of challenging. But, December is here and we are full throttle into the holiday season! There is absolutely no harm in indulging during this time of year. Life is all about balance. And the truth is, the holidays can be enjoyed without undoing a year's worth of progress. At the end of 2019, Coach Rebecca wrote a blog post on making good choices during the holidays - including exercise and mindset. Check out that post here: This year, we have Coach Rico dishing out some specific advice focused around his area of expertise - nutrition. On top of being the Head Coach and Co-Owner of CrossFit Tay Ho, Rico also runs Mission-Nutrition. A collaborative nutrition coaching approach which aims to help you become more aware of your own tendencies, tolerances, and preferences. The goal of Mission-Nutrition is to educate and inspire clients and to work together to overcome challenges and to achieve their own personal definition of success. With his nutrition knowledge in hand, Coach Rico dishes out three ‘Holiday Hacks’ to get you through those celebration dinners: Holiday Hack #1: Eat slowly and mindfully. Stop when you’re “satisfied” instead of “stuffed”. This strategy helps you avoid overeating for two main reasons: Fullness-lag: It takes 15-20 min for your digestive system to let your brain know that you’re satisfied and for the brain to send out signals to stop eating. Slowing down a meal prevents you bypassing this chemical and hormonal signalling and therefore prevents you overeating. Smaller Portions without trying: Eating slowly helps you to eat less. Ideal if you’re trying to lose or maintain weight. After all, nobody wants to undo all their hard work from 2020 by overeating in the last 3 weeks of the year. So instead of stuffing down and rushing through the roasties and pigs in blankets this Christmas, take your time, enjoy the company of your friends and family at the table and feel better for it! Holiday Hack #2: Pick Protein FirstSimply put, Protein takes longer to digest and also helps you feel fuller for longer. So load the plate with Turkey, Ham and Eggs before then adding your vegetables and finally finish off with some cheese. That should stave off your hunger and make the chocolates, chips and dips easier to refuse. Holiday Hack #3: Alco-ho-ho-holChristmas Parties and New Year Drinks seem to start in November and End in January. All of this beer, wine and fizz will almost certainly leave you in a huge caloric surplus - especially given that you’re probably eating more than usual as well. During this 2 or 3 week period it’s possible to consume 1000’s of extra calories almost without realizing. This will wreak havoc with your goals of maintaining or losing weight. Remember the actual holidays are only 24 hours each so treat it that way. Implement these hacks this holiday season to ensure that you kick off 2021 fitter, better and stronger. More about Mission-NutritionOffering both 1-on-1 mentorship and group challenges, we aim to provide a foundation of knowledge and principals that clients can apple to their lifestyle in order to chase their goals of weight loss, body re-composition and improved physical performance. Contact them to book a consultation or recommend us to a friend in need: [email protected]
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You just had a solid training session at Crossfit Tay Ho, and now it’s time to refuel. But where to go? There are countless restaurants all over Tay Ho, and deciding where to eat in Hanoi can often be harder than the workout itself. Whether you are ready for a Sunday brunch, or a post WOD evening meal, here are 8 restaurants within walking distance of Crossfit Tay Ho to get your feed on. BAO WOWHanoi’s first fusion Bao restaurant opened in 2018 and has never looked back. Located on Dang Thai Mai (literally directly behind Crossfit Tay Ho) this small space screams ‘Cool’. The tables, the merchandise, the decorations, the waiters - everything about this Hanoi restaurant pulls you in. They’re known for their baos - a type of bun (or bread like dumpling) filled with almost anything - pork, chicken, veggies, fish. While their baos are incredibly flavorful, if you’re looking to stick to healthy eating - opt for one of their Bao-less Bowls. Think burrito bowl - but bao style. Choose the main topping, then substitute the bun for rice, kale salad, or a mix of both. The perfect post workout meal. Ask to double the meat for that extra protein kick.
LA STUDIOThis tiny vegan cafe/bakery churns out all day breakfast and lunch in a beautifully decorated, chilled out spot down a Tay Ho alley. They have a nice selection of healthy options; think smoothie bowls, homemade bread, sandwiches and bagels plus a selection of baked goods that changes daily. You don’t have to be a vegan to enjoy the food offered at La Studio - ask anyone that lives in the city and this eclectic little cafe will almost always come up as one of the best restaurants in Hanoi. Your best bet for some post workout carb refueling would be a smoothie bowl. Made with fresh fruit and veggies and topped with homemade granola and coconut.
