Guide To Healthy Eating in CT: 2020 Edition

Resolutions, goals, lifestyle changes-whatever the reason, it’s never too late or bad of an idea to try to eat healthier. As the winter starts to fade into the distance and with it goes the heavy comfort foods that satisfied us on brisk evenings, our focus can start to turn now towards lighter, healthier options. Turn to the sun! Sometimes, though, the hardest part is simply figuring out what to eat. But wait, what about dining out? Is it possible to eat out and still stay on a healthy track? Yup, yup, double yup. There is a virtual cornucopia of healthy eating spots so, lucky for you, that guesswork has been removed from the equation. Now you only have to decide what you are craving. Branch out, try some new food and drinks and be happier knowing that what you are eating is not only enjoyable but better for you.

Check out these 20+ Spots for Healthy Eats in Connecticut.

Athletic Brewing

www.athleticbrewing.com

Beer as a delicious and healthy beverage? Do we have your attention?

Athletic Brewing is pioneering a revolution in non-alcoholic craft beer, allowing you to keep New Year’s resolutions without compromises. Beer can be a delicious, refreshing beverage with wide-ranging health benefits without the dehydrating and calorie-dense alcohol. Their flagship beers are fully-fermented, low in calories (50-70!), and are made using only certified organic grains. They are brewed using a proprietary, all-natural process in their local Stratford, CT brewery by a multiple-award-winning team. Athletic Brewing offers an approachable complexity which pairs perfectly with social occasions or weeknight dinners! The healthier qualities such as low pH, potassium, calcium, iron, electrolytes also make them a healthy option for your active lifestyle. They currently offer a non-alcoholic IPA and Golden Ale, with new offerings rotating into their seasonal release schedule at their tap room. Sold at over 400 CT locations, so check out their website to find a nearby store on the location finder.

AMG Catering

www.amgcatering.com

It’s so simple-one can eat much healthier if they prepare their food themselves. Join award-winning AMG Catering and Events at their professional kitchen in Wilton and enjoy weekly group cooking classes, private cooking parties, or Executive Cooking Challenge events. You will learn plenty of secret “tips” from veteran chef Alison Milwe Grace (AMG) along with healthy alternatives and short cuts to create healthier dishes. Alison’s goal in these classes is to spread her passion for cooking to all levels of “foodies” and to make her adult clients more confident in their own kitchens. After guests master rolling their own sushi, braising halibut, or sharpening their knife skills while preparing piles of vibrant vegetables, they get to eat everything that they prepare. All the classes are hands-on as well as BYOB, so grab your your favorite wine and get cooking with AMG. 

Heather Carey/Green Palette Kitchen

www.heathercarey.com

www.greenpalettekitchen.com

The new year brings forth resolution and change, especially when considering your health. If you are looking for a lasting way to start this year right, check out Culinary Nutritionist Heather Carey, MS and her kitchen away from home, The Green Palette Kitchen. GPK is a state of the art boutique teaching kitchen in Southport where people gather for group cooking classes, private cooking lessons, workshops and nutrition coaching. Heather’s goal with her clients is to take the confusion out of eating and teach them how to make simple, healthy food delicious as well as nutritious. Nutrition becomes easy to understand when you are shown how to prepare food in simple, yet interesting ways that you can translate in your very own kitchen. After cooking up warming dishes such as Lentil Barley Stew with Swiss Chard or Curried Butternut Squash Soup, guests have a chance to sit and enjoy the healthy meal they have created. “My goal is to get you out of diet and food confusion, while teaching healthy cooking in an enjoyable and nonjudgmental way that you can actually use in your day to day life. We all need to eat, what goes in our bodies should be of high priority.” Heather’s focus is on eating is plant-based, organic and seasonal. Heather also sees people for one-on-one nutrition coaching and counseling. 

Organika

www.organikact.com
What you put into your body is exactly what you get out of it, right? So eat to feel good and live well! And now you can do so at *three* locations, Southport, New Canaan and Ridgefield. Organika wants to help you to detoxify and repair from the ever-present toxins in the environment (or the holiday season!). It is this love of people and food and hope for humanity that drives their desire to create delicious gluten-free, GMO-free, vegan and vegetarian fare, from beverages and breakfasts to salads, entrees and desserts. Think Acai Bowls and Protein Bowls, healthy pizza and pasta, mounds of fresh salads, and a long list of smoothies. Even build-your-own salads and Hot Bowls! Their raw treats and desserts are made only with unrefined sugars and flours, so you can enjoy them in every way a dessert can be enjoyed. Healthy can taste good and they prove it. Make health and vitality a priority by eating in a preventative manner… and enjoy yourself along the way. Open 7 days, 8am-7pm.

