The tree has been taken down and the holiday lights are back in the attic; the holidays are officially over. If you are one of the millions of Americans who made a New Year’s resolution, you are probably wondering “what now?” Just how do you transition from a diet laden with holiday favorites back to one that includes healthier options? Fortunately, Texas has a number of restaurants that will help you stick to your resolution while enjoying a delicious meal.
FLOWER CHILD
Walk into this colorful restaurant at Inwood Village and you will wonder what is more impressive: the food or the aesthetic. Made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients, Flower Child caters to both vegetarians and vegans, those who observe a paleo diet, and others who are committed to living sugar-, dairy-, or gluten-free! Everything is made from scratch using locally sourced ingredients. For a refreshing and delicious treat, try topping your meal off with a signature lemonade or their trademark kombucha!
TRUE FOOD KITCHEN
At True Food Kitchen, the philosophy is simple: “Food should make you feel better, not worse.” Dr. Andrew Weil, a popular physician and Doctor of Integrative Medicine, founded this dining establishment with a goal to follow the simple principles set forth in his anti-inflammatory diet. The menu has been carefully curated and offers guests plenty of flavor-filled dishes and a number of tasty juices, packed with a hefty dose of those daily recommended nutrients. A must-stop for the health-conscious, True Food Kitchen will continue to surprise and delight time and time again, due to their regularly rotating menu featuring seasonal ingredients, perfectly ripe and always fresh. For those in the area, there are two locations from which to choose: Legacy West in Plano or The Plaza at Preston Center in Dallas.
MALIBU POKE
Poke may have become trendy in the past few years, but it has long been a healthy food choice. And, if you are looking to find the freshest seafood in town, but do not have the time to sit down at a full-service restaurant, Malibu Poke is the perfect solution. Founded by TJ’s Seafood Market & Grill Owner Jon Alexis and James Beard Award nominee Chef Matt McCallister, Malibu Poke offers bowls that are made using sashimi-grade fish, vegetables, and rice—the perfect way to pack in those Omega 3s. If you are looking for a vegan option, you can also create your poke bowl using tofu instead. Plus, you can feel good about eating at Malibu Poke knowing they support sustainable fishing practices and responsible aquafarming. There are two Dallas locations to try: the first at Oak Lawn and the second at the intersection of McKinney and Olive.
GATHER KITCHEN
Was your New Year’s resolution to adopt a vegan diet? Or perhaps you have decided to cut out dairy and refined sugars. Gather Kitchen has you covered. Considered a fast-casual restaurant, Gather Kitchen is perfect for those with a busy lifestyle who are looking for a meal made from fresh ingredients that are sourced locally and seasonally. Gather Kitchen makes it easy to create the perfect meal by offering all-natural meats meant to be paired with one of a number of bases like fresh vegetables and complex carbohydrates. Gather Kitchen is also one of the few restaurants that offer Whole 30-compliant meal choices. You can find Gather Kitchen in Thanksgiving Tower on Elm Street.
HG SPLY CO.
The goal behind HG Sply Co. was to create a place that served natural, wholesome foods defined not by trends or by labels, but by truth. You can see from their menu that HG Sply Co. focuses on balance, with a menu that includes everything from Smoky Carrot Hummus and a Veggie Chopped Salad to Chicken Fried Chicken and TX Shrimp & Grits. And, if you are looking for something cold and tasty to drink, you have come to the right place. HG Sply Co. boasts a drink menu that can hardly be rivaled, with alcoholic options and cold-pressed juices that will add that extra bit of nutrition to your meal. There is a location in Fort Worth and Trophy Club in addition to the Greenville Avenue Dallas location.
UNLEAVENED FRESH KITCHEN
Whether you are looking for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, Unleavened Fresh Kitchen has you covered. Serving a fresh take on the classics, each of the four locations provides the convenience of a fast-food restaurant with food you can feel good about eating. Unleavened Fresh Kitchen’s menu boasts a number of wraps, (which can also be served on a bed of greens), warm bowls, and cold smoothies. This wide variety of healthful options can accommodate even the most ambitious of New Year’s resolutions.
BELLAGREEN
The bellagreen menu is filled with signature dishes, like the notorious Brick Chicken and Paleo Spaghetti Squash Bolognese, as well as seasonal specials that are created using only ingredients that are currently fresh. Food is prepared once ordered, which means that it is bellagreen’s pleasure to customize a dish to fit specific dietary needs, from Whole 30 to paleo to keto, etcetera. Bellagreen has five locations in Houston in addition to the Dallas units, so for now they are 100 percent Texan inside and out!
With green baked right into the name, it comes as no surprise bellagreen’s menu is full of healthy options. But the term “green” goes even further here; their three Dallas locations each received three or more green stars as part of a commitment to reducing their ecological footprint and making their surrounding communities more beautiful. When it comes to the fast-casual restaurant model, it is truly inspiring to see a company so committed to water conservation, alternative power, pollution reduction, and sustainability from the building materials they utilize to ingredients they serve.
MODERN MARKET EATERY
Quick and convenient, the health-minded Modern Market Eatery calls themselves a mashup between the farmer’s market, a chef’s table, and a fast-food restaurant. The menu at Modern Market Eatery focuses on sustainable, chef-driven food and is chock-full of grains, greens, and one-of-a-kind pizzas. Plus, if you find yourself craving breakfast food any time of the day, Modern Market Eatery has a number of nutritious choices that taste anything but!
If you have identified a goal to consume a more nutritious diet, eating out can make or break your plans. Do not allow your resolution to get away from you just because you have plans to meet friends for dinner or you are in a pinch during your lunch break. From seafood to smoothies to refined sugar-free dishes, these restaurants have everything you need to stick to your resolution.
