Discover Orlando’s Ultimate Guide to Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, and Vibrant Healthy Eats!

Orlando, "The City Beautiful," offers a diverse culinary landscape that caters to health-conscious individuals. This guide explores the best options for healthy eating in Orlando, with a particular focus on gluten-free and dairy-free choices, providing resources for both residents and visitors.

Embracing Healthy Eating in Orlando

Discovering what works best for your body is a personal journey, and Orlando provides ample opportunities to explore healthy eating through an exploratory lens and decide to create health. A gluten- and dairy-free approach can be a great way to still stay social while decreasing inflammation and shift your system into a healing mode naturally. Many restaurants now offer gluten-free and dairy-free menu options but if you are unsure, it is completely okay to let your server know ahead of time that you are eating gluten and dairy-free. If something that you want to order has these ingredients, they can let you know and make any adjustments necessary!

The key to healthy eating is to up the quality of how and what you eat so that you can provide your body with the key nutrients to help it function properly. Food has the power to bring about vibrance and fuel your being- providing you a way to implement what you have learned, embracing the human experience and communicating with your body so that you can build a strong and intuitive relationship with it.

Dr. Brooke's Top Dining Spots for Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Meals

As an advocate for health-conscious dining, Dr. Brooke has curated a list of top dining spots in Orlando that excel in offering delightful options for those seeking gluten-free and dairy-free meals.

Casual Dining Options

Chipotle Mexican Grill: A reliable choice for customizable bowls and salads with fresh ingredients.
Whole Foods Hot Bar / Salad Bar: Create your own balanced meal with a variety of options. When building out your meal at the Whole Foods bar, try to have a plan in place by breaking down your container into categories such as: greens, vegetables, proteins, extras (nuts, seeds, croutons..) and dressing/sauces.
Publix: In addition to offering a full grocery store and pharmacy, Publix has a popular deli department where you can build your own sandwiches or wraps.
Fresh Kitchen: This restaurant offers 100% gluten-free, dairy-free, anti-biotic free meats, and no processed sugar in their food choices. Their mission is to create healthy meals from fresh, high quality ingredients that nourish and energize the body.
Bolay: Offers fresh and bold ingredients with 8 custom spice blends from chefs from all around the country. These globally inspired flavors bring nutritious to the fast and casual dining scene.
CAVA: Offers fast Mediterranean options where you start with a base of greens, grains, or other options followed by dips, spreads and a protein. Your customized meal is finished off with a variety of toppings and dressings.
Blaze Pizza: This custom make-your-own-pizza place offers 3 delicious gluten-free crust options- their original GF dough, Cauliflower dough, and the Keto dough. Workers are happy to change gloves and use separate pizza cutters to avoid cross contamination- just ask!
Chicken Guy: This restaurant, founded by Guy Fieri and renowned restaurateur, Robert Earl, features all natural fresh chicken tenders and many sauces to choose from.
Sus Hi Eatstation: This fast-paced restaurant has customizable sushi rolls, bowls and burritos. They are the first restaurant I’ve seen in Orlando with gluten-free seaweed. Fast sushi with high quality ingredients and all about creativity and expressing yourself.
Salata Salad Kitchen: This restaurant offers fully customizable, tossed-to-order salads, wraps and soups. All of their ingredients- fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, etc. are chopped daily in-house. They also offer organic teas and lemonade.
Black Rooster Taqueria: Contemporary Mexican tacos, bowls & ceviches can be served with coffee and a variety of drinks amid colorful decor. Their mission is to create a place where delicious food is served and enjoyed by people with a passion for art, sustainability and real ingredients.
The Hangry Bison: Located in Winter Park, this restaurant has hand-built burgers with a create-your-own burger concept and is committed to sourcing the freshest ingredients within our community.
Greens & Grille: If you are in the Millenia Mall area, this restaurant offers salads, wraps, sandwiches, soups, and more! Greens & Grille was founded on the idea that fresh food simply tastes better.
SoFresh: This fast, casual, and fresh restaurant is located in Longwood and offers hot bowls, salads, wraps, broth bowls, smoothies, and juices. They have a very versatile menu down to scratch-made in-house sauces and dressings.
Fresh&Co: Located on West Sand Lake Rd, this family-owned restaurant group partners with local farmers to serve 100% vegetarian-fed, hormone-free poultry & meats + non-GMO, natural ingredients.
Greenbeat: This company is devoted to the idea that healthy, vibrant, and flavorsome food should be accessible to everyone. For this reason, they have partnered with local farms, suppliers and artisans in order to bring the most vibrant, seasonal and healthy ingredients possible with the ultimate aim of crafting health conscious meals that are affordable to nearly everyone.
Gnarly Barley: This is a compact, no-frills sandwich shop with a sizable selection of craft brews & frequent specials. * A Note From Dr. Brooke: I ordered the snack attack waffle fries without the blue cheese and tiger sauce and the taco salad without the cheese.

