ok, time to chime in, as i have been really trying to eat healthy, especially the last few months.....

honestly, i find that the easiest, cheapest & best option is to cook for myself. but my method requires serious thought, lots of shopping, and menu-planning.

when eating out, there are just too many "add-on's" and ways for restaurants to take a mildly healthy sounding dish & throw it into the unhealthy realm. i also don't like to go turbo on server requests, ala, getting sauces on the side or too many substitutions, etc. if i don't think it sounds healthy, i'm not going to try to "make it that way".

i know that while i LOVE yellow curries, i can't really eat them as much as i used to & still follow a healthy eating plan. but there are other options when i'm craving thai, and forgoing crab rangoons, those beautiful little deep fried pockets of cheese & little else (i mean, really, is there crab in there???? anywhere???? )

so, for me, i tend to use going out to eat as my "splurge" meals. i eat healthy at home most of the time, started to bring my lunch to work most days out of the week, and then when i go out, i don't have to be so critical of what i am ordering.

for the longest time, since a gaggle of my friends all worked at courier cafe down in urbana, il --- one of my best friends & i have had a dream of opening the ubiquitous "soup & salad" joint. does that make me part of a cult? yikes, i hope not. we've just felt we could run something right, including some awesome sandwich creations we've come up with over the years, a salad bar, and probably also smoothies, another strong point in our repetoire.

similar to lil' guys, which i know you said you were looking for options OUTSIDE of bucktown, but they are at least striving to provide healthy options (and pizza, too; a slice of 'za & side salad, that ain't too bad, is it?). while not everyone enjoys their schtick, or thinks they are too pricey, at least they roast their meats in house & make the prepared salads, as well.

middle eastern food can be healthy, and of course, another WP joint, but we've found a falafel sandwich & some tidbits from sultan's market salad bar makes a good, semi-healthy, semi-affordable meal.

i've just spent a few days visiting my best friend, and also saw her in january. she lives near charlotte, NC. both visits, we went to this new spot, Just Fresh, and for a chain, i was very impressed by what they are doing.....

At Just Fresh® We Believe…

• In cooking wholesome, natural, great tasting food.
• In creating spaces where our guests feel at home....

interesting that all their locations are in the south, which is not normally the bastion of healthy eating. maybe they actually thrive/survive as an anti- establishment to the hordes of sonics, chik-fil-A, BBQ joints, etc.

either way, i appreciate wiseguy's thread, if only to start a dialouge in finding more healthy options & hearing what others think on this topic.

miss ellen

ps, <b>Hombre de Acero</b> if we ever realize our dream, Logan Square would be my priority for location (duh, cuz i live there, too). heck, we even have a name, just need some financing & some vision!

I definitely notice a different style of food in LA-- my family members there are always eating at The Newsroom, getting Pinkberry yogurt and cooking from Suzanne Goin's books. A visit to the Hollywood Farmers Market makes me swoon. I do miss that kind of eating when I'm back here but feel like trying to duplicate it would make me too sad. The closest I ever get to that feeling about food is stepping into Fox and Obel or Foodstuffs (in the suburbs) for a cute little semi-healthy lunch. Foostuffs even rates some of its offerings according to Weight Watchers and such, and I could swear they use Rancho Gordo beans in their soups and chilis.

As noted above, Japanese food helps too. The other cuisine I miss is Hawaiian and I've found Japanese food a better substitute than food that tries to be Hawaiian here.

LTH,

It must be cabin fever, at least I hope so, because it seems every third thread is devolving into a circular my interpretation is bigger/longer than your interpretation.

Lets play nice or not at all.

Regards,
Gary for the moderators

At Just Fresh® We Believe…

• In cooking wholesome, natural, great tasting food.
• In creating spaces where our guests feel at home....

Interesting. Just Fresh was opened by a couple of post college buddies of mine down there about 12-13 years ago. At the time, their model was very similar to that of Au Bon Pain. Looking at the website, it appears that ownership (my friends sold out years ago) has taken it in a very different and interesting direction.

