Healthy meatball is no longer an oxymoron

There's a time and a place for boneless, skinless chicken breasts. But, frankly, there is also more to life. To that end, may we present the Q Ball; the new seasonally-focused, healthy meatball series that we've created in partnership with New York City's The Meatball Shop.

You're already aware of the Equinox nutrition philosophy, which advocates a set of guidelines (such as eating seasonally and locally whenever possible; choosing clean, lean protein; getting your fill of good fats) that we have been outlining throughout the year. We believe in eating food that supports the health of your cells and the optimum functioning of your body, but that is also fresh and delicious.

Michael Chernow and Daniel Holzman, the co-owners of TMS, may be known for whipping up some of the finest comfort food in NYC, but they happen to share our food philosophy. "I am a very healthy dude," says Chernow, whose active lifestyle and passion for fitness were featured in a Q video earlier this year, "and I eat at The Meatball Shop every day that I am in New York City, which is almost every day. It's 100% customizable. Plus, all of our meat is sourced from naturally raised farms, our veggies are sourced locally whenever possible, and all food is created by us. "

If a meal of meatballs still sounds akin to housing a bacon double cheeseburger, the Q Ball will make you a believer. Launching the new seasonal series is the Fall Ball, made of lean bison meat and an assortment of wholesome ingredients, such as almonds and raisins. "Bison meat is lower in fat and cholesterol but higher in protein than beef," explains Holzman. "We also used saffron rice as opposed to bread, so it's completely gluten free."

The Q Ball will be available on a rotating basis at the New York City locations of The Meatball Shop. Follow @Meatballers and @Equinox, and use the hashtag #QBall, to find out where it will be available. Or, make it yourself. You can download the recipe here.