The start of a new year always inspires the best in us.
It sparks the desire to pick up a new hobby or skill; it presents the opportunity to set goals for the year; and it inspires us to make changes to our eating and drinking habits as a means of becoming healthier. Of course, all of these activities are fantastic ways to set the tone for the next 365 days, but some are easier said than done. Committing to doing something you love like singing, painting, or collecting stamps? Sure! Writing down a list of dreams to help guide you through the next 12 months? Great! Cutting out alcohol, sugar, carbohydrates, gluten, meat, and dairy to become “healthier”? Not as easy!
With social lives that often revolve around eating and drinking, being the person on Whole 30, Keto, Paleo, Sober January, or whatever diet has struck your fancy this year can be a bit of a buzzkill if you want to maintain your social schedule and spend time with friends. But not on our watch.
As lovers of eating and drinking — and particularly doing so out and about with friends — we’ve come up with a list of Nashville’s 10 best healthy eats to keep you on track with your new year’s resolutions.
1. Vui’s Kitchen
With three locations across Nashville — Berry Hill, Germantown, and East Nashville — I find myself stopping in to Vui’s Kitchen for lunch and dinner on the regular. The menu is chock-full of light, healthy, veggie-filled items, so I always end up with a meal that leaves me feeling good, too. My go-to get is their traditional beef pho, made with Vui’s super flavorful, twelve-hour bone broth, skinny rice noodles, and a heap of fresh herbs. There is also a vegan version if you’re going meat-free in the new year. Get an order of their crunchy summer rolls to share with a friend if you want a little something extra. Or save room for a light dessert and dip your spoon into Vui’s coconut tapioca pudding. Almost all of the menu items are fair game for a variety of diets since everything is loaded with real ingredients like fresh herbs and whole spices.
Photo Courtesy @vuiskitchen on Instagram
2. Fountain of Juice
Featuring a fleet of cold pressed juices, shots, and elixirs each of which pack a punch of nutrients, Fountain of Juice is a great place to go to add some goodness to your diet. Their cold-pressed juicing process is gentler and slower, and therefore allows more nutrients to remain in the juice. I love stopping in to grab a juice for breakfast, lunch, or even an afternoon snack, but I’ll admit that my favorite time to juice is happy hour! Whether I’m mixing up a mocktail or an actual cocktail, doing so with nutrient-filled juices only makes me happier.
For an easy mocktail, simply pour juice over ice and top with sparkling water (I love any of the watermelon juices). Or hit it with a shot of vodka or tequila if you’re not on the Sober January train! Talk about a feel-good cocktail...
Photo Courtesy @thefountainofjuice on Instagram
3. Morsel Bakery Nashville
A vegan, gluten-free, all-natural and organic bakery, Morsel bakes delicious treats that you’re allowed to enjoy even while on a most eating plans and diets. No, this doesn’t mean you can substitute every meal with Morsel muffins, donuts, and cookies as opposed to fruits, veggies, and proteins — your body needs all of that stuff to be healthy and strong! — but it does mean that you can treat yo’self every now and again. Available at a variety of spots around town, such as Falcon Coffee Bar, HQs Nashville, Revelator Coffee, Kettner Coffee Supply, and The Dive Motel, Morsel’s baked goods are eye-poppingly beautiful and [almost] unbelievably delicious.
Photo Courtesy @morselnashville on Instagram
4. Kitchen Downtown
As folks who spend ample time in the heart of town giving our Downtown Nashville Walking Food Tours, we know how tricky it can be to find a legitimately healthy lunch spot in that part of Music City. But when the Kitchen Downtown opened their doors last year, all of that changed. Not only does their menu feature six entree-sized salads, but they have a selection of smaller bites that don’t hit hard on the bad-for-you foods list. I especially love the mixed greens salad (with chicken, grapefruit, pecans, goat cheese, and a roast shallot vinaigrette) and often opt for the chopped Thai salad (with chicken, carrots, cabbage, cashews, cilantro, and ginger vinaigrette) if I’m really hungry.
Mixed Greens Salad from Kitchen Downtown
5. Bare Bones Butcher
Listen up, all you Atkins, Keto, and Paleo people! You are what you eat; so you want to consider what you’re eating and where it came from. When choosing a diet that incorporates plenty of animal protein, it’s important to remember that not all meat is created equal. Buying cheap meat from large supermarkets may save you a penny today, but it’ll cost you your health in the future. That’s because grocery store meat — aka commodity meat — comes from animals that were injected with antibiotics and hormones and lived in crowded and unsanitary conditions, all of which leads to a poorer quality product for you. But when you buy your meat from local butcher shops like Bare Bones Butcher, you can rest assured that the animals lived happy lives and were fed and handled properly, from the farm to your fork. No hormones, no saline injections, and no unnecessary ingredients like MSG. Plus, not only does eating good, high-quality meat do good for your health, but it improves the health of our local economy and it tastes way better too. Head over to Bare Bones Butcher in The Nations and give local meat a shot!
