15 Places to Eat Healthy in CT: Juice Bars, Restaurants, Organic Markets & Food Trucks (2016 Edition)

No partridges and pear trees in our version, but there were....

12 Frosted Cookies...11 Drinks-a-Drunk...10 Dips-for-Dipping...9 Ice-Cold Cocktails...8 Trays of Hors d’oeuvres...7 Festive Brunches...6 Company Dinners...5 Cooooookie Traaaaays (everybody sing)!...4 Cheese Straws...3 Baked Hams...2 Yule Logs...and (finally)...1 Healthy Meal for MEEEEE!!

Time to get back on that wagon, everyone. And thankfully, you have us to help you do it! Happy 2016 to you and may it be filled with good eats and good health! And ok, a good organic wine or beer now and then.

Here are 15 Healthy Restaurants, Juice Bars, Organic Market & Food Trucks across the state of Connecticut.

Embody

Locations in Westport, Darien and coming this Spring to New Canaan

www.embody-fitness-gourmet.myshopify.com

Oh, the holiday revelry! Celebrating with friends and family is good for your spirit but those pounds sure seem to come out of nowhere, even for the most ardent of fitness enthusiasts. By January, you can get back to the business of caring for your body and eating purposefully. Local food destination, EMBODY Fitness Gourmet, suggests kickstarting a detox regimen with nutrient rich, low to no sugar beverages like the EMBODY Deep Green juice (organic kale, spinach, cucumber, celery, parsley, ginger, and lemon) or the EMBODY Twisted Green protein blend (organic kale, avocado, pineapple, banana, lime, protein, and coconut water). Protein rich meals can include the EMBODY Paleo Chef Bomb (seasoned chicken breast, steak, egg, and bacon over mixed dark greens with sliced almonds, pickled cucumbers, tomato, shishito peppers, red onion, heart of palm, and purslane). Make this New Years less about resolutions and more about pressing the reset button. Best of all, you don't have to do it alone. Just like it can help to have a fitness partner, EMBODY Fitness Gourmet can be your nutrition partner to help start 2016 on the right dietary foot.

Freshii

1 Main Street, Westport

1499 Post Road, Fairfield (next to the Fairfield University bookstore) & coming soon to 240 Main Street in White Plains.

www.freshii.com

Eat. Energize. That’s the Freshii mantra! They serve fresh food designed to energize people on the go. With a diverse and completely customizable menu of soups, salads, wraps, bowls, burritos, juices and smoothies served in an eco-friendly environment for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Freshii caters to every dietary preference and they make clean eating approachable and flavorful. Everything is made to order using fresh ingredients with the option to add hormone- and antibiotic-free proteins. They also offer 1, 3, or 5 day juice cleanses, which include four juices rich in essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants paired with our fan-favorite Metaboost salad (yes, you actually get to eat!). Throughout January and February, take advantage of the Kids Eat Free program on the weekend, designed to help kids build the habit of eating healthy at an early age. The family can start the year in a healthy way together and nothing beats that!

The Granola Bar

275 Post Road E., Westport

www.thegranolabarct.com

The very-health-conscious and very-beloved Granola Bar has some new tricks up its sleeve! Customers have been lapping up their new juice creations like “The Bonnfire” (lemon, cayenne, agave, turmeric) and “Daily Greens” (kale, apple/spinach/cucumber), so you, too, might want to check this out. In addition, there are new faves on their seasonal menu including Roasted Cauliflower Chowder (vegan), Butternut Squash Lasagna (dairy-free and pasta-free...really? yes, really) and Harvest bowls overflowing with grains, fruits and nuts. Wanting a sweet fix but trying to “be good”? Grab a spoon and hit their Avocado Chocolate Mousse, which is available daily in their Grab & Go Lunchbox or try the Chia Pudding, topped with fresh berries, honey and toasted coconut. Thankfully, it’s so easy to be good at the Granola Bar!

Green and Tonic

Locations in Cos Cob, Darien, Greenwich and New Canaan

www.greenandtonic.com

Green & Tonic combines the best superfoods in perfectly crafted recipes to ensure the best nutrients for your body. Their custom meal plans and variety of cleanses such as the 10-Day Reset, All-Green Juice Feast, 5-Day Purify, as well as their meal plans, G&T All Day and G&T ‘til Dinner, are designed to deliver targeted results. If your goal is to re-set your eating habits, their detox meal plans feature juices, warm soups, and salads that will help you get an amazing amount of plant-based nutrients without feeling deprived. In addition to offering nutrition counseling, they will work hand-in-hand with you to educate you on foods, metabolism, and forming healthy habits that grow into a stronger, happier and a more energized you. For more information on nutrition counseling, corporate wellness, cleansing or how to simply get started, contact Green and Tonic at cleanse@greenandtonic.com or by calling 1-855-GO-GandT.

