blade or die

Looking back on the salad days when England and USD were the illest companies out, Julio, Latimer, Shima, Gillan showcased how cool blading was with the videos Volume and Coup De Tat.

At that age, it was a time where instead of biking or walking, blading was the preferred form of transportation.  It gave the opportunity to explore the neighborhood, smoke cigarettes underage, sneak in to girls houses when their parents weren’t there, all while finding new blade spots along the way.

Today, the times have changed.  Things are only improving.  The companies are different: Xsjado, Create Originals, Vibralux, and more. And so are the movies: Fade Nation: Green, Shred Til Your Dead, and Valo 4 Life.

Finding a spot to blade has evolved since most of us drive or are able to find a ride traveling locally or a state(s) away.  After playing the alphabet road trip game, someone in the car is going to eventually get hungry near Zzyzzx road out in the middle of no where.

To avoid making harmful eating decisions and to save money, it’s wiser to pack your own lunch or bring munchies on the trip from a gas station or your local quickie mart.

At 7-Eleven it’s okay to get your favorite caffeinated pop or to satisfy your hunger with a Snickers bar. Most nutritionists would recommend to eat these in moderation.  The items may be quick ways to give you a boost, but there are other ways for the body to receive nutrients to avoid crashing and cramping out at the blade-park.

Water makes up 60% of the body and has a lot of benefits:

• Cushioning joints for landing gaps
• Transporting essential minerals and vitamins throughout the blood-stream, providing energy to your muscles.
• Removing impurities from the body and reducing cramps.

With or without strenuous exercise, the body loses at least 8 to 12 cups of water and it is recommended we replace that with 8 – 8 oz cups (2 quarts) of water per day.

Drinking two quarts of water may be difficult for people.  There are other sources to receive your daily amount of h2o intake, like milk, juice. Fruits and vegetables are also high in water content.

Choosing anything fresh from a rest stop on tour can provide a powerhouse of nutrients.  Fruits, veggies, and herbs are low in protein, have natural sugars, provide complex carbohydrates, fiber, and often with very little fat.

Another type of fruit are nuts and seeds and are composed of unsaturated fat (the desired fat that reduces cholesterol).  Picking up a pack of trail mix will provide antioxidants, selenium, vitamin E, and protein.  These are a strong supply of energy to the body, good for doing soul grinds down a 50-stair kink rail.

Going for a muffin or a small pastry offers the preferred source of energy for the body: carbohydrates. When carbs are broken down, the natural sugars are easily absorbed in comparison to protein.  The energy found in these items fuel physical activity, or the thing we love to do the most: blading.

If you have a sweet tooth, go for the energy bar section.  They offer more desired calories than items found in the candy bar aisle.

In order to make the right choice on which bar is most healthiest for you, take a look at the nutrition label.  If this bar is going to be a meal replacement, the caloric intake should be above 200.  For example, Tiger Milk has less than 200 and should be looked as a snack.

Take the amount of sugar and divide by four.  This number represents the teaspoon measurements and is recommended to keep under this amount to two per serving.

With the many options, I have found that Clif bars are a bit over in sugar, although they provide the most overall desired protein, fiber, and vitamin intake.  Other bars are made of high fructose syrup in comparison to the whole grains that make up a Clif bar.

If your trying to save money, as many blader-bums are, do-it-yourself candy bars are not hard to do.

Following is a recipe that is high in flax seeds which, has been known to provide omega-3 fatty acids, the same stuff found in fish, avocados, and other healthy foods.  Whole flax seeds are indigiestable so opt for the grounded up version to receive all of the nutrients.  Instead of corn syrup, as many other health bars use, I chose to use honey because it is a natural sugar and will give that extra boost while out shredding the streets.

The whole grains—long lasting carbs—are found in the toasted oats and almonds.  Along with the Dried blueberries and chocolate that provide antioxidants, its a great combination of bitter and sweet.  M&M’s can be replaced with any chocolate chip you desire.  The dried fruit does not have to be blueberries and if you want, you can break the 1/2 cup rule in the recipe that follows.

Hope you enjoy this delicious bar.

Chef Obedobe’s Energy Bar

Ingredients                                        Amounts

Oatmeal                                                  2  Cups

Flax Seed, grounded                               1/2 Cup

Coconuts, dried                                      1/2 Cup

Blueberries, dried                                   1/2 Cup

M&M’s                                          1/2 Cup

Almonds, sliced                                     1/4 Cup

Honey                                                      2/3 Cup

Vanilla Extract                                         1 tsp.

Cinnamon                                                1 tsp.

Method

1.  Turn oven to 350˚F

2.  Combine all dry ingredients in one bowl.  In another bowl combine honey, vanilla extract and cinnamon.

2.  Add honey mixture to dry ingredients and mix well.

3.  Lay onto a sheet pan or cookie pan lined with wax paper and sprayed well with non-stick pan.  Bake for 15 minutes or until oats are toasted.

4.  Cool out and shape.  Pack it for your next blade trip.

— Chef Michael Obedoza

Michael Obedoza lives in Carson, Calif., and is a 2009 graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. He is sponsored by Valo and Eulogy. Check out his skating in Valo 4Life and Fade Nation Green. Also, check out his blog, Blading with Chef Knives.