The North Side Inside and Out

Posted January 27, 2012 - 3:33pm by Jenise Celestin

Temptation - can you resist?

Donuts, pizza, cake. I was tempted by all of these in the past 4 hours, and let me tell you it was not easy to turn down such goodies after a week of eating healthy, unprocessed, "clean" foods.

I knew from the start that this was going to be a tricky day for my 28-day food challenge. I planned to attend a luncheon at Monastero's where dozens of local businesses gathered to hear Alderman Marge Laurino and the 17th District Police Station provide updates about the 39th Ward. In fact, I geared up all morning thinking about what smart choices/substitutions I could make if faced with a creamy white pasta or fresh baked cookie. What I didn't plan for were some unexpected temptations leading up to the luncheon...

Swedish Covenant Hospital is involved in a number of chambers and committees, and one newer committee is the Albany Park Chamber of Commerce Welcoming Committee. This is a lovely group of ladies, headed up by Albany Park Chamber Executive Director Liz Griffiths. Monthly, this group visits local businesses to learn more about their issues and invite them to take advantage of the many chamber membership benefits. From my perspective, it's also an opportunity to meet more business owners first hand and stay better connected with our local community. It's important that our neighbors know we are here if they need us, and that we want to engage with them, even when they're not sick.

So, we're making our Welcoming Committee visits...first stop: 3020 Dental Associates. This is a great business (with a wonderfully easy-going staff) that has been in the community for about 10 years, but recently changed ownership and completed renovated its interior. It's beautiful in there...especially when they greeted us with Dunkin Donuts coffee and donuts! Can you believe it? A fresh, free donut before my eyes, and I have to turn it down because I am fairly certain it doesn't qualify as a whole, unprocessed food. So, I drink my black coffee while trying not to stare at that gorgeous assortment of glazed, chocolatey deliciousness.

Next stop: Angelo's Pizza next door on Montrose. We chat for a couple minutes with Ramez, one of the owners, and then the meeting takes a turn for the worst. "Ladies, why don't you sit down for a slice of pizza - an early lunch!" he says. Are you serious!? I just fought through the urge to cave on a long john, and you're asking if I want hot cheesy pizza? OF COURSE I do! But miraculously, I take a gracious pass and drink my black coffee while the others indulge in pizza. 

Well, to make a long story short, I managed to skip the pizza and the donuts, and at Monastero's I skipped the bread and cake, only eating the vegetable soup and salad with grilled chicken breast (which was delicious, by the way).

Wish me luck the next time I'm faced with temptation...I may not be as successful.

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