Food Gems: Subway Chicken Crisp Sandwich
While being a Subway sandwich automatically disqualifies something from being a true hidden gem (neither hidden nor gem), I decided to do some quick reviews of these off-the-wall food items that many of us stare at the sign and wonder if it’s any good. Then we order the usual.
Not me. I never order the usual. I don’t care if a lunch sandwich place tried to somehow make an awkward breakfast menu I’d still eat it. Oh wait. Subway.
To get to the point, the Subway Chicken Crisp Sandwich fills two major needs that Subway normally doesn’t. Generally you can order only cold (or microwaved) processed meats, and if you get the six inch it’s just never filling. You sit there longing for a Chickfila. With the Chicken Crisp Sandwich you may can finally not look forward to a healthy lunch with immediate severe depression.
So while not great, it’s twice as filling as that horrendous veggie sub you ordered last week (where you promptly went home and ate two boxes of Mac and Cheese in ravenous hunger). As a bonus, frankly, it’s edible and reminiscent of a relative in the chicken family more than you’d think . Sure you’ll still get the trademark Subway service, the two napkins nazi treatment, and gourmet microwave heating, but you’ll drop the fat usually associated with a breaded chicken sandwich. Throw on a few veggies, and for the price, you could do worse. Like be fat.
TWO AND A HALF OUT OF FOUR STARS
Nutrition Information
Hidden Gems: Chick-fil-a Breakfast Platter: Order by Name
My favorite breakfast item at Chick-fil-a isn’t even on the menu. I’ve been ordering it for years, but one day it mysteriously vanished from the selection list. If you’ve tried you’d have great confusion as to why.. the Chick-fil-a breakfast platter. But say it outloud and you’ll get a friendly nod of approval and a “coming right up.” It’s almost if I’m in a secret club now. A delicious secret club.
If you’re overwhelmed by the grease of a chicken biscuit and hash browns, the platter comes with a chicken breakfast filet, a biscuit (by itself), a cup of sausage gravy, and a serving of scrambled eggs. As I found out recently, you can now substitute the Spicy Chicken breakfast filet for a wonderful start to the day. It will wake you up.
So remember to ask for it by name – the Spicy Chicken Breakfast Platter. Pour the sausage gravy on the biscuit, or put the filet on the biscuit. It all comes individually on a tray. Or, if you don’t want gravy, pour it all over your body and bask in the knowledge that you’re the only one who knows about this hidden gem.
Here Comes the Science – Mountain Dew and Running
It didn’t start on purpose. But it has become a hypothesis of mine. I’ve had many naysayers. First off, to them I say this:
Maybe once was a coincidence. But then there was that second time. And now, after my third try I will answer the question: Can Hydrating Before Your Run with Mountain Dew Improve Your performance??
I’m coming at this as a non-professional runner. I do what I can, when I can. I’ve rarely had much frequency or continual improvement. Because of this none of my runs is more than 5% better than any other one near it. Also none more than 5% worse. It’s been pretty consistent aside from about 4 outliers. And 3 of those involved my glorious friend Mountain Dew. Looks like Kryptonite but cuts like Dynamite.
Standardization
Any runner or pseudo runner knows there are some clear factors that affect any run. I’ll describe these factors and total them up for the run that I just completed to show I have considered these things. Below describe tonight’s conditions. Anything not mentioned (shoes, soundtrack, clothing, stretching, eating, iPhone program used, ran alone, running course, did I have a wedgie at some point) were all equal.
All my runs are the same – goal is to do better than my last run in distance and pace without throwing up. 95% of my runs are at the same time of day on the same course. On inconsistent weeks I run, it’s generally 2-3 times.
Positives: Didn’t have to dodge any wandering dogs or children trying to race me, headphones didn’t stop working, didn’t eat buffet for lunch, hadn’t run the day before.
Negatives: 5 hours of sleep, temperature on the chilly side (in shorts), windy, poked myself in my face with keys by accident, no one passed me and made me feel slow so I sped up.
Unknowns: Mountain Dew.
So Here’s My Point – Previous Data and Hypothesis
Based on my experience, I clearly believed after two attempts that Mountain Dew offered a clear improvement in my overall distance and time. Over the recent 8 week period not counting Mountain Dew Sessions, my average run was (my Nike+iPod app seems to read a little low but it is standardized to itself).
3.13 miles / 9’02 pace (MAX 3.77 Miles, MAX pace 8’55″, LOW 2.52 Miles, LOW pace 9’23″)
My first Mountain Dew session (12 Ounces) was 4.04 miles, 9’20″ pace (29% increase in distance, 6 month high)
My second Mountain Dew session, where I halved it (6 ounces) was 3.31 miles, 9’03″ pace (6% increase in distance)
And tonight’s Mountain Dew session (12 Ounces) was 3.63 miles, 8’58″ pace (16% increase in distace)
Conclusions and Notes
Notes: My normal diet for a run is eating relatively healthy and drinking only water all day.
I drink about 1 soft drink every week or two normally, 95% of the time I drink water and coffee. Not including beer 
Mountain Dew was drank exactly 1 hour prior to running each time.
Conclusions:
- With all other factors equal, I can expect to see a statistically significant improvement from 6 ounces of Mountain Dew.
- I can expect to see upwards of 15% improvement on average from 12 ounces of Mountain Dew.
- The three biggest factors for the quality of my run have been the outside temperature, if I had run already more than two times during the week, and most importantly – did I drink Mountain Dew.
- If you don’t agree with me, you’re with the terrorists.
Final considerations:
- I do not believe drinking Mountain Dew before each run will continue to see the same results. Max of once per week if that.
- I do not believe drinking Mountain Dew before a morning run will see the same results.
- I do believe eating healthy before a run is fine, but I am certain that each individual can see results from a wide variety of odd running diets, such as people I know that drink a beer or two, soft drinks, and coffee immediately before a run.
- What works for some doesn’t work for others. I do not see drinking beer and being able to run myself. I do see my naysayer friends drinking Mountain Dew and being unable to keep up, but that’s not Mountain Dew’s fault.
I hope we all learned something here. I’m going to head out now and attempt to get a Mountain Dew sponsorship for an upcoming race.
Hidden Gems: Publix Chicken Salad
Starting a new series where I try to post those cool little things you find that you would never know except by chance or if someone tells you about it. In this case it was my brother, who told me about Publix’s glorious Chicken Salad. Or as they refer to it “Chunky White Chicken Breast Salad with Herbal Dressing.”
While many seem to be on the cranberries and nut chicken salad trend, this is chicken salad the way it was intended to be.. Only better. A little crunch in it, just the right consistency – not too watery, a good hint of pepper, and high quality chicken make for the ultimate lunchtime funtime.
It’s around $3.50 for a container, which makes 3-4 sandwiches. I prefer mine with lettuce and pickles, toasted whole wheat bread.
It’s hands down the best chicken salad I’ve had anywhere. Drop into Publix in the aisle with their other great homemade sides and check it out for yourself.
