Happy New Year! Did you eat your way through the holidays? Need or want to shed a few pounds? Still want to enjoy restaurant fare? Diets and restaurants are not necessarily incompatible.
The USDA gives these tips for making healthy choices at restaurants. Drink water, split meals, pick salads full of vegetables with dressing on the side, be mindful of calories and resign your membership in the “clean plate club.”
The Mayo Clinic helpfully reminds us to be mindful of hidden calories which are often found in sauces, cheeses, fried foods, bread baskets and salads packed with meats and cheeses.
Other ways to be aware of the calories you are ingesting while eating restaurant food include requesting steamed vegetables with a squeeze of lemon, asking the server, when the food arrives at your table, to immediately pack half of your meal in a go box, order fish, ask the kitchen to hold buttery sauces, eat less during the day if you are going out for dinner, skip dessert, chew slowly, select local restaurants that serve healthy food and are more prone to cater to your diet.
Here is a list of locally-owned restaurants serving up some healthy, diet-friendly options. Many of these local restaurants are serving up the best ethnic foods. Not sure what the item is? Ask. Local chefs are proud of their food and want you to learn.
Fowl and Fodder
614 Adams St. | 419-214-1588 | fowlandfodder.com
Avocado toast, tomato benedict, carrot&squash tacos
Zingo’s
3154 Markway Road | 419-407-5586
106 Louisiana Ave., Perrysburg | 419-872-5800
Eatzingos.com
Veggie kabob, chicken gyro, red lentil soup
Leaf and Seed
116 10th St. | 419-407-5333 | theleafandseed.com
“Plant based comfort food”
Beirut/Byblos
4082 Monroe St. | 419-473-0885 | beirutrestaurant.com
1050 S. Reynolds Road | 419-382-1600 | byblostoledo.com
Baba ghanouj, falafel, salmon
LaVie Mediterranean Grille
1572 Spring Meadows Drive, Holland | 419-865-1575 | laviegrilltoledo.com
Shawarma, red snapper, mujaddara
Zanes
4900 N. McCord Road, Sylvania | 419-882-1796 | zanesgrill.com
Build a bowl, rice-tawook-toppings
QQ Kitchen
3324 Secor Road #4 | 419-720-8703 | qqkitchen.com
Lettuce wraps, egg drop soup, black bean noodle
Mano’s
1701 Adams St. | 419-244-4479 | manosgreekrestaurant.com
Greek salad, lentil & veggie soup, chicken oregano
Star of India
415 S. Reynolds Road | 419-720-6452 | starofindiafood.com
Chicken tikka masala, saag paneer, mulgtawny soup
Sahara
336 W. Dussel Dr., Maumee | 419-893-2303 | oursahara.com
Foul mudamas, fatoush, shrimp kabob
BlueWater Grille
461 W. Dussel Dr., Maumee | 419-724-2583 | mancys.com/bluewater
fresh fish, oysters
Tiger Bakery
4215 Monroe St. | 419-473-8942
6710 W. Central Ave. | 419-842-0047
Tigerbakery.com
Lentil-carrot salad, tabooli, lubia
Ferdos
3065 W. Bancroft St. | 419-535-9494 | Ferdos Facebook
Falafel, chargrilled chicken, crushed lentil soup
Balance Pan-Asian Grille
5860 Central Ave. | 419-587-7777
215 N. Summit St. | 419-243-2222
514 The Blvd, Maumee | 419-893-9999
26520 N. Dixie Hwy., Perrysburg | 419-874-7777
balancegrille.com
Buddha bowl, bangbang tacos, bubble tea
Sidon
4625 W. Bancroft St. | 419-558-3900 | sidongrille.com
Laban, sujuk, shakshooka
Mancy’s Steakhouse
953 Phillips Ave. | 419-467-4154 | mancys.com
Lean filet mignon, lobster
Georgio’s Cafe International
426 N. Superior St. | 419-242-2424 | georgiostoledo.com
Fresh fish, organic spinach salad, veal
Ameera
5127 Main St., Sylvania | 419-517-9999 | ameeramediterraneanbistro.com
V-Twelve soup, vegetarian pizza, hummus tabouli wrap
Poco Piatti
6710 Central Ave.
3155 Chappel Dr., Perrysburg
419-931-0281 | pocopiatti.com
Shrimp asti-spumante, cabbage rolls, roasted beet salad
Bangkok Kitchen
582 W. Dussel Dr., Maumee | 419-897-7777 | Bangkok Kitchen Facebook
Spring roll, Hot & Sour soup, pad pineapple
Jing Chaun
4424 Secor Rd. | 419-472-9612 | jingchuanrestaurant.com
Tiger skin roll, dragon & phoenix combo, sea scallops
DOMO Sushi
6725 Central Ave. | 419-214-0999 | domotoledo.com
Sushi, sashimi, spicy fish bowl
Real Seafood Company
22 Main St. | 888-456-3463 | realseafoodcorestaurant.com
Fresh fish, oysters, mussels
Cocina de Carlos
27072 Carronade Dr. Suite F / 419-872-0200 / www.cocinadecarlos.com
Tortilla soup, ceviche asado, magan salad
Carlos Poco Loco
1809 Adams Street 419-214-1655 / https://carlospocoloco.com/
Vegan tamale, vegan pineapple, whole pinto beans
Shawarmaholic
3344 Secor Rd / 419.725.9444
3555 Navarre Ave, Oregon / 419.214.1027
5464 Monroe St / 419.214.0386
5318 Heatherdowns Blvd – TEMPORARILY CLOSED
https://www.shawarmaholic.com/
Shawarma, falafel, grape leaves, hummus
