Every year, the new year sparks a desire for a fresh start, particularly when it comes to health. After indulging in holiday treats, many people focus on healthier eating, increased physical activity, and better stress management. However, maintaining this focus, especially when socializing with friends and family, can be challenging. This guide aims to help you discover healthy restaurant options, making it easier to stick to your health goals while enjoying meals out.
Healthy Restaurants in Cincinnati
Cincinnati offers a variety of restaurants committed to providing healthy and delicious meals. Here are some notable options:
- Seasons 52: Located in Hyde Park, Seasons 52, a Darden chain restaurant, has always focused on a healthier lifestyle. Initially, entrees were limited to 500 calories, but the menu has expanded to offer a wider range of options while still catering to those seeking lighter fare. The dishes are filled with vegetables and protein, and the restaurant uses fresh, never-frozen ingredients, with over 50 varieties of produce and carefully sourced protein. They also have options to appease those cravings as well.
- Maplewood Kitchen and Bar: Situated in Downtown Cincinnati, Maplewood Kitchen and Bar, part of the Thunderdome Restaurant Group, is a casual spot offering West Coast-style cuisine with an emphasis on healthier food using local and seasonal ingredients. They put a lighter twist on breakfast/lunch classics. Their hash bowl is a favorite, providing a balanced meal.
- Northstar Café: This Ohio restaurant chain, located in Liberty Township, provides healthy options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Northstar Café is a great option for salads or grain bowls, filled with the best ingredients.
- Bakersfield: Located in Over the Rhine, Bakersfield offers the freshest ingredients in their Mexican dishes. Their tacos include corn tortillas, protein, and vegetables, and their salads, such as the Willie salad, are highly recommended.
- Rooted Juicery: This plant-based juicery and kitchen, with locations in Mariemont and Oakley, offers smoothie bowls and vegan options. They are conscious of their ingredients and provide vegan desserts and premade food.
- Sleepy Bee: With multiple locations in Oakley, Downtown Cincinnati, Blue Ash, and College Hill, Sleepy Bee offers locally sourced foods that taste great. Their salads and bowls provide a balanced lunch option.
- E+O Kitchen: Located in Hyde Park and Downtown, E+O Kitchen cultivates dishes that fit a fresh Asian cuisine, using high-quality local ingredients. Every dish is refreshing and balanced, offering a twist on traditional Asian cuisine.
- Press on Monmouth: Located in Newport, Kentucky, Press on Monmouth provides breakfast and lunch options that promote a healthy lifestyle. Their salads can be customized into bowls with your choice of protein.
- The Baker’s Table: This family-owned restaurant in Newport, Kentucky, offers locally grown and handcrafted food, resulting in a frequently changing menu.
- Bouquet: This farm-to-table restaurant in Covington, Kentucky, partners with over fifty local farmers to ensure the freshest ingredients in their seasonal menu.
- Tahona Kitchen + Bar: This taqueria, located in Blue Ash and Loveland, draws inspiration from California cuisine and Mexican street fare, emphasizing fresh produce, slow-roasted meats, and scratch cooking. Their taco salad is a popular choice.
- Teak: Located in Over the Rhine, Teak offers a large menu with healthy Thai options. Most dishes balance protein, vegetables, and whole grains.
Healthy Restaurants in Phoenix
Phoenix boasts a variety of healthy restaurant options. Here are some notable choices:
- La Grande Orange (LGO): A Phoenix staple, LGO offers French-inspired breakfasts, a bakery, and healthy salads and sandwiches. The kale quinoa salad is a popular choice, often customized without cheese to accommodate plant-based diets.
- Flower Child: This fast-casual spot makes everything from scratch with fresh ingredients and offers vegetarian and vegan options. Their bowls and wraps are flavorful, and you can mix and match sides like yuzu grilled asparagus and cauliflower “risotto”.
- Original Chop Shop: Known for its chopped salads and veggie bowls, such as the green curry tofu bowl with quinoa.
- Modern Market Eatery: A great spot for quick on-the-go meals in Scottsdale.
- ProteinHouse: A popular choice for lean lunches and post-gym shakes.
- Juice Core: Offers organic, fresh-pressed juices, protein bites, and teas and lattes.
- Pa’la: A tapas-style restaurant centered around fresh seafood, grains, and local vegetables.
Healthy Restaurants in Austin
Austin offers a diverse range of restaurants that focus on healthy, balanced meals. Here are some top picks:
- True Food Kitchen: Inspired by the anti-inflammatory food pyramid and founded by Dr. Andrew Weil, True Food Kitchen offers a seasonal, nutrient-rich menu catering to various dietary needs, including vegan, gluten-free, keto, and paleo. Popular choices include the tuna poke bowl and the teriyaki quinoa bowl with chicken.
