Resolution or no, the new year naturally brings a desire to eat a bit lighter after the bacchanal that is the period of time from Thanksgiving to New Year’s. There’s something here for everyone, and we’re happy to report that you need not sacrifice a single morsel of flavor in the name of eating better.
3122 N. Classen Blvd.
theredcupokc.com
405-525-3430
If your holiday hangover has you craving caffeine as well as healthier fare, look no further than The Red Cup, which set up shop at NW 31st Street and Classen Boulevard in 1995. A piping-hot cup of local LEAP Roasters free trade organic coffee will get you going while you (briefly) wait for your handmade vegetarian meal. We suggest the loaded toast, hummus wrap or red beans and rice. Come for the food, stay to eavesdrop on some of the city’s most colorful characters.
1600 E. Danforth Road, Edmond
thelookoutedmond.com
405-216-7424
Kickingbird Golf Course is home to one of the metro’s newest, most accessible restaurants. The menu is full of quality renditions of American classics with plenty of opportunities to keep it light. Try the blackened salmon, beet salad or tomato basil soup. The sleek restaurant is open daily from breakfast to dinner, not to mention an excellent happy hour 3-6 p.m. Monday-Friday. The municipal course is also open for economical tee times and pickleball courts.
multiple locations
volcanook.com
405-608-0030
Just because it’s sushi doesn’t mean it’s good for you, what with all the cream cheese and tempura-fried everything and that Kewpie mayo (which is, after all, still mayonnaise). Fortunately for all of us, there’s a healthy way to sushi. Opt for the miso soup, a salad and almost any sashimi or nigiri, and you’re suddenly back in your cardiologist’s good graces. This little outfit has grown, so you’re sure to find a beautiful bento in your corner of the city.
900 W. Main St.
poolbarokc.com
405-982-6900
Located inside the Fordson Hotel (née 21C), Pool Bar and the adjacent Bodega offer a delicious, wide-ranging menu in a chic space. Try the spinach mixed green salad, which is packed with blueberries, celery, candied pecans and goat cheese and topped with a balsamic vinaigrette. Other fresh options include ceviche, the PB chop salad and the vegan pesto pasta. You’ll feel like you’re on vacation, minus all the travel drama.
136 E. Fifth St., Edmond
bondibowls.com
405-982-8606
Named for the famed Australian beach, these antioxidant-rich bowls are as delicious as they are aesthetically pleasing. Surf on over and start by choosing a base of perfectly blended fruits, such as vanilla chia pudding or açaí. Next, choose your toppings like the Malibu (strawberry, banana, blueberry) or the Newport (granola, banana and Nutella). The endless combinations manage to make superfoods super fun. Once you know this successful concept was started by a young local woman, you’ve got all the feel-good vibes.
301 NW 13th St., Suite 100
theharveybakery.com
405-898-8811
It’s hard to think about eating healthy while a case full of flaky croissants beckons, but we believe in you. The beloved local bakery is more than buttery goodness, as evidenced by the roasted winter salad, a veritable produce section in a salad. It also makes one of metro’s best Cobb salads and a spicy kale salad that really zings. At $12, Harvey’s you-pick-two deal is a friend to waistline and pocketbook alike.
14600 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Suite A
shawarmaandcompany.com
405-286-1646
Walking in, you might be tricked into thinking this is a chain, thanks to the spotless space and spot-on branding. The fresh, flavorful Mediterranean fare is, in fact, brought to you by a close-knit local family. While we celebrate the entire menu, standouts include beef gyro wrap supreme and the Lebanese chicken shawarma. But then there’s also the falafel wrap, the fattoush salad, the spicy hummus — you’ll just have to check it out and pick your own favorites.
This article appears in Stitt’s Top Ten.