Finding restaurants that prioritize your health goals can be challenging. Knowing where to find nutritious and delicious meals when you’re on the go or simply want a night out is crucial for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This guide provides a comprehensive list of heart-healthy restaurant options, tips for making informed choices, and advice on how to approach dining out with your well-being in mind.
Heart-healthy dining is possible with a little planning and knowledge. Numerous restaurants in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and surrounding areas cater to health-conscious individuals, offering diverse cuisines and options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Agra Culture, with six locations across the Twin Cities, focuses on fresh, organic, and plant-based meals. Their menu is free of hormones, antibiotics, and refined sugars, featuring heart-healthy options rich in vegetables and whole grains.
French Meadow Bakery & Cafe, a pioneer of the farm-to-table movement, offers a diverse menu with vegetarian and vegan options, including plant-based burgers and sandwiches. While they also offer pastries and baked goods, remember that even healthy ingredients can contribute to high calorie and fat intake.
Good Earth, a long-standing establishment with locations in Roseville and Edina, is renowned for its delicious and heart-healthy cuisine. Don’t hesitate to ask your server for recommendations or request modifications to suit your dietary needs.
Mill Valley Kitchen in St. Louis Park emphasizes fresh, nutrient-rich ingredients and caters to various dietary restrictions, including gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options. Conveniently, they provide nutritional information directly on their menu.
My Urban Eatery, located in Minneapolis’ Uptown area, sources fresh ingredients from local farms, creating flavorful dishes with seasonal and locally foraged ingredients. They offer a variety of vegetarian and gluten-free adaptable choices.
Ngon Vietnamese Bistro in Saint Paul offers Vietnamese-French cuisine using local and sustainable ingredients. While their pho is popular, those on a low-sodium diet might consider their fresh rice noodle dishes.
Peoples Organic, with five locations across the Twin Cities, is known for its simple, nutritious dishes featuring local, organic produce. They offer a wide selection of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options, including their signature earthbound salads.
Sushi Fix in Wayzata is a great choice for heart-healthy sushi. Opt for fish high in good fats like salmon, mackerel, and tuna, avoiding fried options and high-sodium sauces.
Even fast food can offer healthy choices. By checking nutritional information online or via mobile apps, you can identify lower-calorie, lower-fat, and lower-sodium options at many chains. Look for salads, grilled items, and customizable options.
Afro Deli, with locations in St. Paul and Minneapolis, offers flavorful African cuisine rich in vegetables and spices like curry powder, which has potential heart health benefits. Avoid fried items and rich cream sauces.
Aloha Poké Co. in Woodbury allows you to customize your own poke bowl with healthy bases like brown rice or mixed greens, protein choices like chicken or fish, and a variety of fresh vegetables. Be mindful of marinades and sauces, as they can be high in sodium.
Chipotle provides fresh, local produce and hormone and antibiotic-free meats. Customize your burrito bowl with plenty of vegetables and go easy on or skip high-calorie additions like sour cream and cheese. Their online nutrition calculator can help you make informed choices.
Noodles & Company offers customizable Asian, Mediterranean, and American dishes with options to swap out regular pasta for healthier alternatives like zucchini or whole wheat noodles. Add lean proteins and vegetables while avoiding creamy sauces. Their MyMenu option helps identify lower-salt, lower-fat, and lower-calorie choices.
Panera Bread offers a variety of healthy options, including salads with antibiotic-free chicken, grilled sandwiches, and steel-cut oatmeal. Refer to their nutritional information to make the best choices, as some bakery items can be high in calories and fat.
Making healthy restaurant choices involves understanding what to eat, how food quality and preparation affect nutrition, and planning ahead by reviewing menus. Prioritize dishes with vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, fruits, and avocado.
Choose fresh over processed foods whenever possible, as fresh options retain more nutrients and are typically lower in sodium, preservatives, and added sugars. While the benefits of organic food for heart health are still under research, they often indicate a restaurant’s commitment to quality.
Pay attention to how food is prepared. Opt for grilled, baked, or stir-fried options over fried ones. Choose vinaigrettes over creamy dressings and red sauces over cream sauces. Limit or avoid butter, margarine, mayonnaise, and sour cream.
Before heading to a restaurant, review the menu online to identify heart-healthy choices. Look for grilled options, request light or no cheese, avoid butter and creamy condiments, choose vinaigrettes, skip cream sauces, ask for no added salt, select salads over soups, opt for whole grains, substitute sides with fruits or vegetables, and choose water or unsweetened beverages.
While eating out can be enjoyable and convenient, preparing meals at home offers the greatest control over ingredients and portion sizes. This allows for consistent adherence to a heart-healthy diet and can also reduce financial stress. Consulting with a primary care doctor or registered dietitian can provide personalized guidance on heart-healthy eating.