In the loop there's Spa Cafe. Relatively healthy when you consider what your other lunchtime options are. All nutritional info is posted on the website. I'm a fan of their soups (the chili isn't so healthy) and the curried couscous salad, as well as the Thai Chicken wrap.

www.spacafe.com

In general, if you're in a bind and have to go somewhere that's a chain, check out the website - many have nutritional info on them now.

Otherwise, well, if you want good ol' American food you'll want to stick to the basics: fresh fish with brown rice/another wholesome grain and roasted/steamed/broiled/grilled veggies.

Your other option, which someone mentioned upthread, is to order whatever you want but be sure not to eat more than a modest serving of it. An added bonus: you've got leftovers to enjoy the next day.

Well...I'm not the one who printed "lighten the *&$% up."

Anyway...I think it's a worthwhile topic this semiosis of "healthy eating restaurants." Specifically, soup and salad/wrap places. Or take those strange Subway commercials where they contrast having a burger with eating a mediocre(at best) sub. It's where words like "healthy," "fresh," "organic," etc. begin to symbolize themselves...denuded of content. Merely elisions of socialization; a shorthand for conformity/tribalism...stagnant code instead of vibrant language.

In general, if you're in a bind and have to go somewhere that's a chain, check out the website - many have nutritional info on them now.

mailsf, you are absolutely correct. over the last few years, i have been shocked to find out some of my "healthy" lunch options are nowhere near healthy. which is why i now aim to bring lunch (i work in the loop) almost every day to work, with occassional lunches out with friends to break the routine.

case in point: work near Cosi, and would sometimes get the Tomato Basil Mozz sandwich. obviously, there is cheese, it's a large part of the sandwich. but then i did the nutrional info, and found out it has 42 grams of fat! HOLLA -- what?! yes, their "house" dressing, found on many sandwiches (cosi vinaigrette) contributes a whopping 39 grams of fat!!! you can easily sub the fat free vinaigrette & now you have a kinda healthy option.

but, now i tend to get the hummus & fresh veggies on whole wheat, and i am a somewhat happy camper.

don't even get me started on panera, that is another minefield of bad "healthy" eating. you just have to be so careful eating out these days.

Wiseguy,

I understand the type of places you're looking for and would say that compared to certain other cities (SF, Seattle and NY), we are lacking in this area. I used to frequent Zoom Kitchen a couple times a week.

I know you weren't interested in Lincoln Park but here is a place I really liked when I lived there. You can get rotisserie chicken, nice salads, steamed veggie sides. I haven't been there for several years

Metropolis Rotisseria
924 W Armitage Ave
(between Bissell St & Fremont St)
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 868-9000

I will try to think of other places outside Lincoln Park and Bucktown. I live in Andersonville so I may concentrate on that vicinity.

More Wicker Park/Bucktown stuff, but I thought I'd mention it - the people who put together Zoom Kitchen have opened a new spot with a similar menu.
http://www.zkfood.com

I would proudly wear a TEAM WISEGUY shirt.

The two places that stuck out to me are California Chicken Cafe in L.A and Pluto's in San Francisco.

I have been waiting for someone to open something like Pluto's here in Chicago. When we lived in SF, we would stop in for a salad with grilled flank steak on a weekly basis. YUM. It would be a great addition to the fast food here in Chicago.

Even with the best intentions, it's easy to order unhealthy food at most restaurants. It's in their interest to have you come back, so a lot of places slip in fat to boost the flavor content. There do seem to be fewer places catering to a healthier lifestyle in Chicago. In NY, there are full out battles as to which stand has the best, lowest fat/calorie frozen yogurt. I would love that here.

I wanted to do a short review of one of the restaurants mentioned earlier--Lake Side Cafe. It's on Howard, just west of Sheridan. It's associated with a spiritual/religious movement which encourages a vegan diet. Unlike Soul Vegetarian (which I love, but requires moderation), I've found the menu at Lake Side to be focused on seasonal and healthy choices.