Upscale and Unique Dining Experiences

Kabooki Sushi: Where the food is almost too pretty to eat. Diligent detail is put into each dish, as well as creative freedom, showcasing the best from many parts of the world. Their menu features sushi, sashimi, sushi rolls, ramen and more.
Ta-Ke Sushi Bar & Grill: Ta-Ke Sushi has a cozy and comfortable atmosphere, offering sushi, a variety of appetizers, and hot entrees. I have ordered the “double trouble” roll here and it has been the best sushi roll I’ve ever had in my life.
Blu On The Avenue: Located on Park Avenue in Winter Park is this seafood restaurant featuring fresh, made to order, sushi, seafood, brunch, salads, sandwiches, and more. They offer brunch, lunch, dinner and sushi.
Roccos Italian Grille: This romantic Italian restaurant is located just a 10 minute drive from downtown Orlando, offering a warm wood-accented interior, bar and even a scenic garden.
Francesco’s Ristorante & Pizzeria: An excellent option for upscale/casual where service is engaged. This authentic Italian restaurant also offer gluten-free pasta options along with oven-fired comfort food in an antique-chic space with a bar.
Sixty Vines: A comfortable and sophisticated restaurant inspired by California wine country. This space features an open exhibition kitchen, several dining spaces to choose from, and even a greenhouse patio. All dishes are made with local, fresh ingredients.
AVA MediterrAegean: This restaurant located in Winter Park offers a culinary journey around the Mediterranean and Aegean. AVA MediterrAgean lives by its mantra, “Parea”- a group of friends who gather to share life experiences, philosophies, values and ideas.
Terramia Ristorante & Wine Bar: Drift into a tranquil escape inspired by the design and lifestyle of Italy’s native Rosario Spagnolo. The menu boasts genuine, Italian cuisine cooked in Rosario’s signature style- and a thoughtful selection of artisanal, hand-tossed pizzas, prepared in their specially designed brick oven.
Kres Chophouse: This steakhouse serves both steak and seafood with a Mediterranean twist. They have been rated the best Orlando steakhouse experience, located in the heart of downtown Orlando.
Christner’s: Enjoy your food and drinks in their relaxing environment alongside elegant entertainment! Be amazed by tableside magic and listen to the soft tunes of their talented pianists. At Christner’s, each ingredient is carefully selected- with a serious focus on beef. Every USDA Prime serving is corn-fed, aged in house and cut-to-order.
Hungry Pants: Located in the heart of SODO (South of Downtown Orlando), this restaurant offers whole and balanced food for your pleasure! Their menu offers various vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free items such as crispy cauliflower and sweet potato tots and vegan poke bowls.
Seasons 52: This restaurant has a rotating menu of seasonal American dishes alongside international wines in an upscale setting. They offer four specialty menus available which includes gluten sensitive, vegetarian, vegan, and dairy sensitive.
Piggza: This is a modern Italian-styled restaurant located in Orlando’s Mills 50 District offering a contemporary twist on classic Italian dishes. Their menu offers gluten-free and dairy-free pizza crust and pastas!
The Ravenous Pig: Since 2007, this gastropub has served sustainable food created with passion and prepared using ingredients sourced in Florida. Their menu often changes and they work with seasonal ingredients, often from small local distributors. If you have your heart set on something specific, feel free to check in with them to see if it will be available on your visit!
The Pinery: Experience premier lakefront dining at this trendy first-floor restaurant overlooking Lake Ivanhoe in the heart of Orlando. The Pinery offers guests a welcoming atmosphere, illuminated views of the city skyline and a seasonal menu inspired by the tenants of Southern hospitality.
In partnership with Michelin Star Chef Akira Back: this hotel offers unparalleled culinary experiences, encompassing two floors. Guests can enjoy non-alcoholic mixology drinks around the lively main floor bar or take refuge in the velvet lined, hand-chiseled, sentient seats. For heartier provisions, Salt & The Cellar, a Mediterrasian focused restaurant, will serve breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner.
Whisper Creek Farm: The Kitchen: In the lobby of JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes, you can find this farm-to-table dining experience. Whisper Creek Farm is located behind the 6th hole at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club on the southernmost edge of the resort.
The Alfond Inn: This Winter Park boutique hotel offers traditional southern fare prepared with a modern twist and served in a warm setting. They fuse locally sourced ingredients with a rustic and open-table charm.
Tap Room at Dubsdread: Culinary excellence in a historic Orlando setting! This restaurant proudly offers fresh fish, prime cuts, homemade desserts and Orlando’s best burger.

