Two weekends ago my mom and dad came to Birmingham to spend the weekend with me and finish up Christmas shopping! I was so excited about their visit because my parents have always loved Christmas so they bring the Christmas spirit and excitement with them wherever they go! To me, being around family is part of celebrating this holiday!
They arrived on Friday and were kind enough to take April and I to dinner and the restaurant was my choice! Since I was in the mood for a good baked potato and a warm meal, I chose Firebirds (http://www.firebirdsrestaurants.com ; 191 Main Street, Patton Creek Shopping Center, Hoover, AL 35244 Phone: 205-733-2002) located at Patton Creek in Hoover! I can confidently recommend this restaurant to everyone because the menu has a wide variety so it is guaranteed to please the largest of crowds.
For a lot of individuals, dining out can be stressful. I hate to know that people have avoided social situations and spending time with friends and family because their eating disorder is screaming louder than they can handle! I encourage everyone to follow two simple rules: ORDER EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT, NOT WHAT YOUR DIET OR EATING DISORDER WANTS & YOU DON’T HAVE TO FINISH YOUR PLATE! Somewhere along the way, most southerners feel the pressure to eat everything on their plate! Part of the dining experience is enjoy the taste, textures, and aromas of foods which can only truly happen if one is eating mindfully!
At Firebirds, April ordered the Grilled Salmon with Spiced Green Beans and Baked Potato which came out portioned very reasonable. Her portions would deem eating 100%.
My dad and I ordered the Coconut Shrimp, which was a large portion and could have been shared if we had known the amount. Especially since we both enjoyed a cup of Smoked Tomato Bisque (my all time favorite soup!) before our meal arrived!
Coconut Shrimp with Mango Chutney
The meal was fantastic and it came with another favorite menu item of mine, the tortilla slaw!! This delicious slaw has pumpkin seeds, tortilla strips, cabbage, and dressing! Instead of getting overwhelmed by the serving size, I simply enjoyed eating and knew that my body would let me know when it has had enough!
Once my body tuned me in to its fullness, I asked for a box to take the shrimp home! My dad also had leftovers so I packed his shrimp up as well! On Sunday, I prepared Mike and I dinner using the leftovers and we enjoyed a wonderful meal without the large expense! I placed the warmed coconut shrimp on top of a romaine salad topped with chopped pecans, apples, cranberries, and grapes marinated in raspberry vinaigrette dressing!
NutriFocus 