the trailer food diaries
Who would have thunk it: Trailer food under 500 calories
Aug 26, 2011 | 2:26 pm
Chimichurri Seitan from Conscious Cravings
Blenders n Bowls, "The O.G"Photo by Anna Donlan
Holy Cacao trailer, featuring cake balls under 190 calories each.
Holy Cacao red velvet cakeballsPhoto by Matt Bowman
Not all trailer food is forbidden. Here’s proof you can hit the trailer parks and maintain that girlish figure:
- Sun Farm Kitchens: Their “Wow! Salad” has mixed greens and baby spinach, cubes of avocado, peaches, sliced olives, shredded carrot and beets topped with some sprouts for $5. Or how about quenching your thirst with a Carribbean carrot latte: coconut milk, carrot juice, spices on ice for $4? (1106 E 11th).
- Mmmpanadas: "Roasted Summer Veggies (red bell peppers, zucchini & eggplant) with Smoked Gouda". The crust contains trans-fat-free shortening to boot. Buy it for $3.50 on their truck (4209 Airport Blvd), at Flipnotics Coffee House or Wheatsville Co-op.
- Counter Culture: “Apple & Cheeze Sandwich”. This guy has tart Granny Smith Apples, Organic Lettuce & Cashew Cheeze Spread made with raw cashews on a whole wheat bun. It can be yours for $5, tax-included. Counter Culture also offers a different Quinoa dish every week, all under 500 calories (120 E. North Loop and Ave F).
- Holy Cacao: “Cake Balls are certified to be under 190 calories each. So you could have 2 (and split a 3rd with a friend) and be under 500!” says John Spillyards from the Holy Cacao (1311 S. 1st St).
- La Boite Cafe: Here are two sandwiches under 500 calories: (1) “Turkey, Brie & organic fig spread” (you can find this delectable recipe in the Trailer Food Diaries Cookbook, Austin Edition coming out this fall), and (2) “Pastrami with provolone, Dai Due Fireman's 4 mustard & horseradish slaw”. If you visit this trailer, it will be hard to resist buying the Macarons, which are only about 180 calories a piece (1700 South Lamar Blvd).
- Blenders and Bowls: “The O.G.” has organic Brazilian açaí topped with hemp granola, fresh strawberries, bananas, chia seeds, bee pollen and drizzled with local Round Rock Honey ($7/12-ounce bowl). In fact, all of their açaí bowls weigh in under 500 calories, so don’t be shy. Find this mobile food truck on twitter @BlendersBowls for their latest locale, or stop by The Rowing Dock (2418 Stratford Drive) Thursday-Sunday 9a-4p. Owner Kara says, “Açaí is a sustainable harvest that promotes the preservation of the rainforest and contributes to positive economic growth in the Amazon.”
- Conscious Cravings: All of their signature hot wraps are 200-300 calories and cost $5 – hard to beat a deal like that. Check out their Chimichurri Seitan, which is a grilled wheat protein in a refreshing green chimichurri sauce mixed with fresh lettuce, tomatoes, and onions. You can add vegan Daiya cheese if you wish (1901 Rio Grande at MLK).
- Mambo Berry: Known best for their smoothies (all under 500 calories and $4.25), you might try the Orange Creamsicle (fat free, dairy free, 135 calories/16 oz). Or may I suggest the Strawberry Basil smoothie (105 calories/16 oz). Their yummy turkey croissant sandwich with mixed greens, red onion, and homemade cranberry mustard contains 390 calories ($6.25). In the mood for frozen yogurt? Mambo Berry makes theirs locally with nonfat, all natural White Mountain yogurt, which is loaded with probiotics. Only 130 calories for the 6 oz. size, or 260 calories for the Mambo 12-oz. size ($3.50). (801 Barton Springs Rd., open daily from 11a-9p).
- Fresh off the Truck: Say “Ni-Haowdy” with some Vietnamese Cabbage Slaw. It comes in 3 variations : Regular slaw, Poached Chicken or Shrimp. The shredded cabbage chiffonade also has mint, fried shallots and peanuts (swap out calorie-busting croutons for peanuts to give it a healthy crunch) & Vietnamese dressing. You’ll also want to try their Taro chips are healthier and more nutritional than you're ordinary potato chip (UT campus).
What, haven't you ever seen a French onion dip before?Photo by Tyler Hansen