Maikana Foods

www.maikanafoods.com

Did you know that the average person spends 43 minutes at the grocery store not including travel time? That’s over 60 hours a year spent grocery shopping. And prep & cook time, not including clean up, is about 225 hours a year. That’s about 12 days a year you’re spending on getting meals on your table.  Maikana Foods has solved this problem for you. Not only do they deliver (for FREE!) three balanced meals a day, but they are created by an experienced chef, approved by a local nutritionist and prepared fresh the day they are delivered.  Their meals are organic, full of flavor and deliciously creative. Each week Maikana changes their seasonal menu, so you’re never bored with your food. And it’s so simple! Go to their website, check out their menu, select the days you want delivery, the meals you want on those days and you await your delicious delivery. This service is a win-win-win for Fairfield County. Maikana, which means “come & eat” in Fijian, is a female owned and operated healthy meal delivery service. Their mission is to eliminate the obstacles that keep you from living a healthier lifestyle. They are firm believers in mindful eating and their goal is to deliver wellness through clean & wholesome meals made with love.  If you haven’t signed up yet and self-care is on your to-do list in 2020, Maikana Foods is your answer. 

B. Good

www.bgood.com

Food with Roots-there’s so much to B. Good! This company stresses their community, their farmers and the people who make it all work together. As for their food, they use bushels of seasonal ingredients from neighboring states and local farms. Bowls, salads, burgers, wraps, smoothies. Kids’ menu items (happily) come with sides such as broccoli, apple sauce, or sweet potato fries. Order online or shop in the store. Handy note: Nutritional information is posted online. Open 7 days.

Bloodroot

www.bloodroot.com

An institution in the vegan/vegetarian/feminism realm for 43 years, this bookstore and cafe serves up a healthy plate of organic, seasonal, ethnic good food along with good vibes. With a seasonal menu, you will find homemade breads, quiches, acclaimed soups, salads, entrees and decadent desserts like Chocolate “devastation” cake that keep customers continually satisfied. Lunch, dinner and brunch are served, along with a wine and beer list, some of which being organic. Closed Mondays.

Catch a Healthy Habit

www.catchahealthyhabit.com

Raw, vegan, wheat-free, gluten-free, organic, or soy-free options and all super-healthy. Over 20 smoothies, 10 different juices (plus create-your-own), desserts, salads and soups round out this extensive *and raw* menu. 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. Open 7 days.

Claire’s Corner Copia

www.clairescornercopia.com

Serving foods with ingredients that you can pronounce has long been the mantra at Claire’s Corner Copia. Thriving since 1975, Claire’s offers a treasure trove of healthy eats and supports a variety of environmental initiatives. 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. Open 7 days.

Cross Culture Kombucha

www.crossculturekombucha.com

Kombucha is a bubbly (cold) tea that is raw, non-alcoholic, and made by fermenting sweet tea with a live kombucha culture. After fermenting, the beverage contains loads of healthy organic acids, beneficial bacteria, vitamins, antioxidants and enzymes that support nutrition absorption, digestion, liver function and detoxification, joint health, immunity, pH balance, and overall well-being. Cross Culture is Danbury's first kombucha brewery. Check their website for locations where they are sold.

G-Zen

www.g-zen.com

G-Zen is a 100% plant-based, sustainable, vegan restaurant. They source many of their organic ingredients from their own farm called Shadle Farm in Durham CT, hence offering “Seed to Table” cuisine. Enjoy their Buddha Brunches on Saturdays, healthy cocktails, Artisan Cheese Plates with house made cashew cheese, Dim Sum plates, raw tacos, organic soups. The list is long and inventive. There is full service dining (complete with organic wines and beers) and take-out. Closed Sunday and Monday.

The Granola Bar

www.thegranolabarct.com

All day breakfast and lunch includes not-your-average eggs, avocado toast with a myriad of toppings, sandwiches and wraps, salads, smoothies, parfaits and, of course, 6 varieties of granola including a Vegan Grain-free. Add to all this healthy fun, a long list of artisanal coffee drinks (Turkish Latte, Turmeric Latte, Matcha Latte to name a few) and an array of baked goods and you have a place to sit and linger or grab and dash. Open 7 days.

Green & Tonic

www.greenandtonic.com

Explore and enjoy their breakfast, lunch and snacks, all with “dynamic ingredients while keeping the bad stuff out.” Cafe and takeout selections abound, with copious veggies at their core; breakfast bowls brimming with quinoa, granola or acai (chose from 13 other toppings, too), toasts loaded with avocado and hummus, salads and soups with roasted veggies, greens and grains. There are even some good-for-you desserts to satisfy that sweet tooth. Open 7 days.

