Crab cakes galore! Or that’s what you think when you think of Baltimore. Or that’s what I think when I think of Baltimore. Baltimore being my first stop on 4 basically back-to-back cities for 26 days of travel in October, I thought I was already in trouble. I had promised myself to do a mini “challenge” of only having one good, local meal out in each city and only consuming alcohol one night. Fast forward to my first night experiencing the first bite of a true Maryland crab cake, I thought I would never stop. Guys, the crab cakes in this city. INSANE.

I was really excited to go to Baltimore for the first time. Besides New York and D.C. I haven’t explored the East Coast much. I love being around the brick buildings, old American history, and different climate than down South. Walking through the streets of Fell’s Point makes you feel like you’re back in a time of cobblestone streets and horse-drawn carriages.

Baltimore is known for a few things in which of course I delved in all of them: crab cakes, Old Bay seasoning, and Berger cookies. I am sure there are others, but those are the essentials in my eyes. While the crab cakes are good and you cannot leave Baltimore without one or two or three of them, and you must have the chocolate sugar icing rush that is a Berger cookie, there are healthy options plus some great workouts when you get crab cake overload.

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EATS

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Chipotle

I know, sounds lame and so typical. But it seriously was what I ate the most for lunch and craved every second I was in Baltimore. I love that they are non-GMO and post their nutrition facts. And it’s satisfying and delicious. So. Many. Wins. Some good options include:

• Chicken Salad: load up with lettuce, black beans, sauteed vegetables, chicken, salsa. I skip the salad dressing and just mix it all up with the salsa.
• Sofritas Bowl: I get all of the above but with sofritas instead of chicken and add brown rice. YUM!

Try to stay away from the cheese and sour cream and focus more on the vegetables and proteins. Add guacamole if you feel like it as well!

0.2 miles walking // 300 West Pratt St.

Nalley Fresh

I came across Nalley Fresh when I was walking to Panera one day. I view it as another version of Chipotle, just with varied flavors. They have bowls, wraps, and salads in which you pick your style and protein and then add all of the fixins’. Proteins often include Whiskey Rub Pulled Pork, Italian Tilapia, Black Bean & Brown Rice, Buffalo Chicken, Baked Falafel, Grilled Herbed Salmon, Tuna, Santa Fe Beef Sausage, Old Bay Chicken, Asian Tofu, and Roasted Chicken. These looked good and nutritious to me:

• Sweet Potato Bowl: Your choice of protein with wheat berries, scallions, carrot, roasted pumpkin seed, mandarin oranges, chicken bacon, provolone & baby spinach with balsamic vinaigrette
• Healthy Wrap/Salad: Your choice of protein with cucumbers, tomato, carrots, toasted pumpkin seeds, sprouts, beets, sweet potato, wheat berry, quinoa, arugula & baby spinach with Nalley’s lime n’ olive oil

0.4 miles walking // 400 East Pratt St.

Panera Bread

Panera is an all-time favorite staple of mine and although it is not a local eatery, they have great healthy options. The Ancient Grain, Arugula & Chicken salad I had (pictured above) was one of my most satisfying lunches yet still felt so light. I love Panera’s move towards real ingredients as well and the fact that you can get an apple as a side instead of bread. Other favorites of mine include:

• Ancient Grain, Arugula & Chicken Salad: chicken, arugula, ancient grain blend, red grapes, fresh apple and cabbage slaw tossed with white balsamic apple vinaigrette and topped with toasted pumpkin seeds (420 calories full)
• Mediterranean Chicken & Quinoa Salad: chicken, organic quinoa, kale, romaine, cucumbers, kalamata olives, tomato sofrito and toasted almonds with Greek dressing (580 calories full)
• Lentil Quinoa Bowl with Chicken: chicken, organic quinoa and organic brown rice, lentil blend, tomato sofrito, fresh kale and spinach in umami soy-miso broth (390 calories)

0.5 miles walking // 600 East Pratt St.

Streets Market & Cafe

I was so bummed when I couldn’t find a grocery store closer than Whole Foods (1.2 miles from my hotel), but when I was walking to Pop Physique I stumbled upon Streets Market & Cafe. Hooray for healthy grocery food! Streets has a salad bar and a hot food bar, but honestly the grocery selection is the way to go. Tons of protein bars (as seen above), healthy snacks, kombucha, greek yogurt, etc.

0.5 miles walking // 222 N Charles St.

Whole Foods Market

One of my favorite places that I scout out in every city (thank you Austin’s flagship Whole Foods store for corrupting me to love Whole Foods so dearly). I walked here on a nice warm evening before sunset and it was a very pleasant walk. I would suggest getting an Uber home after dark though just to be safe. It is not a huge store by any means but it has a hot food and salad bar, sushi (the quinoa one looked amazing!), and a good selection in their to-go refrigerated section. Also a great place to grab a few juices and other essentials to keep in your hotel refrigerator (make sure to request one) for throughout the week.

1.0 mile walking // 1001 Fleet St.

Liquid Earth

Liquid Earth is in the same vicinity as Whole Foods, so I suggest walking there and Uber-ing back as well. Vegetarian cuisine and smoothies and juices! It was closed the day I went, but their menu looks delicious. I would order:

• Nuts & Berries Smoothie: soy milk, mixed berries, walnuts, almond and hazelnut syrups, banana, ice ($5.75)
• Facelifter Juice: honeydew melon, mint, ginger, orange, grapefruit ($6.75)
• Hummus Sandwich: homemade hummus on multigrain bread with sliced cucumber, tomato, alfalfa ($8.95)
• Black Bean Burrito: tortilla layered with black beans, red peppers, onions, mushrooms, cheddar cheese, and organic brown rice served on a bed of mesclun with homemade salsa ($12.95)

1.4 miles walking // 1626 Aliceanna St.

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WORKOUTS

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All of the studios below are accessible with ClassPass. If you don’t have ClassPass (you should get it), I have included the cost of a single class at the studio.

PopPhysique

Fun, good old-fashioned barre at its finest. I think the thing that first drew me here was the studio itself. It has an old feel with beautiful hardwood floors, exposed beams, and is definitely a repurposed space. I’m so curious what it used to be used as. Mix that with the bright colors that almost bring you back to the 80’s, and you’ve got yourself a class to remember! They also sell Gundalow juices here.

• $25 single class

0.6 miles walking // 339 N Charles St.

Federal Hill Fitness

I never got to go here, but I love the variety and type of classes they offer. Spin, HIIT, Interval Challenge, True Sculpt, etc, these classes will challenge you and work up a sweat. It is located in Federal Hill which is south of the Convention Center and is a full-service gym as well.

• $20 day pass

0.9 miles walking // 39 E Cross St.

BeachFit Baltimore

I love the feel and variety of this studio. Although I was from out of town, the girls welcomed me with open arms and made me feel comfortable and very much a part of their family. Also, they have so many different types of classes! I took Cycle n Shred which consists of 30 minutes of spin and 30 mins of strength exercise on a surf board, but you can also take classes like HIIT Surf, BeachFit BootCamp, Barre, and more.

• $10 express single class rate
• $15 single class rate

1.2 miles walking // 1400 Aliceanna St.

Safe travels y’all!

Best,

Chelsea Rose Martin