The Well Natural Market

33 Danbury Road, Wilton

www.shopthewell.co

At The Well, the philosophy is to keep it simple: fresh, organic whole foods that are naturally juiced, blended and chopped into nutritious juices, smoothies, soups and salads that taste great and are great for you! They offer a 3 or 5 day cleanse that will allow your body the opportunity to take a break from everyday mayhem and the holiday-eating-craziness. So needed, right? Their cleanses are healthy, well balanced, nutritious and delicious, too. They can help reduce inflammation, allergies and weight; deconstruct cravings, improve energy, increase immune function,and improve digestion. These special recipes rejuvenate and cleanse your system by eliminating toxins and replacing them with concentrated, natural, minerals and vitamins. Made fresh each day, your cleanse includes meals, snacks, treats and tips to make your cleanse successful – and pleasant! Cleansing doesn’t have to be a deprivation exercise leaving you with headaches or starving. It’s an opportunity to establish a more mindful outlook- one that will enrich and nourish your health both in body and spirit- The right cleanse is designed to GIVE you something- not deprive you! Start the New Year off right that will make a vital difference in the way you feel. What a way to begin!

Nature’s Temptations

32 Prospect Street, Ridgefield

www.naturestemptations.com

Nature’s Temptations is a Natural Food Market, Juice Bar, Café & Deli that promotes health and wellness in their local community and is committed to providing the highest-quality organic foods and natural products available. They even support local causes that contribute to the betterment of the environment and community (nice!), all the while striving to create an exceptional customer experience and making the world a better place. Their educated staff will listen to your health goals and challenges; they have a Naturopathic Physician available for free (free!) 10-minute consultations and a Holistic Health Counselor on staff, too. These folks are there to help you choose a personalized approach for your optimal health and you’ll find lots of products for special diets including wheat-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, raw, kosher, along with organic juicing options and seasonal juice cleanses. Stop by and support a local business that’s been nourishing and supporting the community for over 25 years and you’ll be doing something good for you, too!

All Souped Up

Various pickup locations, refer to website

www.allsoupedupct.com

Mmmmmm good and when made with super-fresh, locally sourced, seasonal ingredients, it is wildly healthy for you, too. Being a slave to the seasons (in a great way), All Souped Up creates soups of the seasons, giving you the best of what Mother Nature is serving up in her kitchen at any given time. Currently, Squash & Apple and “Cream” of Broccoli are gracing the table and doesn’t that sound perfect for a cold evening? Be sure to check the website and sign up for emails so you’ll know what is cookin’ (good lookin’) and where to buy so that you won’t miss an ever-lovin’ spoonful.

B Natural Cafe

Orange Street and Chapel Street, New Haven

www.bnaturalcafe.com

“Because there is no substitute for natural freshness”. Well, we certainly can’t argue with that. As a cafe, eatery and juice bar (and formerly the Woodland Coffee and Tea Company) they have you covered for all of your healthy eating. There is a   ready?...Breakfast Bar, an Espresso Bar, a Tea Bar, a Lunch Bar, a Salads Bar, a Smoothies Bar, and a Juice Bar. Phew (seems they are setting the bar quite high...snicker). Have to say that I’m intrigued by an item on the Espresso Bar called the Depth Charge, but that’s just me. Organic, whole grains, homemade hummus, salads galore, and straight-up juices without any added sugars, thank you very much. B Natural...what a nice way to B!

Claire’s Corner Copia

1000 Chapel Street, New Haven

www.clairescornercopia.com

Serving foods with ingredients that you can pronounce has long been the mantra of owners Claire and Frank Criscuolo. Thriving since 1975, Claire’s offers, well, a cornucopia of healthy eats and supports a variety of environmental initiatives. Theirs is a Kosher certified kitchen, they use compostable cups and takeout boxes, anything plastic is BPA free, and they say no, no, no to GMOs, to name just a few ways that Claire’s is working to make the world a better place and their community healthier. Offering breakfast, sandwiches, soups, salads, flatbread pizzas, mexican entrees, veggie burgers as well as vegan and dairy-free desserts, Claire’s caters to a variety dietary needs and preferences. Oh and yes, they have a catering menu, too! Bring the love to your next event!

G-Zen Restaurant

2 East Main Street, Branford

www.g-zen.com

100% plant-based cuisine (“Powered by Plants”) that is never boring and soothing to your soul-that’s what G-Zen offers. Serving food made with organic, sustainable and ethical ingredients, delights from their Buddah Brunch, lunch and extensive dinner menus will confirm their commitment to healthy eating. Try earthy elixirs & tonics, desserts without dairy, processed sugars or eggs and organic and biodynamic wines and beers. You can also go online and go big with a Total Reboot 10-Day Detox (complete at-home cleansing program), a G-Glo Juice Feast, or 5-Day All Raw Program. Go raw and get real, baby.