I ordered the special of the week both times I've been. The first time it was a root vegetable dish, with very good flavors. The second time I had black bean cakes with a roasted tomato sauce and corn salsa. It was excellent. They also have several salads on the menu. The fake meat side of the menu is likely higher fat and sodium, but the specials were very fresh, reasonably portioned and delicious. Prior to going and looking only at the menu, I had been surprised it was voted best vegetarian restaurant by a few websites. I think the popularity is due to the careful preparation of the specials. It would be a great choice for someone looking for a healthy alternative who didn't want to feel punished by it.

Lake Side Cafe
www.lake-side-cafe.com

1418 W Howard St
Chicago, IL 60626
(773) 262-9503

Santander wrote:I can't believe it's taken this long to mention GNR Healthy Food Lithuanian:

http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=15096

Bacon is healthy. Try to convince me otherwise. PieLady, please back me up here.

Well of course bacon is healthy, because to put 'HEALTHY' on the sign would otherwise be false advertising. Also, protein is always more than welcome in a healthy person's diet. It gives you energy and keeps you awake and alert longer than caffeine and unlike sugar, it won't make you crash. Protein, after all, is an important part of the food guide pyramid or whatever the hell they're calling it these days. Therefore, without bacon you will die.
Plus it's dainty, portable, cheap, and adds tons of flavor without having to add extra salt to your entrée. If you fry bacon for a specific dish, you can then add onions, peppers, garlic, mushrooms and other sauté-ables to the fat, thus eliminating the need to sauté in additional oil or butter. Plus, bacon is so delightful, Kevin Bacon was even named after the stuff.

If you're still not convinced, just try this instead:
http://www.slashfood.com/2007/09/21/now ... ike-bacon/

Another positive thing about bacon is that it is low in calories and fat .The calories and fat in bacon only count for those slices that you actually eat off of a plate with eggs and toast. The lycopene in the tomatoes served on a BLT offsets the natural cholesterol that occurs in bacon. The bacon that you eat straight out of the pan has no calories or fat...from what I understand from my cousin the doctor.

And bacon is brown, thus if you eat it in the dark it becomes invisible, thus the question is are you really eating at all?

veghound wrote: There do seem to be fewer places catering to a healthier lifestyle in Chicago. In NY, there are full out battles as to which stand has the best, lowest fat/calorie frozen yogurt. I would love that here.

I am a born and raised NYer who lived there for 25 years and return frequently. Where is this all out battle you speak of? There's a wretched nonfat yogurt chain in multiple locations called Tasty d' Lite, but that's all that I recall. The few random deli's that also serve nonfat yogurt use that same chain's wretched product. Could you describe where it is in NY that I should be looking for these soldiers fighting to create the tastiest nonfat yogurt? I've been walking through the battleground for years, unscathed and unimpressed.

Since this is the Eating Out in Chicagoland section of the site, I'll note that the salad bar at Cousin's Incredible Vitality offers healthy, raw food. In fact, the whole restaurant is part of the raw "craze" which supposedly means it's healthier. Apparently, by not cooking things, you retain all their nutrients as well as the otherwise lost karma, spirit, etc. It's not my cup o' tea, but it is a Chicago entry in the health obsessed restaurant category.

Cousin's Incredible Vitality
3038 W Irving Park Rd
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 478-6868

Hey! It's been a while since I started this topic. Thanks to all of those that replied.

Still not happy with the lack of choices in the healthier fare arena. We seem to have a multitude of new burger joints in Chicago, some of which even have Grass fed beef, which is great. But try to ask them to bring you a burger sans bun wrapped in lettuce and they'll give you that puzzled look and say "On a bed of lettuce?" No, not exactly what I wanted but thanks for the effort. Even Red Robin in the suburbs can wrap a burger in lettuce, why not DMK?

We've been eating more low carb as of late and we're not trying to avoid fat as much either. Plenty of new scientific data supports the fact that's it not the fat in food that causes obesity and other ailments such as Diabetes, but the refined carbs.

Anyway, don't want to start a debate about what's "healthy" or tell people what they should or should not eat. To each his own. I'd really love ideas on where to get some protein and veg without it being deep fried, breaded or served with a side of disdain...lol Pluto's, please open here...please?

Wiseguy wrote:Hey! It's been a while since I started this topic. Thanks to all of those that replied.

