Anyone that knows me knows I’m big on health and fitness.  When Mason [my son] was born three months ago I increased my commitment to eating healthy and have focused on what goes in my body.  One of the problems I’ve dealt with since I was 15-years-old was high cholesterol.  Since I focus on my diet, the doctors believe it’s heretical but it’s no excuse for me.

Since today’s Labor Day, I grilled a couple turkey burgers that I mixed with a pack of dry onion soup and flavored with Worcestershire sauce and pepper. This isn’t a photo of mine but I was impressed with how good it tasted.  

My ultimate goal is to become a vegetarian not only for the tremendous health benefits but other reasons I feel are important.  The biggest issue in converting is making up for the protein I need to maintain my strength in the gym.  I know it can be done but I feel like I need a “vegetarian mentor” who also lifts weights and could tutor me through the transition. 

We’ll see if it happens but one thing is for sure and that is my commitment to limiting all red meat.  There are very few benefits to eating beef or pork and I feel the less I eat of them, the less I want them.

We went to The Chop House in Charleston, West Virginia tonight to celebrate Kara’s 26th birthday.  It was significant for us as it was the first “date” we’ve went on since our son Mason was born on June 6, 2012.  It was tough leaving but we had a great dinner and were gone just over an hour.  My meal:

Appetizer:

Chilled Oysters on the Half Shell

Entree:

Pecan Crusted Salmon finished with a Dijon mustard sauce on a rice pilaf with broccoli 

I paired the meal with their house Pinot Grigio 

Kara ate the Filet Minion and we shared a side order of broccoli.  

While we’ve eaten at The Chop House a few times before, it was our first experience with the new iPad menus which I felt were a nice touch.  The food was outstanding and it was a very enjoyable “first” evening out.