Treebeards: Dine on Down-Home Southern Fare Favorites

If you’re in the mood for simple, filling Southern fare, head straight for Treebeards. Open for lunch only, this small chain of cafeteria-style eateries serves all of your favorite homestyle Southern dishes, including fried chicken, buttery mashed potatoes, and flavorful jambalaya just like they make it in New Orleans. Fill up on meatloaf just like Mom used to make it, then add a side of seafood gumbo made according to the traditional Louisiana style. Don't skip the popular butter cake for dessert, provided that you’re not already too full, of course!

Enjoy your food at one of the wooden tables inside of the cozy, family-friendly eatery, or venture outdoors to the balcony to spend some time people watching over Market Square while you eat.

Treebeards is open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays. The restaurant is closed on weekends.

Treebeards
711 Louisiana St
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 224-6677
www.treebeards.com
www.yelp.com/biz/treebeards-houston

What to Keep in Mind When Counting Calories

You know that counting calories is essential when it comes to losing weight, but do you really understand exactly what calories are? Here are a few things that you should understand about your caloric intake.

  1. Know the definition. A calorie is a term used to describe how much energy there is in a food. Your body needs a certain amount of calories to function, but excess calories turn into fat.
  2. Know your limit. Everyone has a different daily calorie limit, and it all depends on your sex, age, height, and weight. You’ll need to visit a doctor or find a chart online to determine your personal recommended daily intake.
  3. Create a calorie log. Keep track of how many calories you consume by recording your meals in a daily diary.
  4. Evenly distribute calories. Plan ahead of time so that you can split up your calories between each meal of the day. Be careful not to consume the majority of your calories in the morning, because you won’t have many remaining to "spend" on dinner.
  5. Beware of beverages. Many people don’t realize it, but the calories in drinks can really take a toll on your daily calorie limit. Be careful to record all of the beverages that you consume in addition to your meals.

Eat the Right Amount of Calories For You [Choose My Plate]
Estimated Calorie Requirements [WebMD]
American Cancer Society Calorie Counter [American Cancer Society]

Miller’s Cafe: Casual Houston Dining

With 35 years of history serving Houston diners, Miller’s Cafe has become a favorite destination for a tasty meal in a friendly, relaxed setting. Big juicy burgers are the hallmark of this popular spot: visitors can choose from 14 varieties, including a Guacamole Burger, Grilled Onion Burger, Mushroom Swiss Burger, BBQ Hamburger, Turkey Burger, Jalapeno Burger, and a Bacon Cheese Burger. All are served with lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, mayo & mustard on a poppy seed bun.

Other options on Miller's menu include Frito Pie, a Grilled Ham & Cheese Sandwich, Chicken Finger Basket, a Ribeye Steak Sandwich, a Chicken Salad Sandwich and a Chili Barker – an all-beef hot dog with mustard, onion, chili & cheese. Sweet Potato Fries, Onion Rings and French Fries are among the sides offered.

Visit the Miller's Café website to learn more about this Houston restaurant!

Miller's Cafe
3830 N. Shepherd Drive
Houston, TX 77018
(713) 699-2947
www.millerscafehouston.com/index.html
www.yelp.com/biz/millers-cafe-houston

Bombay Pizza Company Offers A Fusion of International Cuisines

Bombay Pizza Company fuses traditional Italian-style pizza with Indian fare flavors to deliver truly unique tastes to Houston. The restaurant is cozy, complete with old fashioned low lights and warm colors.

Consider ordering a specialty pizza or two and splitting it with the table, especially if it’s your first time at Bombay. Try the saag paneer with spicy spinach, collard greens, and three types of cheese or the masala pizza with chicken, chorizo, and potatoes sprinkled with cumin. If you’re not in the mood for pizza, Bombay has some equally tasty burgers. One interesting option is the potato patty fried in chickpea batter or the beef burger seasoned with traditional Indian cuisine spices. There are also pasta dishes and curries to enjoy.

Visit on Mondays to take advantage of Bombay's $10 pizza night, complete with a salad and a drink, or stop by for happy hour on weekdays, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., for $3 off any pizza.

Bombay Pizza Company
914 Main Street
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 654-4444
www.bombaypizzaco.com
www.yelp.com/biz/bombay-pizza-co-houston

Eat These Two Foods for More Vitamin A

Vitamin A is a vital nutrient that keeps our eyesight sharp and promotes healthy cell growth. Getting enough of this antioxidant is easy if you know where to look for it. Here are two surprising sources of vitamin A for you to add to your diet if it's lacking.

  1. Dark, leafy greens. The bigger the bunch, the better! Enjoy a variety of greens in a salad or choose your favorite to add to a sandwich. Pick up kale, spinach, or Swiss chard to get more than 200 percent of your daily vitamin A needs in just one cup.
  2. Dried apricots. This sweet, bright orange fruit is a delicious way to get your vitamin A. Snack on these instead of candy in between meals. Half a cup delivers 151 percent of your daily value.