Still not happy with the lack of choices in the healthier fare arena. We seem to have a multitude of new burger joints in Chicago, some of which even have Grass fed beef, which is great. But try to ask them to bring you a burger sans bun wrapped in lettuce and they'll give you that puzzled look and say "On a bed of lettuce?" No, not exactly what I wanted but thanks for the effort. Even Red Robin in the suburbs can wrap a burger in lettuce, why not DMK?

Because that's just not what DMK wants to do?

Pretty sure that if you're eating at DMK (or Red Robin), the healthy eating train has already left the station...regardless of burger vehicle.

I really like the salads at Lucky Platter on Main in Evanston, just east of Chicago. You can order with grilled chicken breast or portobella, there's one with beef, and maybe one with fish. Dressing, while not low fat, is on the side. There are some good sandwiches, which if you are careful about the sides and the amount you eat (sometimes leaving off the top bun, etc.) can be quite reasonable. The soups are delicious, but alas made with cream.

I've mentioned in another thread how much I like Pret a Manger, though I am so addicted to the Vietnamese sandwich I have not eaten a lot of the soups and salads, but what I have had, I have liked. And they post calories, so you know exactly what you are getting.

Several of the places mentioned upthread are no longer with us, or at least the urls don't work.

Wiseguy wrote:Still not happy with the lack of choices in the healthier fare arena. We seem to have a multitude of new burger joints in Chicago, some of which even have Grass fed beef, which is great. But try to ask them to bring you a burger sans bun wrapped in lettuce and they'll give you that puzzled look and say "On a bed of lettuce?" No, not exactly what I wanted but thanks for the effort. Even Red Robin in the suburbs can wrap a burger in lettuce, why not DMK?

If you want a 'healthy burger', try Everest in Glencoe. Sure, it lacks any semblance of flavor, but they're all about cutting calories...

Wiseguy- I am also eating low carb and have had great success with it in terms of weight loss. (Down 135# in 14 months). The obvious answers are Steak houses, Barbeque places and Churrascarias. For burgers I have resigned myself to passing on the bun and using a knife and fork. Ultimately I end up cooking at home much more often beause I have control over what goes into what I eat.

Thanks Judy, incite & atomicman. Congratulations on your health success, atomicman. I'm sure besides the weight, which is an outwardly marker, you feel better too!

I know eating a burger doesn't seem healthy to some but it can actually be a better balanced meal than you might think. As some of you may know, if you cut out the bun, take it easy on the fries or skip them altogether and add a couple sides of veggies or a salad, it may be better than some low-calorie/low-fat meals in nutritional value.

When I originally posted this thread I was frustrated with finding a few places with Salads and such in the Chicago area. I really wanted to add meals into our routine that would be less taxing on our systems when we chose to eat out. Since then, I've discovered that, at least for myself, I have much more energy and clarity on a low carb diet. I started looking around at various sources, finding info about different eating lifestyles and incorporating them into my daily life. I've also incorporated the caveman or paleo diet principals into my everyday diet and recently, tried to cut out wheat altogether as well. I did this after reading & studying the knowledge of many doctors and scientists in the nutritional and medical field. And I still have a heck of a lot to learn.

I know LTH is not a diet forum and it's based on the enjoyment of food establishments around the Chicagoland area & beyond. I also know that we each make our own choices as to what foods we eat and enjoy. Be it for cultural, social, economic reasons...or what have you. My hope is that maybe some of you are thinking about food in a way that not only provides pleasure for our palettes, but nourishment for our minds & bodies. The cliche' saying "you are what you eat" rings very true in the modern American diet and I think as we educate ourselves about the science of nutrition and health in our foods, new mindsets will take hold and we can heal ourselves from the inside out, with food as our medicine. And maybe as a result we can enjoy food even more!

I don't know if I can give up pizza, Italian beefs or pasta forever. But maybe we'll discover, just like so many human paths before, that we have reached a fork in the road and we need to choose a new path. Perhaps a new path to health and maybe, happiness too.

Hi all!
I'm reviving this one too. What's good these days? Celebrating an anniversary soon, and we're going out with a steamed, lemon-sprinkled, side-of-water bang.