Grocery Stores for Healthy Ingredients

Whole Foods Market: Known for its organic selections, Whole Foods maintains strict quality standards.
Trader Joe’s: Offers unique, high-quality products at relatively low costs.
Sprouts Farmers Market: A specialty grocery chain with natural and organic grocery items.
Publix GreenWise Market: An organic grocery store with earth-friendly prepared foods and products.
Fancy Fruit & Produce: Offers fresh fruit and produce daily, delivered directly from the producer to the store.
Fresh Market: Provides easy meals and fresh foods, including meats, seafood, and premium produce.
Earth Fare: This supermarket has a unique food philosophy that pledges that their food is free of added hormones, antibiotics, artificial fats/trans-fats, high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, artificial preservatives, bleached or bromated flour, and artificial colors or flavors.
Chamberlin’s Natural Foods Market: A store that has been recognized as one of the most innovative retailers of natural foods, providing not only fresh foods but also vitamins, supplements, and a diverse offering of homeopathic remedies such as herbs.
Costco: Offers many natural and organic finds, both in-person and online.
Freshfields Farm: A cute barn house grocery store that provides local produce, meats and even an ice cream shop! A majority of the produce comes directly from farmers, growers and packing plants located in Florida- offering fresh farm foods for cheap because they buy straight from the source, eliminating distribution and warehouse costs.
Frog Song Organics: This farm was founded on six acres 15 miles east of Gainesville in 2011. They practice organic, smal…

Juice Bars and Smoothie Spots for a Healthy Boost

Orlando is home to a number of vegan-friendly juice bars that offer a variety of nourishing and refreshing drinks and meals. From smoothies and juices to cleanses and acai bowls, these juice bars stock a range of options for those looking to incorporate more plant-based foods into their diet.

