Who says you can’t get healthy food fast in New Orleans? I’ve been on the hunt for healthy eating options since I returned home (with an occasional binge on po’boys and beignets in between). There are plenty of healthy restaurants popping up all over the city, including vegan and gluten-free options, but here are some of my favorite go-to places that I count on when I am running all over town like a chicken with my head cut off, which is often.
Fresh Bar
Fresh Bar Delicious and fresh wraps and salads made to order. They feature a different flavor every month. My favorite so far has been the zesty mango shrimp. At one point, I think I ate it three times in one week. 6101 Magazine St.
Super Food smoothies
Superfood bar This understated spot serves up all organic, local ingredients, and the staff knows their stuff. I like their food on offer (I had the Black Bean and Rice Salad on a wrap), but I love their smoothies. One of my go-to smoothies is the Shhh, made with banana, pineapple, coconut, vitamin C, and dates. 4113 Magazine St.
Fast (health) food: Options do exist, as in this fresh food vending machine (Photo: Summer Suleiman)
Your Nutrition Delivered Healthy eating couldn’t get any easier. These vending machines provide healthy, whole meals at the swipe of a card. Literally, all you have to do is open a door, and tap your card for a healthy, delicious meal. I’ve tried the Blackened Gulf shrimp wrap, and my only complaint was that it was gone far too fast. Yum! I can’t wait to try something else. Luckily for, me, there’s a machine in my office building. It’s perfect for those days when I’m too lazy to pack my own lunch. It’s almost too easy.
FARE food
FARE: Food for Health FARE is an apothecary-inspired shop offering Paleo foods and baked goods. They have salads, soups, side dishes, healthy snacks, fresh baked goods, juices, smoothies, tea and meals that are all made in-house and are Paleo, gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, anti-inflammatory, and all-natural with a variety of vegan and nut-free options. I personally love their Kale salad and banana bread. And here’s a fun fact — FARE is the brain child of Alicia Murphy, wife of the owner of The Irish House. 4838 Magazine St.
Fresh Market Stand Superdome Just in time for Saints season. I actually haven’t tried this one yet, but I can’t wait to! (Season tickets, anyone?) My editor has, though, and she gave it the seal of approval. Now, how she managed to go to a Saints game and eat a salad is beyond me. I don’t even know if I have that much will power, and I’m the health junkie here. Let’s just say, I was very impressed. Superdome.
Earthtalk: “Cool Roofs” for New Orleans
It’s hot outside, but it could be cooler! In this article, Brooke Theis explores Cool Roofs, an effective solution to the urban heat island effect that makes the New Orleans heat so unbearable. The author also explores inequalities in how people experience the environment from identity perspectives like race and class.
Big Chem-EZ: How can small Louisiana communities access clean drinking water after a hurricane?
When I went to visit the Pointe-au-Chien tribe after Hurricane Ida with my Service Learning class, I heard that one of the biggest challenges in the aftermath of the hurricane was finding enough drinking water, so in this article, I explore water purification methods: 1) when they are necessary, 2) how they work, and 3) if they really make your water safe to drink.
