Good morning, Pittsburgh!

It’s so strange and wonderful to be back in Pittsburgh (my college town) with my best friends.  I have some great friends in Orlando, but nothing compares to being surrounded by the girls I’ve been through thick and thin with.  These ladies know me like no one else.  It’s great to be reunited for Sarah’s bachelorette.

(You might recognize Lauren in the pretty blue print shirt – she’s the friend who triggered my Healthy Tipping Point and ran the Disney Marathon with me.)

I’m sure you understand that I can’t blog all the gory details of last night (what happens at the bachelorette party, stays at the bachelorette party!), but the night was filled with dancing, drinking, laughing, and PIZZA!

Good times.

For dinner, we went to Bar Louie.  Two of the girls in the group (including me of course) are vegetarians, and another has a severe wheat/gluten allergy, and we figured the menu at Bar Louie is extensive enough that we would all be able to find something to eat.

Although the menu had tons of vegetarian options, I decided to check out the appetizer menu as well.  Most of the veg items on the main menu seemed pretty heavy (like cheese and mushroom burgers).  Checking out the appetizer menu is a great way to lighten dinners out – and save money.

I found an awesome hummus, tabbouleh, and tzatziki platter with pita and cucumbers.  Score!

Here are my other tips for eating healthy in groups when you have a special diet request (I talk a lot about being a vegetarian, but I suppose most of this can just be applied to healthy eating in general):

• A Vegetarian Thanksgiving:  Being vegetarian at dinner parties
• Special Requests:  How to be picky at restaurants without the waiter hating your guts
• Answers to readers’ Q&A about being a vegetarian

And… I’m off to round up the troops and explore the city for the day!

Have a great Saturday!