Healthy Atlanta Restaurants: A Resolution Guide

{Previously published via Parlour Magazine}

The holidays came and you drank all of the eggnog, gobbled Santa’s cookies, grandma’s peach cobbler and chugged all of the New Year’s champagne with the promise to do better next year. Newflash: it is next year so step away from the buffet and drop the cake. It’s time to pay up. Let’s celebrate the sassy new you with some good news, according to PETA, Atlanta is the number four city in the United States when it comes to available healthy dining options. We are serious about preserving the sexy here — just look at our celebrity vegetarians, hello Andre 3000. So in honor of your diet and exercise resolutions — as well as hope for a 3 Stacks sighting — here’s a tasty list of healthy places to dine in the A:

Breakfast

Flying Biscuit
1001 Piedmont Ave. Atlanta, GA, (404) 874-8887

From Scrambled Tamari-marinated Tofu, with a medley of red and green peppers, spinach and onions to thick-sliced whole wheat Orange-scented French toast, this breakfast all-day spot has something to please every palate. If you really want to go southern style with shrimp and creamy grits, or oven fried chicken well, they’ve got that and much more.

West Egg Café
1100 Howell Mill Rd., Atlanta, GA (404) 872-3973

Feeling spicy? Try the Hueveos Tejanos, eggs scrambled with jalapeño, onion, tomato, chipotle salsa and sour cream, served with roasted garlic grits and cheddar cheese, from the weekend brunch menu. Alternately, try a spin on classic southern cuisine with a Fried Green Tomato Wrap, with scrambled eggs, bacon, cheddar cheese, horseradish dill sauce in a whole wheat tortilla. For the record, eggs can be substituted with tofu and meat with vegetarian sausage.

Lunch

Café Sunflower
2140 Peachtree Rd NW, Atlanta, GA (404) 352-8859

Sick of the same old fast food salad for lunch? Make your way to Café Sunflower for a fresh-pressed Caprese sandwich with grilled tomatoes with basil-marinated mozzarella on ciabatta bread. Equally delightful is the Sesame Soy Chicken with broccoli, mushrooms, snow peas and onion in a sweet and spicy sauce with brown rice. Dairy-free or gluten-free options are also available and most food allergies can be accommodated.

Green Sprout
1529 Piedmont Ave., Ste. D, Atlanta, GA (404) 874-7373

For the most serious of dieters who are looking for uniquely good-for you food, all of the beef, chicken, pork, and shrimp that is served here is made from soy, potatoes and other non-meat products. Any place that can make Kung Pao shrimp and sweet and sour chicken delicious and vegetarian-style is worth a try. Winning bonus, upon request, the eggs in their foods can be eliminated.

Dinner

Soul Vegetarian
879 Ralph David Abernathy SW, Atlanta,GA (404) 752-5194, 652 N. Highland Ave NE, Atlanta, GA (404) 875-4641

County fried steak, mac and cheese and bbq are a southerner’s dream. Now imagine that plate full of goodness but all vegetarian. This ain’t your mama’s Sunday dinner but it’s definitely in close competition. Founded by members of the African Hebrew Israelite community, Soul Vegetarian has been throwing down some serious flavor since 1980, with two metro locations to serve you.

Urban Pl8
1082 Huff Road, Atlanta, GA 30318 (404) 367-0312

From grilled Diablo Shrimp Kebobs served with mango, red pepper, jalapeno, vidalia onion and tomato in a Chile coconut oil glaze, and a jalapeno cole slaw, to a Greek-style turkey burger with kalamata olives, feta, cucumber raita and mixed greens, Urban pL8 offers a unique, ever-changing menu that features fresh, local produce and environmentally responsible methods and products.

Late Night

R Thomas Deluxe Grill
1812 Peachtree Street Northwest Atlanta, GA (404) 872-2942

Open all day and night, R Thomas is a longtime local favorite among celebs and commoners alike. No telling who you might run into at this quirky dive. Don’t let the exterior fool you, the food more than makes up for unusual décor. There’s no place else in the city where you can get the likes of freshly made Curry Coconut Seafood Linguine with salmon and shrimp sautéed in a creamy curry coconut sauce with carrots, red onions and asparagus after midnight. Too heavy for your New Year’s diet you say? Well, they’ve got you covered with more than a handful of veggie heavy options. Hence the Lucky Green Tea, a simplistic combination of quinoa simmered with sautéed snow peas and veggies in a green tea miso reduction, top that with a collard kale salad and a drizzle of wasabi. Try it with tofu, organic salmon, or chicken and voila — it’s magic!