Healthy indulgence
By Christian Jay B. Quilo
WHO doesn’t love food, right? But let’s be real, we eat and indulge in food that are not necessarily good for us. While there’s nothing wrong with the occasional cheat meal, maybe it’s time we try to slowly be more conscious of what we eat and go healthy — slowly but surely, at least. If you’re looking for healthy food joints to try, check these out:
Mooshi Green Bar
Address: Several locations including Ayala Center Cebu and Robinsons Cybergate
Smoothies are perfect for people on the go. Some might frown at the idea of a smoothie being a “meal,” but Mooshi makes blends such as Wellness, Boost, Happy, and Power that are delightfully good and filling as they are rich in nutritional content. Each drink has a specific set of benefits, so just pick the drink with the benefits you’re looking for.
Toniq Juice Bar
Address: Several locations including Ayala Center Cebu and SM City Cebu
It may be known for its freshly-made juices and smoothies — like the Fat Flush, Super C and my personal favorite, the Stress Buster — TONIQ also has food on the menu that are just as good like the Bibimbap and Kimchi Fried Rice and even desserts like Black Sambo and Taho. They also have meal plans for those who want to commit to a strict diet regimen.
SaladStop!
Address: Level 4, Ayala Center Cebu
Salads don’t have to be boring. Global food chain SaladStop! offers a plethora of fun and healthy salad and wrap combinations with equally fun names like Oh Crab Lah, Big Bird and Jai Ho. You can create your own salad and wraps too, should you prefer to make one from scratch.
Planet Vegis
Address: Osmena St. in Guadalupe
Partake in your favorite vegetarian dishes in a homey environment at Planet Vegis. Specializing in vegetarian Asian fusion, the restaurant serves not only vegan dishes but also lacto-vegetarian (plant- and dairy-based) and sattbik, a Buddhist practice of having no garlic and onion in food.
Lun-haw Vegan Cafe
Address: Ground Floor of The Maxwell Hotel, Escario St.
Lunhaw takes the favorite food we love and makes healthier iterations. Cases in point: Sisig made with tofu and vegetables, battered cauliflower coated in buffalo sauce and tomato & basil pasta with “meatballs.” Here, we can still satisfy our cravings and indulge in our favorite comfort food with less of the guilt and the calories.
Live Life! Vegetarian Food Restaurant
Address: Axis Entertainment Avenue at Vibo Place, Escario St.
One of the relatively newer vegetarian places in Cebu, this restaurant introduces unique dishes that not only veggie eaters will enjoy such as the Mushroom Quinoa, Tofu Bravas and the Vegan Halo-Halo, one of Live Life’s bestsellers.
Persian Palate
Address: Mango Square Mall, Gen. Maxilom St.
Buffets aren’t exactly a top choice for healthy eaters but Persian Palate’s Vegetarian Buffet might change their minds. For P195, one can eat to his stomach’s content with a wide variety of vegetable-based dishes like different kinds of curries and other Indian dishes. The vegetarian buffet is available from Thursday to Saturday, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
