Make Every Meal Healthier! Kiwis are eating out more than we ever have in the past. But often, eating out means compromising on health. We don’t think it should be this way.
Of course eating out is a pleasure and a treat, and choosing food just because it’s healthy on a special occasion is a sure-fire way to kill the fun! But since eating out is an almost everyday experience for many of us, we think it would be wonderful to see more chefs giving health more than a passing thought. Many chefs now are very interested in the provenance and seasonality of their food; in how it was grown and raised and where it comes from. It’s only a small step from there to thinking about the good it might do the eater – and look at cutting the saturated fat and salt and upping the vegetables.
Tell us your favourite healthy restaurants and cafés around the country
We know there are some really great, healthy places to eat all over NZ. We’d love to hear your tips and recommendations, especially in the higher-end restaurants (we’ve found cafés tend to do a better job on healthy dishes than fine dining places). Post your comments below.
Here are a few of ours to get you started…
We have to give points to Auckland’s Heritage Hotel for their Hectors Restaurant, which has a full vegan menu alongside the regular one, and a completely plant-based menu in the lobby bar. We’re not vegetarian, but way to go celebrating vegetables!
Revive Café, in central Auckland, is another café that offers substantial salads and a ‘hotpot of the day’ which is a curry, stew or casserole served with brown rice.
In Wellington, Healthy Food Guide reader Julia Hunt rates Vietnamese restaurant 88 in Te Aro and Cambodian restaurant Siem Reap, which she says both have “really good vege portions, and great reviews!” She also likes Café Maranui in Lyall Bay, which she says is affordable and “their vege breakfast has the best selection of veges and is deeelicious!”.
Sue Woodgate of Christchurch recommends Silver Birch in Prebbleton. “The owners also own a fruit and veg shop (which is on the same piece of land as their restaurant) and their veges are always crisp and fresh and the meals aren’t too smothered in heavy sauces.“
Win with Make Every Meal Healthier!
Tell us what you think and/or share your tips on this month's topic, Eating out. If you add your comment below before midnight on Sunday 9 September and we publish your feedback in Healthy Food Guide magazine, you will win a prize!
7 Comments. Add yours
In Bryant Avenue Te Rapa Hamilton, Open 11pm-8pm weekdays.
As a vegan it's hard to find great takeaway that meets my nutritional restrictions, and as an athlete I need it to be healthy too. Blissful Healthy Vegan Takeaways recently opened in Hamilton, a sibling store to the 'Vegan Buffet' which is located in the Hamilton CBD. Both restaurants provide a range of healthy vegan meals, buffet style, a bit like a chinese takeaway. You can eat in or takeaway, and meals are charged by weight. The staff and service at both are second to none, you are welcomed by name, as if you are an old friend, and no request is too much bother. There are rice dishes, vegetable bakes, tofu cooked in various ways, curries, dumplings, rolls and much more. Even my carnivore husband loves it. A must go to place if you are in Hamilton.
Wild Thyme Cafe is situated between Te Awamutu and Hamilton, just south of Ohaupo on a lovely scenic stretch of road. Visiting there last Friday, for a special celebratory lunch I was delighted to find several healthy options as well as gluten free foods. The warm chicken salad was more than just a salad, with delicious tasty crusted chicken pieces and a choice of many dressings. It was such a change to be able to find food that was light and healthy.
I have 4 favourite healthy spots soldiering on in Christchurch:
Lotus Heart restaurant, St Asaph Street:
A perennial favourite for delicious healthy food in a peaceful environment. Fully vegetarian, with dishes ranging from indian inspired to mexican and everything in between, the Lotus Heart is one place where you can indulge and leave feeling sated, not stuffed. Their chocolate cake for dessert is to die for!
The Herb Centre, Kilmore Street:
Serving up similar fare to the Lotus Heart, the Herb Centre is a great place for a casual breakfast or lunch, serving free range eggs and an unbeatable selection of dairy and gluten free food, as well as numerous vegan items. The Indian spiced lentil patty with assorted salads is a personal favourite, while I have it on good authority that the french toast is phenomenal! Also have a wide range of tasty and nutritious fresh juice blends and smoothies.
Beat Street Cafe, corner Barbados and Armagh:
Located in a funky, retro renovated bicycle shop, Beat Street cafe is organic food with attitude. From the vegetarian 'Bro Burger', to the best carrot cake in town, the dreadlocked ladies sure know how to serve up a healthy and filling meal using healthy ingredients in a hip setting. Just the tonic for those missing the old Christchurch, and tehy have recently started offering dinner at very affordable prices, with no lack in quality.
Buddhist Temple Cafe, corner Riccarton Road and Mandeville Street:
If you're in a more asian mood, the fully vegetarian fare at this cafe cannot be beaten. Located inside in the Buddhist temple, the peaceful surroundings only enhance the incredible food here. Serving up traditional asian dishes such as stir fry's, hot pots, dumplings and more, the chefs at the buddhist cafe have mastered the cooking of faux mushroom meat and turned it into an art form. Even my eternally carnivorous mother though her stir fry was made of the most tender of all fillet steak!
Thanks - these are excellent tips! And very descriptive reviews, too.
Midnight Espresso on Cuba Street in Wellington is THE BEST place to go for good vegan/vege or carnivore meals and fantastic coffee. Yes, its a cafe, but they do some really crafty counter/blackboard menu meals. And you're not going to alienate your meat eater mates.
Revive - definitely favourite restaurant in Auckland - if you sign up to their newsletter you get sent a weekly recipe as well, so you can recreate their delicious food at home! And he sends out lots of 'healthy eating/cooking/life tips as well.
Basilicum in the Elliot Stables is rather good too.
I love that they're both havens for the vegos, use healthy, sustainable foods, and plenty of non vegetarians enjoy eating there too!
Isn't it great to hear about vegetarian places that meat-lovers love, too. That's how it should be - how we all will be tempted to eat more meat-free meals because they taste great, not because we think we should! :)
I know that Revive has previously been recommended - but I would like to endorse those comments and add that Revive Half Price Coupons to receive a nutritious hot meal or one of their stunning salad combos at a 50% discount - are frequently available on the back of Auckland bus ticket receipts - or, they can be printed out at ezzypeezy on Twitter. The cuisine is Vegetarian - but far from boring! They are also generous and filling and very healthy! There are two restaurant locations: 16 Fort St (at the bottom of Queen St.) and 33 Lorne Street (near to the Auckland City Library)Nice friendly staff make for a great dining experience!