MAISON DE TETMaison de Tet’s cool vibe in a quiet space overlooking West Lake is always a classic go-to restaurant for any meal of the day. The calm ambiance, unique decorations, and picturesque views add to the chilled vibe. It’s easy to park it here for awhile and eat and drink the day away. There is no shortage of healthy eats here. You’ll find a menu filled with nourish bowls made with just the right portion of carbs, fats and protein. Gluten free baked goods entice you from the downstairs cases. A full two pages of smoothies and healthy juices, and of course a variety of egg dishes, salads, sandwiches and soups. On top of the healthy food that will be sure to fuel you after a tough workout, you’ll find good coffee as well. The coffee comes from a local roaster, and they have a variety of micro blends for sale.
C'EST BON CAFEThis adorable french cafe tucked around the corner from the old Crossfit Tay Ho location is an excellent choice for a weekend morning post-WOD brunch. The cozy space has a large outdoor terrace and three floors of tables for you to choose from. The menu includes savory and sweet options for whatever you’re craving - though we think the healthy, savory options are your best bet. We always go for the set meal of the Eggs Breakfast or Healthy Breakfast, which includes a tartine, coffee, fresh squeezed juice, salad, and homemade yogurt and granola. All of that for 135,000.
HANOI TACO BAR WEST LAEIn a peaceful and scenic spot right on the banks of West Lake sits Hanoi Taco Bar. The outdoor and indoor seating come with views and ambiance. The extensive menu means it is a top restaurant in Hanoi for any meal; brunch, lunch, dinner and/or drinks. Mexican food can be as healthy or unhealthy as you want it to be. We like to come to Hanoi Taco Bar for a post workout burrito bowl. Ask for a bowl filled with rice, salad or a mix of the two. Top it with your choice of protein - pork, chicken, beef or shrimp. It comes with veggies and beans, as much or as little as you want. Top it all off with some guacamole. The staff does a very good job understanding dietary needs, and will make sure your food comes out just as you want it.
CHICKEN SOCIETYLocated inside the Fraser Suites Building is this unsuspecting healthy restaurant. Inspired by the famous Hainanese Chicken Rice, Chicken Society dishes out set chicken and rice meals flavored with clean ingredients like garlic, ginger, and chili. All of the chicken at this Hanoi restaurant is juicy and well cooked, a nice change from some of the grittier meat you might get on the street. There is a decent sized menu of different kinds of chicken parts and salads. But the best post (or pre) workout meal is the chicken + starch + greens plate with free flow chicken broth for just 95,000. For the healthiest option fill your plate with steamed chicken, rice, and a mixed green salad. HANOI SANDWICH HOUSEIf you’re jones-ing for a sandwich fix in Hanoi, you won’t find a better place than Hanoi Sandwich House. Located in a spacious and cozy villa at the end of Tay Ho Street - dine in or get your sandwiches to go. Made with quality ingredients, choose from one of the custom sandwiches, or opt to make your own. The bread is made in house - no need to worry about added sugar - the portions are large, and all sandwiches come with homemade potato chips. Compliment your sandwich with a large selection of teas, coffee and smoothies. We opt for the club sandwich - chicken breast, bacon, egg, beetroot, lettuce and tomato - all sandwiched between three pieces of bread.
MILK AND HONEYA newcomer to the Hanoi restaurant scene, Milk and Honey is quickly becoming our go-to choice for pre/post WOD meals. The small, perfectly decorated cafe has big tables and couches for sharing a meal or coffee. Their philosophy is all about purchasing local, clean and sustainable ingredients and being environmentally friendly. The staff is fantastic as well, very attentive and on top of their game! The menu is an interesting mix of sweet baked goods, healthy juices and smoothies, savory sandwiches, and filling bowls of overnight oats. All of the meals are freshly made to order. Our go to is the salmon sandwich - a large portion of salmon on rye bread with cream cheese and cucumbers. The coffee selection just adds to the excellence of this top restaurant in Hanoi. GAZPACHO SALAD BAR AT MOON YOGA STUDIOThis Hanoi restaurant is not in Tay Ho, but we had to add it. Sometimes in life you just crave a big ol’ plate of greens, and it might be tricky to find a solid salad restaurant in Hanoi. You’re in luck because the Gazpacho Salad Bar will help your salad cravings. Set inside Moon Yoga Studio in Ba Dinh, technically this place is not in Tay Ho BUT they will deliver to you. Whether you live in Hanoi or your visiting for some time, take the guesswork out of eating and make sure you always have something healthy on hand. Gazpacho Salad Bar offers a weekly Salad Challenge meal plan. For 350,000 (5 salads) you’ll get:
They also have a wrap challenge (5 wraps for 280k). A wrap and soup challenge (5 wraps + 5 soups for 500k). A smoothie challenge (5 smoothies for 200k). Have your salad or wrap or smoothie delivered straight to Crossfit Tay Ho to enjoy after your workout!
Whether you are coming to or from a workout at CrossFit Tay Ho, or just looking for a healthy meal in the Tay Ho area of Hanoi - we think these options will satisfy anyone.
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