Now, I am not a huge "go out to dinner" type person, for the simple reason that more frequently than not, I am not certain what exactly is in my food. I like knowing what I am ingesting and therefore would rather cook my own food in my kitchen with fresh, clean ingredients. But going out to dinner with friends and family can always be a relaxing experience so treating yourself sometimes, and yes, I do treat myself too, is nice.
That being said, there are a few restaurants that I really like going out to because I can remain confident that the food is pretty healthy and scrumptious too.
The three that I am going to talk about in this blog are: Strong Hearts, Ashkers and Squeeze Juicery.
Strong Hearts, located in Syracuse, N.Y., is a 100% vegan restaurant. The fun part is that you could bring your non-vegan friends because they can still find grilled cheese, stir fry and even milkshakes on the menu. Their milkshakes are to die for. Using almond milk, fruits and various other vegan alternatives, that rich, creamy taste is not skipped out on.
Last week when I visited Strong Hearts, I ordered the Fall Tofu Scramble with sweet potatoes, squash, roasted kale, roasted pumpkin seeds and a hint of turmeric for that beautiful, fall-ish, yellow tint.
So, the final restaurant that I am going to discuss is Squeeze Juicery. Although not a typical restaurant, they do still offer lunch but they are known for their fresh pressed juices, smoothies and shots. By shots, I do not mean alcoholic shots, but I am talking about wheatgrass, ginger and lemon shots.
This past weekend, my friend and I agreed we'd give wheatgrass shots a try. After being warned about their "greeniness" and distinct taste, I was still so ready to finally try this. The ladies at the counter gave me a plate with a shot of sparkling water, the wheatgrass shot and a small piece of fresh pineapple to help clear my palate afterwards.
Incase you are not aware, a 1 ounce shot of wheatgrass contains 2 lbs of greens and with that comes tons of nutrients, minerals and vitamins that help to detoxify and nourish your body. I felt great after taking the shot and could definitely make that a regular thing!
So, if you are ever visiting the Western or Central New York areas, be sure to check out these great places.
Have you ever been to a 100% vegan restaurant near your hometown or while on vacation? How about downing a wheatgrass shot? Tweet me your healthful experiences!