Food... Glorious Food....Hot Sausage and Mustard...

The Big (m)E - Part II

Well the first 1/3 of my Big E journey went pretty well. Load in went smoothly, the management team and our volunteers are busy and the booth looks great (although traffic flow is a bit tight with some of the recent changes we were asked to make). See our photo gallery and/or "Like" us on Facebook.

My breakfast choices have been very easy. As mentioned in my previous post, I brought my out breakfast muffins, nuts, etc. They hold me over until late afternoon, which is when I was done my "morning" manager's duties and could take a break. So off I go into the abyss of The Big E...

The song Food... Glorious Food, from the Musical "Oliver" plays over and over in my head when walking the ground of The Big E! ASIDE: Oliver was the first of many plays my family and I were involved in back in the late 1960's and into the late 70's. The funny thing about being mindful (thinking) about eating, is that I am having a hard time finding food that I want to take pictures of [meaning that I want to eat them, but have chosen a better alternative]. Although I said I wasn't going to talk about the food I did eat, I do want to say my first stop was to my favorite place to eat at The Big E. The Lyons Club BBQ Chicken. They cook the chickens on a huge BBQ grill and serve it up with salad, corn, a roll, and french fries. YUMMY!

The choices I passed along the way included the best fried dough in the world (sorry Hampton Beach NH with Blinks as a close second). That, of course, would be desert. The main meal could have been a steak bomb sub with cheeze-whiz ooooo...cheeze-whiz (I actually don't like it!)

The second day I passed on Chicken Pitas and/or LONG corn dogs. I don't care for the corn on the "dogs" but like regular 'ole hot dogs.

Day three included a 'walk-by' the Firehouse, a Big E breakfast favorite for many! It was the ice cream sign that caught my stomach's eye...

I am now home, taking a couple of day break from the action. I have found that I've eaten more while at home than on the road... Which is disappointing. I'll be heading back soon and will update the 2/3 soon. Until then here is a list of "Food at the Fair". Let me know where you want me to NOT go next!

The Big (m)E

Those of you who know me (and follow me) know each year, in September, my life stops as I know it and I, along with 75 of my closest friends, volunteers, and associates, head down to Springfield Massachusetts to run the New Hampshire Information Booth at The Big E.  Someone recently asked me why I do it. The answer is simple, I love the camaraderie of the event (oh, yeah and they pay me ).

Yes it is tough work preparing for the event. Yes it is tough on the body standing on a cement floor for 12 hours every day for 17 days (although I do come home twice this year!). And yes, it is tough on the psyche to be "on" for 12 hours a day greeting between 50,000 and 150,000 each day! But the hardest part, for me, is the food! The first year I gained 10lbs while I was there. The next year almost as much. Last year I decided not to try and I didn't gain (or loose) one pound. Go figure!



This year I had and idea. I decided not to diet, just to eat "good-for-me" food. Try to eat whole foods and try to eat something raw at each meal (fruit, veggie, nuts, etc.). Seems simple. I've been trying my theory out this past week and I have lost 5.2lbs. I've been eating anything I want with the exception of fast and highly processed foods.

In preparation of leaving next Thursday, I've baked some of my favorites. Apple Spice Bran Muffins and Buckwheat Pancakes in muffin form (I LOVE them as pancakes, never tried making them as muffins before but figured with NH Maple Syrup readily available in the NH Building it will be good no matter what!). I've also packed prunes, raw sunflower seeds, raw cashews, and walnuts. So I'll be set for breakfast each morning.

I NEVER WANT TO
LOOK LIKE THIS AGAIN!

My theory is that if I have to document my Big E eating journey here in my blog, in front of you and the world, it might help keep me in check. Rather than posting the foods I've eaten, I am going to post the foods I DIDN'T eat, but wanted to! I'll post pictures and stories of my adventure. Let me know your thoughts, your ideas, and if you know of any "good-for-me" food stops inside The Big E. If you are visiting, stop by the Information Booth in the New Hampshire Building and say HI!


 Here are some new Big E foods I may be featuring but won't be eating:

• Fried Jelly Beans
• Fried Butter
• Fried PB&J Sandwich
• Fried Cookie Dough Bits

and my last year's favorite: THE CRAZ-E BURGER (only 1,500 calories)
Until then...