Page 27 October 2016 Need a menu? Visit our web site: WWW. PETESFISHANDCHIPS .COM Burgers, Dogs, Burritos! Scrumptious Fish & Chips! Fresh Breaded Onion Rings! Kid’s Menus at Some Locations! Drive Thru/Take-Out Our Specialty! ☛ ☛ ☛ ☛ ☛ Family Owned & Operated Since 1947 WE’RE HAPPY TO SERVE YOU AT ANY OF OUR 8 CONVENIENT VALLEY LOCATIONS! • 22 S. Mesa Dr, Mesa • 1017 E. Apache Blvd, Tempe • 1111 E. Buckeye Rd, Phoenix • 2628 W. Van Buren, Phoenix • 3920 S. Central Ave, Phoenix • 4121 N. 44th St, Phoenix FAX: 602-952-9233 • 5516 W. Glendale Ave, Phoenix • 9309 W. Van Buren, Tolleson Best Catch in Town! By Andrea Barkley In such a vibrant, active community, many markets and restaurants are branding themselves as healthy and nourishing choices. What’s great about the healthy restaurant and market movement is the numerous nutritious choices available. These locations are more willing to accommodate specific requests and there is an effort to provide more healthful, local and gluten- free options. These establishments always pique my interest, as I can’t wait to discover new, clean-eating local options. That said, many healthy markets and restaurants leave me hungry for more. After all, what’s the definition of healthy? A 700-calorie serving of hummus? A sugary, vegan brownie? A gluten-free doughnut? Don’t assume a so-called “healthy” market or restaurant sells only food and products that are good for you. Make sure to ask questions and decide for yourself if the items meet your standards. Not long ago I was standing in line at a local restaurant where they put the word “healthy” in their name. I asked the cashier, “What makes your restaurant healthy? Is it that your food is organic or that you don’t cook your food in hydrogenated oils?” We were standing within one foot of a baked goods counter, with a variety of cookies, candies and other decadent treats. There are some sweet smoothies on the menu and while the breakfast and the accompanying potatoes seem to be cooked in hydrogenated oil, I’m not 100-percent sure. There are indeed plenty of healthy superfoods on the shelves, but not everything inside is a healthy choice. I feel the same way about one of my favorite Mediterranean spots. I want so badly for it to be healthy. And yes, it can be a better option than fast food, but is the food organic? The meat pastured? The large hummus platter (with pita) has 990 calories – according to their website – with 147 grams of carbs and a whopping 2070 milligrams of sodium! If it were appropriate for me to insert the wide-eyed emoji in a journalistic setting, I would do so here. Enjoy the hummus platter with chicken and you’re up to 1,500 calories. Even the wood-fired salmon dinner has 940 calories. I’m not so worried about the calories if I’m eating superfoods, but is the salmon wild-caught, the vegetables organic, the oil not hydrogenated? I don’t think so. Or else they’d say so. The same goes for the hot food bar at our “healthy” grocery stores, or their bulk food bins loaded with candy, and all the packaged goods in between. I dare you to read the ingredient label of most trail mixes at any of these stores and still feel good about labeling it as “healthy.” Once I ordered a precooked flank steak from the prepared foods area of one local market. I knew it wasn’t grass-fed (because it didn’t say so), but I wasn’t expecting the paragraph of unwelcome ingredients that were printed on the sticker. What constitutes a healthy choice for me? Ingredients I recognize. No cheap oils (I’d rather have French fries if I’m going to indulge on cheap, unhealthy food). I opt for organic when possible. I still go to these establishments, but I order my eggs poached or scrambled in real butter; I create my own salad dressing of lemon juice and balsamic vinegar; I am picky about what I choose from the hot foods bar; and I ask for food at a restaurant to be steamed. In short, define what’s healthy for you . Read ingredient labels, don’t be afraid to ask questions, and be sure to request simple modifications like steamed vegetables, real butter and salad dressing substitutions. Most restaurants are happy to do it and you’re worth it. — Andrea Barkley is a local fitness expert and author of Moan Out Loud Protein Shakes . What defines a healthy market or restaurant? FOOD WISE