Maintaining a healthy diet while traveling can seem daunting, but with a little planning, it's entirely achievable. The secret lies in seeking out restaurants that prioritize fresh, whole foods prepared from scratch. Establishments that emphasize organic and local ingredients are excellent choices, as they typically avoid heavily processed options. Recognizing that dining out often means consuming more calories than cooking at home, the focus should be on making the best possible choices from what's available. Austin, Texas, boasts a vibrant culinary scene with numerous restaurants dedicated to serving delicious, health-conscious meals.
Fueling Your Body: Top Healthy Eateries in Austin
Blenders & Bowls: Start your day right at Blenders & Bowls, where yoga and acai bowls unite. This restaurant, connected to Wanderlust Yoga's downtown location, perfectly blends wellness and nutrition. Re-energize after a yoga session with a nutritious smoothie, acai bowl, or customized oatmeal. The oatmeal, topped with antioxidant-rich blueberries and cacao nibs, provides a delightful and healthful breakfast. With three additional locations throughout Austin, a healthy meal is always within reach.
Flower Child: For a light and refreshing lunch, Flower Child on 2nd St. in downtown Austin is an excellent choice. This mostly plant-based restaurant offers creative salads and bowls, with the option to add protein. Alternatively, create your own entree by ordering a selection of veggie and grain plates (sides). Another Austin location is at The Domain shopping complex.
** Fonda San Miguel:** This restaurant's commitment to sustainable, quality food is evident in every dish. Fonda San Miguel prepares traditional Mexican cuisine using local ingredients and all-natural chicken, beef, and pork. The seafood is wild-caught from sustainable sources and never frozen. The Lomo de Puerco, featuring avocado pumpkin sesame seed salsa, is highly recommended. The pork tenderloin is cooked to perfection, and the slow-cooked black beans are exceptionally flavorful.
Bouldin Creek Cafe: This vegetarian restaurant offers creative, community-centric fare. The Soul Food Plate, featuring collard greens, red and black beans, and house-made vegan cornbread, is a hearty and satisfying option. The baristas also serve locally roasted, organic, and fair-trade coffee.
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June’s All Day Cafe: This SoCo (South Congress) location, run by a master sommelier, boasts an impressive wine list. It's a great spot to enjoy happy hour with affordable drinks and appetizers.
Uchi: For a special occasion, Uchi offers a dairy- and gluten-free dining experience.
Koriente: This casual, pan-Asian restaurant in downtown Austin focuses on vegetables and rice. Enjoy curries, bibimbap, and sauteed dishes in large portions. The Obake Bowl A with Chicken and brown rice, or the Papaya Salad with Ahi Tuna, are popular choices. Don't miss the vegetarian summer rice paper rolls and the cinnamon iced tea without sugar.
Casa de Luz: This macrobiotic, ayurvedic, and vegan restaurant promotes a peaceful and healthful dining experience. The daily menu includes soup, salad, and an entree, often featuring kale with almond sauce, beans, and rice.
Swedish Hill: The rotisserie chicken, cold salads, and the Clarksville Crunch Salad with kale, cauliflower, almonds, seeds, and tahini offer light and refreshing lunch options.
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Honest Mary’s: This restaurant provides honest, low-calorie, and low-sugar salad bowls. The Songbird, with black forbidden rice, steamed kale, rainbow carrots, beets, and pumpkin seeds, is a dairy-free and gluten-free option.
Pho Please: Enjoy grilled chicken rice paper rolls or salad with a fried egg, pickled veggies, cabbage, and fish sauce.
FoodHeads: This "Old Austin" spot offers a half sandwich + half soup or salad combo. The dairy-free sweet potato soup is a creamy and comforting choice for a casual lunch.
Elizabeth Street Cafe: This Vietnamese cafe and French bakery offers healthy choices like wonton soup made with clear broth, Snapper Bun without vermicelli and extra spinach, and pho without noodles with extra vegetables.
Fresa’s Chicken al Carbon: This Mexican restaurant offers sides of dressed-up veggies instead of rice and refried beans. The Jerez Salad with power greens, marinated chickpeas, spicy carrots, pepitas, and queso fresco is a great salad option.
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Josephine House: This farm-to-table cottage in historic Clarksville offers vegetable salads that change seasonally.
Kinda Tropical: This east side spot offers a Sesame Salad with pulled chicken, butter lettuce, avocado, peanut, and cilantro.
Veracruz Fonda and Bar: This restaurant offers fresh Veracruz cuisine with plates like Camarones Enchipotlados, Shrimp Ceviche, and flavorful rice and black beans. They also have healthy Agua Frescas, like the cantaloupe flavor.
Aster’s Ethiopian: This lunch buffet features authentic Ethiopian dishes like Gomen (Ethiopian-style collard greens) and Alicha Miser (split lentil).
Oseyo Lunch: This restaurant offers Korean-American food. The Korean Bento Plate with Bulgogi includes steamed white rice, potato salad, doenjang green beans, fish cake, kimchi, and house salad.
