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  • Protein Powder Alternatives

  • Grilled Sweet Potatoes

    I grub on Japanese sweet potatoes almost daily. I’ve made a bunch of new friends since January 8th, so I won’t assume you know why this is my carb of choice. Go ahead, catch up with this post and then rejoin the OGs (original gangsters, newbie). Lately, there have been two issues bugging me when…

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  • Ocean Living

    Since I moved to Malibu in 2011, I feel healthier and more energetic. Living near the ocean must be good for you. If somebody spouted that poppycock to me, I’d tell them to kick rocks. We’re good at identifying this bias in others, but when it comes to our own experiences, we believe them to…

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  • Communication

    Humans are fundamentally social animals. The ability to communicate is one of our most important skills. Our ability to express ourselves defines and shapes us. It leads to feeling understood which is essential for our mental wellbeing. To date, Kaplifestyle has been running for more than 8 months. I have shared daily to the tune…

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  • Open Thread: Week 13

    Welcome back to our open thread. Let’s dive in. Future article idea/suggestion : Cookware… Teflons vs cast iron’s and others… Health benefits- dangers… Etc. This is something I’ve researched and am pretty passionate about. I believe the community would gain some knowledge by hearing your take on it. You’re always dependable for a post idea.…

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  • Father’s Day Reflections

    We are all unique beings, but we can’t help but be shaped by those in our lives. Lately, I’ve been having the urge to go and just get lost. The call to travel with no real destination in mind, living moment to moment in quiet solitude, is powerful. I fantasize not of the final resting…

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  • Dinner Inspiration – Using a Whole Fish

    You all remember our know-it- all editor and partner at KL, Stephanie. She’s come around several times now riffing on random topics and generally dominating everything she does. Speaking of which, she told me in a recent email about her fish filleting experience. She was giddy. I asked her how it went. Pretty well, actually.…

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  • Responding to Critics

    Friends, family, strangers and colleagues judge incessantly. If you develop a thick skin, it provides an opportunity for growth. Years ago, when a teammate would say, “Kap, you look like you’ve lost weight,” it would piss me off. I heard, “Kap, you skinny SOB, eat something, would you?” When we are given feedback that doesn’t…

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  • Grain Free Update

    You may remember that on November 4th, I committed to going grain free for 30 days. Many of you have inquired about how it’s gong, so I figured I’d provide a quick update today. It’s going…well…normal. I feel strong now, and I felt strong before. My energy level is stable, and I’m rarely hungry. I…

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  • Favorite Apples

    I wake up some days haunted by a FOX News-like ticker slowly scrolling. Today, it was a question playing on a loop. I had to know the answer and couldn’t wait a moment longer. It was driving me nuts. Among sports media personalities, which type of apple is most popular? You’re dying to know, too?…

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  • Eating Healthy on a Road Trip

    Taking a family road trip and staying on point nutritionally isn’t impossible; it simply takes some planning. The most important element to success is choosing accommodations with a kitchen. From roadwarriortrips.com: Travelers who create a little semblance of home when they are on the road can better keep off the vacation weight. By preparing your own…

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I aim to plan and consciously choose all of my indulgences. I have the knowledge and willpower to do so, but occasionally, I will have a substantial misfire.

I was in Boston, my home away from home, for the 2004 World Series reunion. I splurged nutritionally as I had intended, but I didn’t map out my large nutritional stumble while watching the game.

I had it all pre-navigated. My two men (12 and 14) and I love to experience travel through food. We think it’s the most efficient and interesting way to explore the culture of a city. We discussed the trip ahead of time and decided on three restaurants where we would fully indulge and eat like kings. We’d start with the team dinner at a fine steak and seafood house, follow it up with breakfast the next morning at a bakery, and finish it out with lunch at a tapas joint in the South End.

The first night the three of us shared bone in filets, swordfish steaks, oysters, giant shrimp, crab cakes, lamb chops, chocolate cake, apple crisps and cold vanilla ice cream. I enjoyed a few glasses of whiskey, neat, and my boys drank Sprite. We left the restaurant 1 for 1. Remember, this indulgence was planned.

The next morning, we went to a bakery suggested by a Boston-based chef friend. The boys picked up scones and French toast; I scored big with a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich on a crusty roll with spinach and tomato. The bite came complete with a Dijon mustard finish that struck a chord with me, managing to last all day. 2 at bats, 2 knocks.

After mobbing around on the T train all morning, making our way to Harvard and back to Downtown Crossing, we landed at our destination for lunch, Toro. Theo Epstein made the recommendation after I mentioned that my boys and I were on a food adventure. This is the guy who went out to get the “washed up” 2002 version of David Ortiz, so he’s proven his scouting mettle. If he thinks it’s a worthwhile trip, I’ll take his advice.

Back to food.

Rather than turn this post into a restaurant review, I’ll keep it simple. I had an out of body experience. Every small plate that arrived was visually captivating and stunning on the palate. We sprinted the gamut. From spicy curry beef empanadas to cauliflower with golden raisins and pine nuts to the pièce de résistance, roasted bone marrow with radish citrus salad and oxtail marmalade. This dish, holy fuck. Our waiter described it exquisitely as “like rich, hot, beef flavored butter.” I was now 3 for 3 and ready for my final at bat.

A theme throughout this entire trip was advance planning. My first mistake was not preparing for this final meal. I figured my boys and I would just eat at the ballpark and didn’t put much thought into it. I knew that the options would be plentiful and come in large quantities. I wasn’t necessarily wrong, but I quickly got off course.

I was running around at Fenway from this place to that, answering questions and meeting folks. My boys were on their own and already up in the suite by the time I arrived around the start of the first inning. They had eaten pizza, snacks and fruit, totally what I expected for them. I walked in starving, my second mistake.  I reached for a plate and piled on decent looking veggies, a huge mound of guacamole, and the only available protein, stale fried chicken strips. I could have reached into my bag and opened a can of wild caught salmon. I didn’t. My defenses were down. I hadn’t snacked. I ingested that garbage and suffered strike one.

You know my stance on processed foods. Those frozen chunks of flour covered meat product provide little nutritional value. I had already experienced a whirlwind day filled with emotion and exertion, and the pizza under the heat lamp began to look lovely.

I advocate indulgence, but I advocate planned, quality indulgence. This was neither. I scarfed down a piece and the drugs hit my bloodstream. I couldn’t chew fast enough. Strike two.

The final pitch of the at bat came in and I chased it. I scarfed down a few more slices, knowing even as I did so that it wasn’t my finest hour.

3 for 4. In baseball that’s a hell of a day. Nutritionally, I expect 4 for 4s from myself almost always. I’m in control, so the high bar is appropriately set. Rather than dwell on it, I’ll do what Manny tells us to do after a rough at bat. “Turn the page, papi.”

I write this from the plane the following morning. I’ve turned the page. Today, I’ve ingested steel cut oats, fresh organic blueberries, a pile of kale, a chunk of a ham steak, a few fresh scrambled eggs and organic black coffee.

In my bag, I have a large salad with tons of fresh veggies, almonds, chicken, organic Hannah yams. I also still have that wild salmon I passed over for pizza in a box.

I’m back on track. I remember last night’s at bat and will make the adjustment without carrying the emotion of yesterday over into today’s game.

I hope you’ll share your stories of strikeouts or home runs in the comments section below.

Kap