Raw Press Juice Co.: Owned by John and Melissa Ashley, who are committed to providing high-quality, plant-based products. The two personally prepare the dishes, ensuring consistent quality among their offerings. They work closely with consumers to understand their needs and preferences, allowing them to tailor their menu to the local community rather than following a corporate model.
Roots Raw Juice Bar: Lake Mary-based Roots Raw Juice Bar provides healthy, high-quality products at an affordable price. Choose from multi-day detoxing cleanses featuring juices such as their Loaded Lemon-Aide (with activated charcoal) or an anti-inflammatory Mini Miracle (with garlic, turmeric, black pepper, and more). Or go for a protein-packed acai bowl like their Bahi Blue or Berry Blast, where antioxidant powerhouse blueberries get their chance to shine.
The Smoothie Room: Chill in this cozy, retro Orlando spot while enjoying delicious juices, smoothies, detox teas, and acai bowls (famous for their generous portion sizes). Savor a glass of The Smoothie Room’s rosy Pink Panther Juice, loaded with good-for-you ingredients like beet, celery, orange, and parsley. Still hungry? Satiate yourself with their Midnight Smoothie, featuring camu camu, spirulina, cinnamon, banana, blackberry, almond butter, and apple.
Equilibre Healthy Food: Equilibre Healthy Food’s “Perfect Heal” will leave you feeling rejuvenated with raw pressed carrots, ginger, and orange. Or, if you’re in the mood for something to flush toxins, try their Detox juice (with apple, beet, celery, cucumber, and ginger). Equilibre also offers a vast range of grab-and-go options such as their wellness shots, Blueberry Fizz and Tropical Vida Loca smoothies, and even savory dishes like their signature vegan sandwich (with carrots, avocado, tomato, lettuce, hummus, peppers, microgreens, and cucumber). Proudly serving freshly blended smoothies and juices, Equilibre Healthy Food focuses on providing healthy alternatives that make it easier to live a healthier lifestyle. Equilibre uses fresh, locally-sourced organic ingredients for all their smoothies and juices.
WunderBAR: Parched after a long afternoon shopping at The Mall at Millenia? Stop by the cult-favorite, WunderBAR, a family-owned German juice bar. At WunderBAR, your juice or acai bowl order is made exactly to your liking, with no sugars or water added. Try fan favorites like their Green Goddess pressed juice with apple, cucumber, kale, lemon, spinach, and mint.
SOHO Juice Co.: Give into your cookie dough cravings with SOHO Juice Co.’s nutritious Wonderdough Bites, made with gluten-free oats, cashews, coconut oil, agave, vanilla, chocolate chips, and pink Himalayan sea salt. Pair with a bright blue Cloud 9 superfood smoothie bowl, crafted with a thick blend of ingredients such as mango, pineapple, banana, blue algae, almond butter, and coconut mylk. In addition to their commitment to serving healthy, high-quality food, SOHO Juice Co. also aims to create a positive atmosphere with adorable motivational stickers and a massive plant wall in their full-service stores.
Grounding Roots: At Grounding Roots, experience the medicinal benefits of plants through juices and smoothies rooted in wellness, with a chance to try before you buy. Ready to commit? Engage in self-care with their Gut Reboot juice cleanse, which claims to assist with IBS, anxiety, and depression. This kit comes with two No. 4 juices (kale, cucumber, celery, ginger, green apple, lemon, and mint), two No. 9 juices (utilizing the healing properties of parsley, cucumber, celery, and lemon), two celery juices, 4oz of antioxidant rich blackseed oil, and a bottle of Kashaya Therapeutic (live probiotics).
Grain and Berry: Beet the Heat with Grain and Berry’s ruby-toned juice containing beet, apple, ginger, cayenne pepper, and lemon. Or play it cool with their Elvis Parsley, crafted with kale, parsley, cucumber, celery, sea salt, and lime. True to its name, this warm and cozy growing chain emphasizes equally its fresh juices, smoothies, and wellness shots and their veganizable flatbreads and quesadillas. Upgrade your Meat Your Heart Out Flatbread with vegan mozzarella to complement its marinara, plant-based sausage, cherry tomatoes, and basil base.
Juice Bar Orlando: offers made-to-order cold-pressed juices made just the way you like them. Customize your juices and include the ingredients you enjoy the most.
Raw Juice Bar: is located in Downtown Orlando and specializes in a range of organic juice cleanses. Their juice menu contains a delicious selection of vegan juices, smoothies, wraps, and more.
Skyebird Juice Bar & Experimental Kitchen: not only makes delicious, healthy juices and smoothies to order, there are also healthy tea choices on the menu. You can also shop for a variety of locally-sourced organic produce so you can make your own fresh juices at home.
New Moon Market: offers a range of handmade juice blends that are cold-pressed using locally-sourced organic fruits and vegetables. Their healthy menu features a range of cold-pressed juices, wellness shots, smoothies, plant-based foods, as well as breakfast bites, salads, wraps, desserts, and soups.
Tropical Smoothie Café: specializes in creating a delicious range of fresh fruit smoothies to suit any taste. From detox and cleanse smoothies to flavor fusions and plenty of blends in between, you’re sure to find one to suit you. The menu also features plenty of choices, including breakfast bites, bowls, wraps, sandwiches, and sides.
The Smoothie Room: is an all-natural juice bar dedicated to making your smoothies order just like it. Add your favorite ingredients and create your own custom smoothie to suit your recovery needs.
Smoothie and Juice Bar: focuses on helping people enjoy living a holistic lifestyle that extends beyond just making healthy smoothies and juices. You’ll also find a range of delicious power bowls and fruit bowls available.
Cosechas: originated in Costa Rica in 2008 and has a delicious range of fresh fruit and vegetable smoothies and a variety of raw juices and frozen fruit drinks.
Love Life Café: When you want more than just a smoothie to curb those hunger pangs, head into Love Life Café. You can taste your way through their mouth-watering smoothie menu to find your favorite flavor combination. The menu also features an array of delicious plant-based food options made using fresh ingredients, including breakfast bites, soups, salads, veggie burgers, arepas, healthy pizzas, pasta, burritos, tacos, and various bowls to choose from.