Proud Mary: This menu leans heavily on breakfast items, including Eggs on Toast, Avocado Toast, and a Scrambled Egg Roti.
P Thai’s: The Khao Man Gai, with poached chicken, rice with chicken fat, cucumbers, and a fermented bean ginger chili sauce, is a traditional Thai dish.
ATX Food Co.: This food truck offers smoothies, elixirs, power bowls, and tacos.
Vinaigrette: This restaurant offers an endless list of salad options. The Omega, with leafy greens, corn, bell pepper, tomato, avocado, red onion, toasted pine nuts, and chicken, is a large salad.
The Well: This restaurant offers gluten-free, soy-free, and refined sugar-free menu items.
True Food Kitchen: Inspired by the anti-inflammatory food pyramid, True Food Kitchen offers a seasonal, nutrient-rich menu that caters to various dietary needs. The tuna poke bowl or the teriyaki quinoa bowl (add chicken) are excellent choices.
Civil Goat: This cafe offers a delicious and balanced breakfast. The soft scramble with avocado and a half-caf flat white are popular.
Local Foods: This restaurant brings farm-fresh produce to the table. The summer harvest salad, poke bowl, or gluten-free crunchy chicken sandwich with kale salad and watermelon are great options.
Fresa’s: This restaurant takes wood-grilled chicken to the next level with a vibrant, Mexican flair. Enjoy chips + their special guacamole and a power bowl.
Koriente: This restaurant offers Asian-inspired food that’s fresh and on the lighter side. The Obake bowl with chicken or miso glazed salmon is a great choice.
Sweetgreen: This restaurant offers salads and bowls, using anti-inflammatory olive oil. Build your own bowl with greens or grains, protein, veggies, toppings, and sauces.
Cabo Bob’s: This restaurant offers fresh, high-quality ingredients at an affordable price. The chicken bowl with white rice, black beans, zucchini & squash, lettuce, cilantro, tomatillo salsa, mango pico, guacamole, and lime juice is a great option.
Picnik: This restaurant's entire menu is gluten-, soy-, and refined sugar-free, and they exclusively use healthy cooking oils. The harvest bowl or a burger with crispy Brussels sprouts are excellent choices.
Two Hands: This Australian-inspired cafe focuses on ethically sourced ingredients. The seasonal scramble for breakfast or the salmon quinoa bowl for lunch/dinner are great options.
Better Half: This award-winning all-day café in downtown Austin uses locally sourced ingredients. The burrata with smoked chicken or the big salad (half size) with smoked chicken are excellent choices.
Cenote: This cozy spot offers gluten-free bread for sandwiches. The Cenote scramble for breakfast or a veggie sandwich with chicken or turkey for lunch are great options.
KG BBQ: This barbecue joint combines classic Texas barbecue with bold Middle Eastern flavors. The chicken rice bowl is a great option.
Nourished ATX: This food truck offers locally and regeneratively sourced, gluten-free, dairy-free, refined-sugar free, and organic menu items. The breakfast tacos or the nourish bowl with chicken are great options.
People’s Pharmacy: This pharmacy offers a chicken salad made with high-quality ingredients and a beet & citrus salad.
Gati: This ice cream shop offers gluten-free and dairy-free ice cream made with wholesome ingredients.
Balancing Indulgence with Healthy Choices
While exploring Austin's healthy dining options, it's important to remember that balance is key. Occasional indulgences can be part of a healthy lifestyle.
Terry Black’s BBQ: Indulge in Texas BBQ at Terry Black’s. Enjoy brisket, ribs, mac & cheese, beans, and peach cobbler in moderation.
Navigating Healthy Choices: Key Considerations
When choosing from a restaurant's menu, consider these guidelines:
- Prioritize Whole Foods: Select meals that feature fresh, unprocessed ingredients.
- Focus on High-Quality Protein: Choose lean protein sources such as meat, fish, or eggs.
- Load Up on Vegetables: Opt for meals with plenty of vegetables and unprocessed carbohydrates.
- Don't Hesitate to Customize: Ask to substitute sides for vegetables or request other modifications to align with your dietary preferences.
Embracing a Healthy Lifestyle in Austin
Austin is a city that embraces healthy and active living. Beyond its diverse culinary scene, the city offers numerous opportunities for outdoor activities and wellness practices.
Outdoor Activities: Take advantage of Austin's beautiful weather by running or biking on Ladybird Lake, cycling, swimming laps at Deep Eddy Pool, climbing at Crux Climbing Center, hiking around Hamilton Pool, or paddleboarding.
Yoga and Fitness: Explore Austin's vibrant fitness scene by visiting yoga studios like Practice Yoga, Wanderlust Yoga, Black Swan, and CorePower Yoga, or trying out bouldering at Austin Bouldering Project.
Local Shops: Support Austin's local businesses by visiting curated shops like Take Heart, The Paper & Craft Pantry, Apt F, Favor the Kind, Tillery Street Plant Co., Frond Plant Shop, and Esby Apparel.
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