- Civil Goat: Known for its coffee, Civil Goat also offers a balanced breakfast. A favorite is the soft scramble with avocado, paired with a half-caf flat white.
- Local Foods: Emphasizing farm-fresh produce, Local Foods offers flavorful dishes. The poke bowl, summer harvest salad, and gluten-free crunchy chicken sandwich with kale salad and watermelon are highly recommended.
- Honest Mary’s: This spot prides itself on “life-giving fast food,” offering signature bowls and a build-your-own-bowl option with grains, proteins, veggies, and house-made sauces. A popular combination is a grilled chicken bowl with arugula, roasted sweet potatoes, roasted beets, crispy chickpeas, avocado, and creamy poblano sauce.
- Fresa’s: Fresa’s takes wood-grilled chicken to the next level with a vibrant, Mexican flair. Enjoy chips with special guacamole (featuring green apple and mint) and a power bowl.
- The Well: A top pick for healthy, sit-down dining, The Well offers a menu that is gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, refined-sugar free, and non-GMO. They use locally-sourced ingredients and organic produce for items on the Dirty Dozen list, as well as anti-inflammatory cooking oils like olive oil, coconut oil, and avocado oil. Popular choices include guacamole, ceviche, beet salad, and coconut curry squash with chicken.
- Koriente: Koriente offers Asian-inspired food that is fresh and light, with minimally processed ingredients and house-fermented kimchi. The Obake bowl with chicken or miso glazed salmon is a favorite.
- Sweetgreen: Sweetgreen offers salads and bowls, now made with anti-inflammatory olive oil. You can choose a signature dish or build your own bowl with a base of greens or grains, protein, veggies, toppings, and sauces.
- Cabo Bob’s: Cabo Bob’s offers fresh, high-quality ingredients at an affordable price. Their tortillas are made on-site, and their protein options are wood-grilled with no additives. The chicken bowl with white rice, black beans, zucchini & squash, lettuce, cilantro, tomatillo salsa, mango pico, guacamole, and lime juice is a great choice.
- Picnik: Picnik'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 popular.
- Two Hands: This Australian-inspired café focuses on ethically sourced ingredients. The seasonal scramble (breakfast) and salmon quinoa bowl (lunch/dinner) are recommended.
- Bouldin Creek Cafe: This cafe offers a menu packed with fresh, organic ingredients and a welcoming atmosphere.
- Better Half: An award-winning all-day café with outdoor seating, Better Half uses locally sourced ingredients. The burrata with smoked chicken or the big salad (half size) with smoked chicken are great options.
- Cenote: A cozy spot in a converted house with a spacious patio, Cenote offers gluten-free bread for sandwiches. The Cenote scramble (breakfast) and a veggie sandwich with chicken or turkey (lunch) are popular.
- KG BBQ: KG BBQ combines classic Texas barbecue with Middle Eastern flavors, offering dishes like smoked chicken thighs with tomato cucumber salad and Mediterranean rice.
Bonus Spots in Austin
- Nourished ATX: A food truck offering locally and regeneratively sourced, gluten-free, dairy-free, refined-sugar free, and organic menu items. Breakfast tacos and the nourish bowl with chicken are recommended.
- People’s Pharmacy: A pharmacy with a hidden gem for healthy lunches, including chicken salad (made without inflammatory oils) and beet & citrus salad.
- Skull & Cakebones: A bakery truck with an entirely gluten-free menu. The coffee cake muffin, matcha cheesecake, and peanut butter cookie are popular.
- SNAP Kitchen: SNAP Kitchen offers ready-made meals crafted with whole ingredients and balanced macros, with gluten-free, keto, paleo, vegetarian, and vegan options. The bison quinoa bowl with peppers and onions, chicken Caesar wrap, or blackened shrimp with quinoa grits are great choices.
- Gati Ice Cream: Gati makes gluten-free and dairy-free ice cream with five wholesome ingredients. Chocolate or mint chip ice cream are classic choices, while Thai basil is a unique option.
General Tips for Healthy Dining
When choosing from a menu, consider these guidelines to make healthier choices:
Read also: Healthy food access with Highmark Wholecare explained.
- Prioritize Whole Foods: Opt for meals made with real, unprocessed ingredients.
- High-Quality Protein: Look for dishes that include lean protein sources such as grilled chicken, fish, or eggs.
- Vegetables: Ensure your meal includes plenty of vegetables, whether as a main component or a side dish.
- Unprocessed Carbohydrates: Choose meals with unprocessed carbohydrates like rice, potatoes, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, beans, or lentils.
- Healthy Fats: Seek out meals that incorporate anti-inflammatory oils like olive oil, coconut oil, or avocado oil.
- Minimal Additives: Be mindful of added sugars, preservatives, and artificial ingredients.
Read also: Healthy Eating on the Run
Read also: Mobile Dining Revolution