What a PT, Radio Presenter and influencer order at Pho
Eating ‘healthy’ in 2019 needn’t mean sacrificing visiting your favourite restaurants. In fact, restaurants like Pho are upping their game this year and we for one, are into it. Noodles have been swapped for boodles, rice for cauliflower ‘rice’ and spring rolls for crunchy veg wraps; perfect for those looking for lighter alternatives this 2019.
We caught up with Radio Presenter, Pandora Christie, PT and Online Coach, Aimee Victoria Long, Hannah Fuller and Qualified PT and Fitness Blogger, Amy Jones about what they order when they eat out at Pho.
HANNAH FULLER – LORNA JANE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
“The Goi Ga – always! Lashings of shredded chicken with tasty crunchy vegetables, it’s SO refreshing, full of protein for muscle recovery and growth, and most importantly tastes incredible. Every workout should finish with a Goi Ga!
What I love about Pho is that they offer something for everyone. ‘Healthy’ is completely different to everyone – for me it’s eating a high protein diet across all food groups, for some, it’s vegan, low-carb, gluten-free. And some just want a really good curry!”
PANDORA CHRISTIE – RADIO PRESENTER
“I have always been a huge fan of Pho but when I recently switched to a vegetarian diet, I found myself visiting much more often because there are so many veg options to choose from (which is pretty rare for a group of restaurants you can find all over London).
If I’m feeling a little indulgent, I might go for crispy spring rolls in peanut sauce and a tofu & mushroom curry. But usually as part of my healthy lifestyle I opt for the fresh veg summer rolls and a cauliflower “rice” bowl – both dishes are vegan but high in protein to refuel after workouts, and the iron-rich Chinese leaf in the rice bowl helps me to fight fatigue for the rest of my day!”
“My go-to is now the chicken pho soup with courgette “noodles” because it tastes amazing, is high in protein and balanced, so is perfect to help with muscle repair after an intense session and at this time of month when it’s freezing, it’s really warming. For me, I always like to eat something light after training and the courgette noodles are filling but not too heavy and an easy way to get more veggies into my diet.
My training is very varied so I love the variety of the Pho menu, it always offers something to suit my needs. Even if I’m looking to do a long distance run I can add more carbohydrates my meal with something like Pho’s chicken curry.”
AMY JONES – QUALIFIED PT AND FITNESS BLOGGER
“I choose to be a boxer because I see boxing training as the ultimate fitness since it covers all 5 components of physical fitness: cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility and motor fitness. Boxing makes me feel strong and it’s my biggest way of de-stressing. But it’s important to remember that boxing training is tough and can take a toll on your body.
My go-to Pho dish is the chicken curry because it has all the macronutrients I need to help me get the most out of my boxing training.
Carbs are essential for keeping my energy levels and stamina up and to replenish depleted glycogen stores post-training. And fats – yes fats – are also super important for giving your body the energy it needs, not to mention the role they play in building cells. And although my passion for boxing comes from how tough and varied the training is, it can result in a lot of wear and tear in your body, so the high amount of protein is a must for muscle repair and recovery.
All this hard work means by the end of the session I’m usually ravenous! So a post-workout Pho is literally one of my favourite things to help stop me making food choices when I’m that hungry which are neither nutrient dense nor optimal in helping my body recover.”