Heirloom Food Company

630 North Main Street, Danielson

www.eatheirloomfood.com

In the very Quiet (but charming) Corner is a restaurant not-to-be-missed. A hidden gem, if you will. Working with local farms and vendors, Heirloom strives to provide high-quality, organic, good-for-you food...there are no GMOs, preservatives, hydrogenated oils or artificial ingredients coming through this door! Every dish can be ordered as vegan or gluten-free, the portions are generous, fresh and enticing (I’ve had the Veggie Reuben and it’s something special and big enough to share with a friend) and they even have vegan and gluten-free desserts such as Almond Ball Truffles and Peppermint Pattys to (healthily) satisfy your sweet tooth. With an inviting atmosphere, you will want to sit and stay a while, enjoying a fresh juice, smoothie, coffee or meal. 

It’s Only Natural Restaurant and Market

606 Main Street, Middletown (restaurant)

575 Main Street, Middletown (market)

www.ionrestaurant.com   www.itsonlynaturalmarket.com

Dine or create...you have many options in Middletown! At one address, head to this well-loved restaurant for vegan and vegetarian lunches and dinners (dairy-free, gluten-free and raw options, too. No one is going hungry here). Seitan, tempeh and tofu, in all their forms, take up residence here alongside veggies, beans and nuts to create meals that will feed you body and soul. They also make custom *vegan* cakes and have their own vegan cookbook, so you can create goodness in your own kitchen. And for those ingredients, head to the ION Market a few steps away; their co-op market comprised of over 200 independent natural food retailers. Their website alone offers coupons, recipes, health articles worth checking out. The market also mixes up organic juices, smoothies, panini, salads, soups and all the produce is, of course, organic. It’s Only Natural that you should want to go here, she says with a smile.

The Lime

168 Main Avenue, Norwalk

www.limerestaurant.com

A neighborhood staple and beacon of healthy food, The Lime has garnered a heaping plate of awards, accolades and a loyal following since 1979-not surprising with their homey atmosphere and healthy meals. Offering vegetarian and non-vegetarian lunches, dinners and desserts, there is truly something for everyone who just wants a good and good-for-you meal. Their veggie burgers have been voted tops in the state and their Zucchini Loaf, with zucchini, carrots, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, cheese and tahini is a perennial favorite. Added bonus, they serve wine and organic beer. Cheers!

New Morning Market

129 Main Street N, Woodbury

www.newmorn.com

This is no ordinary market...yes, they have grocery items, the largest organic 100% Non-GMO produce department, and a cafe BUT they also have a “Vitality Center” (think massages and meditation) and events (think yoga, nature-inspired and food classes, a Singer-Songwriter series!) and even a FarmShare Program. As they point out, their “hope” for the past 43 years has been that “all people will nurture themselves, their families and their communities in a healthy and sustainable way that contributes to the wellness of all who share the Earth.” Their website also offers healthy recipes and smart articles to enhance your wellbeing and help you to “do good”, in the words of New Morning. 

The Stand

Locations in Fairfield, Norwalk, Westport

www.thestandjuice.com

Life, fueled by plants. So simple, so easy, so organic, GMO free and sustainable, these vegan-based foods that The Stand offers you. Concerned about the locality of your food? Many items on their menu feature produce grown at their own Connecticut “Hideaway Farm” (love goats? Check out their website-they are all about The Goat). Are you a newbie to cleanses, but feel like you need a little reboot after the holidays and aren’t sure how to do it? The Stand offers 1-10 days cleanses (made fresh each morning) and you can sign up online and wah-la! start cleansing! A 5 day cleanse is recommended for the 1st-timer but see their website for facts and common questions about these programs. You can also head to their locations for healthy vegan snacks, sammies, leafies (aka salads), smoothies, juices. Leaf out and enjoy your New Year!

Catch A Healthy Habit

39 Unquowa Road, Fairfield

www.catchahealthyhabit.com

Just the name alone makes it a perfect destination for your New Year...it’s what we all want to catch, isn’t it? This raw food restaurant stresses the health benefits of unadulterated (ie heated) ingredients. With their inventive soups, salads and sandwiches, you will be excited to try their vegan (except for honey), wheat-free, gluten- free, organic, and soy-free creations. Try “lasagna” like you’ve never had it before, as well as juices and cleanses that refresh and revive your system. Their cleanses are offered each month, just stop by or call to arrange. As an added bonus, CAHH also hosts documentary screenings, talks by noted speakers in the fields of health and nutrition and raw food prep classes. When you teach a man to fish....