Going Green with Healthy Dining

Eating healthy is sometimes a challenge in today's fast-paced life. More and more options, however, are sprouting everywhere and the trend to be more diet-conscience is exploding. As a carnivore, seeking out healthy alternatives was a fun challenge, here are three, "vital" dining establishments, all healthy in varying degrees and all ultra-casual.

Am I a converted carnivore? Not really. But I do have a heightened awareness and appreciation for this "plus verte" way of life.

VERY GREEN

Super healthy, but the least leafy, is Greenleaf Gourmet Chopshop, which provides diners with the highest quality, freshest and in my experience, very delicious food. Their motto is "Eat Well. Live Well."

They are committed to using the finest and freshest local ingredients, combined with a gourmet flair. They strike a perfect balance between eating healthy and offering great comfort food. The company has recently opened a Hollywood location and it comes as no surprise, that their growth is in leaps and bounds.

The cold-pressed juices had very thoughtful, healthy ingredients that strike a perfect balance. I knew I was getting a healthy elixir, but at the same time, it was delicious and satisfying. My guest, John, ironically ordered Jon's Garden Greens, consisting of spinach, kale, romaine, cucumber, celery and lemon. He's a "green freak," so it was right up his alley.

On the other hand, I craved something with a little more sweetness, and the Pi�a-kale-ada is a heavenly potion consisting of kale, grilled pineapple, lemon and apple. I was compelled by the Beetbox Detox, golden beet, carrot, apple, ginger, celery and lemon - something to try on my next visit!

After finishing the juices, we went for a different kind of healthy libation; the Lavender Lemonade. Concocted with Petrov Reserve Vodka, elder flower liqueur, lemonade, vanilla extract and agave nectar, it was a clever combination and a palate pleaser. Along with that delight, we tasted a couple of Greenleaf's great options for appetizers: The Roasted Garlic Hummus with Flatbread Chips and Turkey Burger Sliders, which were both fantastic.

Of course, I proceeded to order the most decadent item on the menu, the Turkey Melt on Pretzel Bread, voted the "Best Turkey Sandwich in America." A deserving title for a truly brilliant sandwich, consisting of aged cheddar, spinach and caramelized onion, with truffle oil and slathered in Greenleaf's signature whole grain mustard aioli. My guest had the Lemongrass Chicken Salad, adorned with Scarborough Farms baby mixed greens, grilled chicken, mango, grilled pineapple, jicama, popcorn shoots, toasted coconut, cashews and Thai chili, with lemongrass lychee vinaigrette. The flavor combination and textures were incredible. They also offer other excellent soups, salads, sandwiches and pizza.

LOCATIONS:
6201 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood
9671 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills
1888 Century Park East in Los Angeles
234 East 17th Street in Costa Mesa
SOCO Design Center 3321 Hyland Avenue in Costa Mesa
greenleafchopshop.com

VERY, VERY GREEN

More and more people have come to appreciate the benefits of juicing raw veggies and the Ahimsa Vegan Caf� team offers the best of the best. They have a super-cool juice bar and their fresh blends are offered at great prices: The 16oz. is $4.95, and the 24oz. $6.95.

Great options are as follows: Greens for Life is an assembly of spinach, kale, parsley, cucumber, celery, apple and lemon; the ABC features apple, beet and carrot and the Apple Zing with apple, cucumber, spinach, lemon and ginger. I was drawn to the SoCal Sunrise, a blend of carrot, orange, apple, lemon and ginger. I loved the flavor combination and felt healthier with each sip.

For an appetizer I tried their Organic Chips and Salsa with fresh guacamole. I had hoped the chips would be housemade, but the freshness of the guac's ingredients made up for it.

Being the full-blown carnivore that I am, I was intrigued by the meat replacements, and wondered if they would be satisfying. I am pleased to report that they were. Options are as follows: Organic tofu, organic tempeh (soy) and mock chicken, served in salads and bowls. Any of the three options can be served with the delicious Teriyaki Bowl, a delish' medley of pineapple, mushrooms and an assortment of seasonal veggies marinated in Teriyaki sauce, served over a bed of organic brown rice.

I loved the Thai Temple Bowl, served with organic tofu and an assortment of veggies over a bed of organic brown rice, covered in their housemade Thai basil peanut sauce, beautifully topped with bean sprouts, black sesame seeds and fresh basil. A dish that has to be tasted to be appreciated. Next came the Avocado Jalapeno Cheeseburger, with a housemade veggie patty, smothered in melted vegan mozzarella, avocado, jalapenos, tomato, romaine and vegan mayonnaise. I think I love vegan food, at least once in a while, of course.

AHIMSA VEGAN CAFE
340 East 4th Street
Long Beach
562.435.7113
longbeachvegan.com

VERY, VERY, VERY GREEN

118 Degrees is a "real deal" raw restaurant created by Jenny Ross, the accomplished restaurateur, chef, author and advocate for creating foods that love the body, mind and spirit.

Ross has been a pioneering spirit in the raw-foods movement since 2000, beginning with her first Los Angeles caf�. She works nationally and internationally with clients of all backgrounds, motivating them to embrace more vibrant health, while teaching the healing power of living foods. Her award-winning cuisine has drawn a celebrity clientele to her restaurants and she has been a positive catalyst in changing many lives.

The menu and presentation were nothing short of mind blowing. There is something to be said about eating an entire meal consisting of guilt-free, raw and healing super foods. If there is such a thing as too healthy, this would be it!

I was excited about experiencing the fresh cold press juices at 118 Degrees and their freshly blended super food smoothies and was charged and ready to test things out. I went for their signature Green Juice; pressed apple, spinach, kale, celery and cucumber with ginger and It starred flax organic
carrot crisps, with cilantro salsa, guacamole, sweet corn, chipotle cheese and fresh cilantro. You can enjoy an alcoholic beverage with your meal at 118 Degrees, so I ordered a glass of organic wine and continued the meal with an inventive assortment of menu items: Pesto Stuffed Mushrooms with Cremini mushrooms stuffed with pistachio pesto; Lemon Pesto Pasta, reinvented with julienned zucchini, lemon pesto, marinated mushrooms, tomatoes and basil and a Living Lasagna, with layers of zucchini and yellow squash, tomato, macadamia ricotta and sweet basil marinara, topped with Portobello mushrooms. Each dish a delicious, re-imagined version, using raw veggies.

A Chocolate Cheesecake was the grand finale, which is made using 15 avocados. I would have never guessed it, because the"cake"was a creamy, luscious, sweet treat, served with fresh strawber- ries and a sumptuous walnut crust.

118 DEGREES WELLNESS CENTER & RESTAURANT
2881 Bristol, Suite B5
Costa Mesa
714.754.0718
118degrees.com