Navigating airport eateries is like a mine field. So I set out to do a little research. I breeze into the Brighton store in the Phoenix Airport (yeah, I know they have two) and nonchalantly ask the sales clerk, “Any healthy eat places close to here?”

“Paradise Bakery and Café,” she says. “Down in C11.”

Hmmm. The bakery part sounds like it could be an issue. I love cookies, but I don’t eat one well so I usually just steer clear. (Even if I just eat one, I think about how I left its friends behind and it’s just weird enough to make me want to avoid the whole dance.)

But up against the rest of the bars and burger joints, I thought I’d give it a go. Besides, C13 was my gate. It was a sign.

So I toodle over and the place is hopping. A quick menu scan shows a salad section (and a scan of the cases shows lemon zest cookies, frosted scones, muffins the size of New York…you get the drift.) People filter through as I study the menu and try to figure out which is less damaging, The Thai Chicken or the Southwest Chicken. They both use free range antibiotic-free chickens so that’s exciting, but I’m pretty sure I’m going to need to double that protein dose.

I’m called over to the counter for explanation because my receipt simply says “chicken.” The salad assembler person says, “So you don’t want chicken?”

“No, no. Double chicken.”

“Oh…because it just says chicken.”

“Nope, double.”

“Oh.” All this while the chocolate chip cookies sit under my nose and distract me.

And because of this distraction, I turned away at one point wherein my nice head of romaine lettuce and free range chicken was doused with won ton strips (I think she put on 2 cups) and peanut sauce. (I had asked for dressing on the side, but forgot about peanut sauce!) Drizzle-mania.

All in all, the salad was delicious, but I’m pretty sure came in at about the same count as the burger would have. With 5 chocolate chip cookies.  Live and learn.