ION

www.ionrestaurant.com

For over 30 years, folks have been heading to this well-loved restaurant for vegan and vegetarian lunches and dinners. They have dairy-free, gluten-free and raw options, so there is something for everyone. 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. Closed Monday.

Myx Creative Kitchen

www.myxkitchen.com

Whether creating your own or ordering from the chef’s menu-mix to your heart’s delight. When you customize online you will see photos of every ingredient (handy for those with allergies), the calorie count, and how that count fluctuates based on what you add. Add extra base ingredients, proteins, or sauces. Try their breakfasts (toasts, oats, chia cups, eggs, smoothies), salads, saute bowls and gluten-free pizza. The great thing: you’ll never get bored ordering here because the possibilities are endless. Open 7 days.

Nature’s Temptations

www.naturestemptations.com

Nature’s Temptations is a Natural Food Market, Juice Bar, Café & Deli that promotes health and wellness in their local community. They also support local causes that contribute to the betterment of the environment and community. You’ll find a host of products for specialized diets including wheat-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, raw, and kosher. They also have a lengthy organic juicing menu, offer juice cleanses, and can cater your next event from stem to stern. Open 7 days.

NewBrook Cafe and Cooking School

www.newbrookkitchen.com

“Where the Modern Cave people dine”. At NewBrook paleo kitchen, you don’t need to give up taste and style while eating healthfully. Their chic and intimate café accommodates eat-in dining, take out meals, and elegant 6 course tasting dinners on select evenings. Although their food is always free of gluten, milk, corn, and soy, the offerings are flavorful and creative. Come indulge in an organic cappuccino paired with one of their acclaimed gluten-free desserts, or simply pick up satisfying snacks or frozen house-made paleo foods from their grab-and go-freezer. Closed Sunday and Monday.

New Morning Market

www.newmorn.com

This is no ordinary market; they have grocery items, a huge organic, 100% Non-GMO produce department, and a cafe BUT they also have a “Vitality Center” (think massages and meditation), 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.” Open 7 days.

Nit Noi Provisions 

www.nitnoiprovisions.com

Nit Noi Provisions crafts slow-simmered broths and Thai soups from family recipes. Nit Noi Broths are great on their own, as prepared Thai (take-out/delivery) meals, or as an easy foundation for your own recipes. The ingredients are locally sourced and organic, using bones of pastured animals and the customizable menu accommodates all dietary concerns and/or preferences. Pre-order online, pick up in-store or have delivered to Norwalk, Darien and Westport. Pick up and delivery, Tuesday-Friday.

Pokeworks

www.pokeworks.com
Poke (pronounced “po-kay”), or diced raw fish, is a traditional Hawaiian food. It’s been glammed up a bit and mixed with other fun items in lunch bowls and now we have the photo-worthy Pokebowl. Pokeworks strives to utilize fresh, responsibly-sourced seafood in their dishes. Choose one of their creations or, better yet, build your own bowl, burrito or salad; start with a protein, add your mix-ins like herbs, veggies or fruit, slather it with a sauce and finish it with a sprinkle of toppings and “crunch”. Your poke, your way. Open 7 days.

Pure Alchemy Conscious Cafe

www.purealchemyjuice.com

Organic, fresh, and vegan. Power your day with your choice of dairy-free, refined sugar-free, gluten-free and Paleo options that are available on this exciting menu. Offering plenty of fresh smoothies, juices, salads, wraps, “burgers”, bowls, and desserts, you’ll also be getting to know menu-players like kimchi, hemp seed, chaga, wheat grass and turmeric, too. Open 7 days. Open 7 days.

The Stand Vegan Cafe

www.thestandvegancafe.com

Recently reimagined along with moving to a new town, what was once focused on juices is now a full-fledged vegan cafe. Serving up “peace on a plate” in the form of plant-based healthful foods, from smoothies to breakfasts (served all day), soups, sandwiches, entrees, and desserts. Plenty of gluten-free options are available.They also offer 1, 3, 5 and 7 day cleanses. Open 7 days.

Yalla Organic Hummus and Grill

www.yallaorganicfood.com
Quality ingredients in a “quick and healthy culinary experience at an affordable price”. Inspired by flavors of the Mediterranean, Yalla Organic is vibrant and fresh. Construct what you love to eat, whether it be pita, salad, wrap or bowl. Add their Magic Hummus, a protein like falafel, chicken, shakshuka, top with greens and veggies, add a sauce and wah-lah…to the Yalla. Treat yourself with a Pistachio, Chocolate or Vanilla Halva Bite. Available for pick up or delivery. Open 7 days.