The Convenience of UberEats

The convenience of UberEats further enhances the accessibility of gluten-free and dairy-free options, allowing locals and visitors alike to explore Orlando’s culinary landscape. With a few taps on your phone, you can explore menus, read reviews, and order meals that fit your dietary requirements, all delivered straight to your location.

Semilla Nativa

This local food brand is committed with the creation of allergy-friendly and nutrient dense food products that are uniquely formulated with the highest standards of quality ingredients, gluten-free and locally sourced. They offer nuts-free, dairy-free artisan pesto sauces, gluten-free baking flour mixes, and more!

Captain Jo’s Smoked Fish Dips and Gigi’s Pot Pies

This company offers gluten-free and vegan options for fish dips, crab cakes, pot pies and more such as Bavarian berry pies!

Healthy Eating Plate

Use the Healthy Eating Plate as a guide for creating healthy, balanced meals-whether served at the table or packed in a lunch box. Use healthy oils (like olive and canola oil) for cooking, on salad, and at the table. Limit butter. Drink water, tea, or coffee (with little or no sugar). Limit milk/dairy (1-2 servings/day) and juice (1 small glass/day). The more veggies - and the greater the variety - the better. Eat a variety of whole grains (like whole-wheat bread, whole-grain pasta, and brown rice). Protein power - ¼ of your plate.Fish, poultry, beans, and nuts are all healthy, versatile protein sources-they can be mixed into salads, and pair well with vegetables on a plate. Healthy plant oils - in moderation.Choose healthy vegetable oils like olive, canola, soy, corn, sunflower, peanut, and others, and avoid partially hydrogenated oils, which contain unhealthy trans fats. The Healthy Eating Plate encourages consumers to use healthy oils, and it does not set a maximum on the percentage of calories people should get each day from healthy sources of fat.

The Importance of Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are essential components of a healthy diet and support long-term health. Color strongly shapes how we experience food-its flavor, freshness, and even appeal.

Read also: Healthy Eating on the Run

Clean Eating

Clean eating is one way to support the liver and reduce unnecessary strain.

Recovery and Nutrition

To improve your chances of making a successful recovery from drug or alcohol addiction, it’s important to focus on healing the entire person holistically. Abusing drugs or alcohol over a while can leave many people with a variety of vitamin deficiencies that can make the physical healing process more difficult. Drugs and alcohol also affect the way your body processes nutrients. Many vitamin and mineral deficiencies can be addressed by focusing on a nutritious meal plan that incorporates the right vitamins and nutrients to encourage healing. Adding fresh juice to an already healthy meal plan is a great way to boost your fruit and vegetable intake, which could allow for a speedier recovery. Those recovering people who are at risk of experiencing unpleasant withdrawal symptoms may find some symptoms eased when they include healthy juice smoothies in their diet. Some people who struggle with addictive behaviors may also have problems with insulin resistance. Vegetable-based juices can be extremely beneficial for regulating blood sugar levels. Uncontrolled inflammation can also be a problem for many in recovery. Fortunately, there are plenty of natural anti-inflammatory foods available that can also be added to your juice smoothie to help keep inflammation under control. Ginger is known to help control inflammation and adds a nice zing to any juice blend. Adding carrots into your juicing recipes can also help increase your intake of vitamin K1 and beta carotene. Berries are another healthy addition to your juicing recipes. Strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries are all excellent sources of vitamin C. Bananas are another great fruit to add to your recovery juicing arsenal. Bananas are rich in potassium and vitamin B6, regulating blood pressure and blood sugar levels.

Read also: Mobile Dining Revolution

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