Bone-In Pork Chops from Bare Bones Butcher
6. The Wild Cow
Although not a vegan myself, I’ve long been a fan of East Nashville’s favorite vegan eatery, The Wild Cow. Formerly located on Eastland Street, the restaurant recently moved to a new and much larger location just a hop, skip, and a jump away on Fatherland. As a big fan of the Shops on Fatherland, I’m always delighted to cap off some shopping with a healthy lunch at The Wild Cow. Their menu features vegan takes on classic sandwiches, like their Wild Reuben (made with both vegan pastrami and vegan Swiss) or their B.L.A.T, (a BLT that boasts vegan bacon and avocado). I’m also a big fan of their bowls, like the spicy Buffalo Beans and Greens, and the hearty Lentil Bowl. Everything at the restaurant is certified vegan; they serve organic tofu and tempeh; there are no microwaves or freezers used on the premise; and they support local farmers whenever possible. I love to support a small business like this one.
Photo Courtesy @thewildcow on Instagram
7. Sunflower Café in Berry Hill + Sunflower Bakehouse in Donelson
A vegetarian eatery that has been a fixture of Berry Hill for nearly a decade now, The Sunflower Café is a fabulous spot if you’re eating meat-free but still want a hearty lunch. Vegetable-forward as the menu is, it’s filled with items that are friendly to most types of eaters and diets, and the modifications they offer make it even more so. To make things easier on their customers, Sunflower Café even offers specialty menus such as gluten free, soy free, and oil free.
Meanwhile across town in Donelson, the Sunflower Bakehouse has turned me into a die-hard fan. Not only does the Bakehouse offer vegan and gluten free baked goods — such as cupcakes, cookies, muffins and scones — but they also offer a moderately sized savory menu for lunch and dinner. Filled with salads, sandwiches, and burgers there are plenty of options to choose from and the selection seems to rotate constantly!
Photo Courtesy @sunflowernash on Instagram
8. Mas Tacos
As a person who cannot eat gluten, Mas Tacos — which exclusively uses corn tortillas! — has held a special spot in my heart for a long time now. Not only do they have a nice selection of vegetarian tacos for those who don’t eat (or aren’t currently eating) meat, but their black bean soups and all side items are vegetarian-friendly as well. Personally, I always dive right in to their famous chicken tortilla soup! Whether I’m trying to kick a cold or just want to warm up on a chilly afternoon, this flavor-filled soup always works magic on me. Interested in a cocktail? Don’t miss out on their house margaritas; made with freshly squeezed lime juice and a spicy salted rim, there’s no better way to celebrate Taco Tuesday! (Or Taco Wednesday...or Taco Friday...or…)
Tacos from Mas Tacos - topped with their house-pickled vegetables!
9. AVO
“Locally sourced. Kosher Certified. 100% Plant Based.” That’s the motto of AVO, located in the trendy One-City neighborhood sandwiched between Centennial Park and Charlotte Pike. Simply another way of saying vegan, this plant based restaurant’s entire menu is made up of items that are exclusively made from plants — including “meats”, cheeses and dessert items! Crazy as it may seem, the lunch menu boasts a grilled cheese sandwich, which is made with coconut mozzarella and coconut queso. Meanwhile, the dinner menu riffs on classics entrees, offering beet carpaccio, mushroom bourguinon and even a zucchini alfredo made with garlic cream sauce and cashew parmesan. The restaurant features a dog-friendly outdoor patio, a full beverage menu complete with cocktails, beer, and wine, and best of all, they take reservations! If you’re seeking a healthier approach to date night, AVO just might be the ticket.
Photo Courtesy @eatatavo on Instagram
10. Burger Up
Sometimes when the new year strikes and your diet has totally shifted, going out to eat with friends can be a bit daunting if not unexciting. But it doesn’t mean that you should stay in and miss out on the fun! I’m a huge fan of Burger Up, with locations both in East Nashville and 12 South, and am particularly fond of some of the healthier items on their menu, whether I’m trying to eat that way or not. The Troyathalon Burger — a veggie patty made of quinoa and black beans, and then topped with melty cheddar, spicy jalapeños, and BU’s signature Jack Daniels Ketchup — is my all time favorite. Swap the side of fries for a side salad (or even go for sweet potato fries for just a skosh of health!) and opt in for the gluten free bun if you so desire. You’ll get the satisfaction of a meaty burger without actually eating red meat. Also, the Kale Salad with dried cherries and pecorino cheese is another one of my go-to’s; I’ll devour it plain, but also love adding a piece of grilled salmon on top for some extra protein.
Photo Courtesy @burgerup on Instagram