Top 10 Foods Highest in Vitamin A [Healthaliciousness]
Vitamin A [National Institute of Health]
26 Vitamin A Foods [Bembu]

Need More Reasons to Work Out Regularly? Read About the Health Benefits of Exercise!

You know that working out is good for your health, but if you’re like most people, it can be difficult to fit regular workouts into your busy schedule. Instead of making excuses, check out these health benefits that just might motivate you to squeeze a few more workouts into your routine.

  • It regulates your weight. This one might seem like a no-brainer, but managing your weight is important for reasons far beyond your looks. Maintaining a healthy weight also helps to prevent chronic illness and help keep you feeling energized.
  • It improves your mood. If your stationary lifestyle makes you feel sluggish and depressed, take a walk outside in the sunshine or hop on your bike for a ride around town. Even gentle physical activity stimulates the feel-good chemicals in your brain and helps boost your self-esteem.
  • It combats existing health conditions. If you have heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes (or you’re just worried about getting them), regular exercise boosts your production of “good” cholesterol and decreases your production of harmful triglycerides.
  • It prevents against cancer. That’s right: regular workouts have been proven to prevent against certain types of cancer, including breast cancer, colon cancer, and certain types of lung cancer.

Exercise: 7 benefits of regular physical activity [Mayo Clinic]
The Benefits of Physical Activity [Harvard]
Chapter 2: Physical Activity Has Many Health Benefits [Health.gov]

Sip Your Latte on the Patio at Inversion Coffee House

Inversion Coffee House drew its name from Houston’s famous Inversion House, which was created by the Art League of Houston in 2005. The temporary art installation featured a 30-foot opening in the side of the building’s exterior, with whitewashed wood arranged in a tornado shape that looked like the building was swallowing itself whole.

Although the art piece has since been demolished, Inversion Coffee House preserves its memory through its name, as well as by displaying many art pieces inside. The interior is cozy yet industrial, with rustic wood, exposed metal ductwork, and lots of eclectic seating options. There is even a beautiful patio area outside where guests can enjoy their coffee on sunny days.

The menu includes premium brews, handcrafted lattes with no shortage of foam art, and unique drinks like green tea lattes. Doughnuts and pastries pair perfectly with a hot drink, and the friendly atmosphere is likely to make you want to come back for more.

Inversion Coffee House
1953 Montrose Boulevard
Houston, TX 77006
(713) 523-4866
www.inversioncoffeehouse.com
www.yelp.com/biz/inversion-coffee-house-houston-3

Where to Enjoy Fresh Coffee (and Free Wi-Fi!) in Houston

Whether you’re a freelancer, student, or a social media buff, you'd probably enjoy a bit of free Wi-Fi to go with your coffee. Lucky for you, many of Houston’s best coffee shops are equipped with high speed Internet for all of your browsing needs. Here are just two of the most tech-savvy cafes in the Houston area.

Agora
With an interior this stunning, it’s easy to find inspiration at Agora. This stylish cafe features dramatic high ceilings, exposed beams, and an open second story with ample tables for working or studying. The free Wi-Fi is fast and reliable, and the selection of high quality coffees and espresso drinks will provide you with a boost of caffeine. Grab a freshly baked croissant or pastry to go with the Texan pecan brewed coffee, or if you’re feeling a bit stressed, you can even sample a beer from the great selection of craft brews while working. Hey, no judgment here.
1712 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77098; (713) 526-7212

Antidote
Antidote is one of the most popular coffee shops in town, and it’s open late to tailor to Houston’s community of night owls. The coffee is strong, bold and, best of all, bottomless, which provides hours of fuel to meet that tight deadline. Inside, Antidote features comfortable chairs and cozy cafe tables where guests can take full advantage of the free Wi-Fi throughout.
729 Studewood St., Houston, TX 77007; (713) 861-7400

Interested in Modern Architecture? Explore Your Interest on Pinterest!

With its sleek, clean lines and open design scheme, modern architecture is fascinating even to those with no architectural experience. Here are two Pinterest boards with so many photos of modern homes and buildings that the possibilities for browsing are practically endless.

Modern Architecture
This particular Pinterest is dedicated to the more traditional styles of modern architecture. Frank Lloyd Wright homes feature wall-to-wall windows and natural elements that bring the outside in, while minimalist buildings designed by more current architects offer a tour of some of the very best modern structures from around the world.

Futuristic Architecture
If you take your love of modern architecture a step further, this board features homes so unique that they’re almost futuristic. Some of these buildings actually exist in cities around the world, while others are simply dreamed up and drawn in a cartoon-like way. Buildings like the twisted Cayan Tower in Dubai and the proposal for the open Hong Kong Alternative Car Park Tower, with its sides cut open in a way that almost looks like the building is sliced in half, are just a few of the fascinating buildings on this board.

Happy Independence Day!

We hope everyone enjoys a fun and relaxing time with family and friends as we celebrate America's freedom.

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