Healthy Restaurants- Sit down & Fast Food

couple at dinner

If you are planning a lunch meeting with friends or dinner with your spouse you don’t have to compromise your meal plan, instead simply select a healthy restaurant from this list and apply your same nutritional guidelines to the meals on their menu. I’ve comprised a list of healthy restaurants that use fresh organic ingredients and have delicious menus full of healthy food options to keep you on track to reach your fitness goals. Each place has vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.

  1. True Food Kitchen

  2. Flower Child

  3. Original Chopshop

  4. Tryst Cafe

  5. Protein House

  6. Picazzos (Italian inspired)

  7. FreshBox

  8. Tokyo Joes meal plan menu

  9. Mad greens

  10. Pita Jungle (the Mediterranean inspired)

  11. Ahi Poke bowl (Hawaiian inspired)

*Remember to stay away from pork, soups, and sauces because of the sodium and fat content of each.*

If you’re in between meals and need something quick, how about getting a nutritious cold-pressed juice to hold you over? I’ve put together a list of places to get real healthy juices.

  1. Juby True

  2. Nekter Juice bar

  3. Original Chopshop

  4. Kaleidoscope Juice

  5. Grabba Green

  6. Paradise Juice

*Remember ingredients should be all fresh, no juices from concentrates, and no added sugar.*

If you’re in a rush and do not have time to sit down at a restaurant don’t worry, here’s a list of healthy fast food/to-go restaurants that you can either drive-thru or grab and go for convenience.

  1. Salad and Go (drive-thru available)

  2. True Food Kitchen (To go available)

  3. Original Chopshop (To go available)

  4. D’lite healthy on the go (drive-thru available)

  5. Grabbagreen (To go available)

*Remember even though there are healthy options for you when eating out, Meal prepping your food most days is ideal to ensure you meet your daily macro and micronutrient recommendations without exceeding them.*

We are super moms yes but that doesn’t mean our kids always do what we want, but since we know this we can plan for that too. You can prevent unnecessary stress by being better prepared.

Some restaurants have healthy-ish options available and you just have to speak up and substitute some unhealthy ingredients with some healthier alternatives. Below is a list of common ingredients you can swap.

  1. Bacon -> Turkey bacon

  2. Eggs -> Eggwhites

  3. Bread-> Whole grain or rye

  4. Pasta -> Whole grain pasta

  5. Pickled jalepeños -> Fresh jalepeños

  6. Cheese -> Low fat cheese (extra sharp cheddar cheese)

  7. Steak -> Sirloin

  8. Salad dressing -> Balsalmic vinegarette or extra virgin olive oil

  9. Sauces -> Extra virgin olive oil & lemon

  10. Candied nuts -> Plain or roasted unsalted nuts

  11. Soda -> Naturally flavored waters, teas

  12. Creamer -> Non-fat milk, unsweetened almond, soy, or coconut milk.

  13. Guacamole -> Avocados

  14. Salsas -> Grilled fresh jalepeños, grilled onions, and tomatoes

  15. Sausage (any type) -> Chicken breast, ground turkey

As I said previously, you really want to stay away from soups, especially Miso soup and Chili. They contain more sodium than your recommended daily allowance IN ONE SERVING. If you're choosing it on your cheat day have at it but otherwise, pass on those. You can request “NO SALT” and the chef will be happy to accommodate.