The start of a new year always inspires the best in us.
It sparks the desire to pick up a new hobby or skill; it presents the opportunity to set goals for the year; and it inspires us to make changes to our eating and drinking habits as a means of becoming healthier. Of course, all of these activities are fantastic ways to set the tone for the next 365 days, but some are easier said than done. Committing to doing something you love like singing, painting, or collecting stamps? Sure! Writing down a list of dreams to help guide you through the next 12 months? Great! Cutting out alcohol, sugar, carbohydrates, gluten, meat, and dairy to become “healthier”? Not as easy!
With social lives that often revolve around eating and drinking, being the person on Whole 30, Keto, Paleo, Sober January, or whatever diet has struck your fancy this year can be a bit of a buzzkill if you want to maintain your social schedule and spend time with friends. But not on our watch.
As lovers of eating and drinking, and particularly doing so out and about with friends, we’ve come up with a list of Nashville’s 10 best healthy eats to keep you on track with your new year’s resolutions.
1. Vui’s Kitchen
With two Nashville locations (Berry Hill and East Nashville at Hunters Station, the Germantown location closed in recent years), I find myself stopping in to Vui’s Kitchen for lunch and dinner on the regular. The menu is chock-full of light, healthy, veggie-filled items, so I always end up with a meal that leaves me feeling good, too. My go-to get is their traditional beef pho, made with Vui’s super flavorful, twelve-hour bone broth, skinny rice noodles, and a heap of fresh herbs. There is also a vegan version if you’re going meat-free in the new year. Get an order of their crunchy summer rolls to share with a friend if you want a little something extra. Or save room for a light dessert and dip your spoon into Vui’s coconut tapioca pudding. Almost all of the menu items are fair game for a variety of diets since everything is loaded with real ingredients like fresh herbs and whole spices.
2. Fountain of Juice (CLOSED)
Fountain of Juice has closed both Nashville locations. Their cold-pressed juices were a Music City favorite for years, but the brand is no longer operating. For a similar cold-pressed juice fix today, try the local options at Whole Foods or check out one of Nashville’s newer juice bars.
3. Morsel Bakery Nashville (Wholesale Only)
A vegan, gluten-free, all-natural and organic bakery, Morsel bakes delicious treats that you’re allowed to enjoy even while on a most eating plans and diets. No, this doesn’t mean you can substitute every meal with Morsel muffins, donuts, and cookies as opposed to fruits, veggies, and proteins, your body needs all of that stuff to be healthy and strong!, but it does mean that you can treat yo’self every now and again. Available at a variety of spots around town, such as Falcon Coffee Bar, HQs Nashville, Revelator Coffee, Kettner Coffee Supply, and The Dive Motel, Morsel’s baked goods are eye-poppingly beautiful and [almost] unbelievably delicious.
4. Kitchen Downtown (CLOSED)
Kitchen Downtown has closed. The healthy bowls + salads spot at 234 5th Ave N is no longer operating. Several similar fast-casual healthy lunch options have opened downtown since, including outposts of national chains like Sweetgreen.
5. Bare Bones Butcher
Listen up, all you Atkins, Keto, and Paleo people! You are what you eat; so you want to consider what you’re eating and where it came from. When choosing a diet that incorporates plenty of animal protein, it’s important to remember that not all meat is created equal. Buying cheap meat from large supermarkets may save you a penny today, but it’ll cost you your health in the future. That’s because grocery store meat, aka commodity meat, comes from animals that were injected with antibiotics and hormones and lived in crowded and unsanitary conditions, all of which leads to a poorer quality product for you. But when you buy your meat from local butcher shops like Bare Bones Butcher, you can rest assured that the animals lived happy lives and were fed and handled properly, from the farm to your fork. No hormones, no saline injections, and no unnecessary ingredients like MSG. Plus, not only does eating good, high-quality meat do good for your health, but it improves the health of our local economy and it tastes way better too. Head over to Bare Bones Butcher in The Nations and give local meat a shot!
6. The Wild Cow (CLOSED)
The Wild Cow closed December 30, 2023 after 14 years on Fatherland Street. Their team cited unsustainable rent and food costs. The space is now home to International Tea and Coffee. The Wild Cow helped seed Nashville’s vegan dining scene; for a similar vegan dinner today, try Sunflower Café (above) or one of the newer plant-based spots in East Nashville.
7. Sunflower Café in Berry Hill + Sunflower Bakehouse in Donelson
A vegetarian eatery that has been a fixture of Berry Hill for nearly a decade now, The Sunflower Café is a fabulous spot if you’re eating meat-free but still want a hearty lunch. Vegetable-forward as the menu is, it’s filled with items that are friendly to most types of eaters and diets, and the modifications they offer make it even more so. To make things easier on their customers, Sunflower Café even offers specialty menus such as gluten free, soy free, and oil free.
Meanwhile across town in Donelson, the Sunflower Bakehouse has turned me into a die-hard fan. Not only does the Bakehouse offer vegan and gluten free baked goods, such as cupcakes, cookies, muffins and scones, but they also offer a moderately sized savory menu for lunch and dinner. Filled with salads, sandwiches, and burgers there are plenty of options to choose from and the selection seems to rotate constantly!
8. Mas Tacos
As a person who cannot eat gluten, Mas Tacos, which exclusively uses corn tortillas!, has held a special spot in my heart for a long time now. Not only do they have a nice selection of vegetarian tacos for those who don’t eat (or aren’t currently eating) meat, but their black bean soups and all side items are vegetarian-friendly as well. Personally, I always dive right in to their famous chicken tortilla soup! Whether I’m trying to kick a cold or just want to warm up on a chilly afternoon, this flavor-filled soup always works magic on me. Interested in a cocktail? Don’t miss out on their house margaritas; made with freshly squeezed lime juice and a spicy salted rim, there’s no better way to celebrate Taco Tuesday! (Or Taco Wednesday...or Taco Friday...or…)
9. AVO (Relocated to OneC1TY)
AVO moved from The Gulch to 4 City Blvd #104 at OneC1TY (off Charlotte Ave). They’re no longer strictly raw, the menu is now plant-based with cooked items too.
“Locally sourced. Kosher Certified. 100% Plant Based.” That’s the motto of AVO, located in the trendy One-City neighborhood sandwiched between Centennial Park and Charlotte Pike. Simply another way of saying vegan, this plant based restaurant’s entire menu is made up of items that are exclusively made from plants, including “meats”, cheeses and dessert items! Crazy as it may seem, the lunch menu boasts a grilled cheese sandwich, which is made with coconut mozzarella and coconut queso. Meanwhile, the dinner menu riffs on classics entrees, offering beet carpaccio, mushroom bourguinon and even a zucchini alfredo made with garlic cream sauce and cashew parmesan. The restaurant features a dog-friendly outdoor patio, a full beverage menu complete with cocktails, beer, and wine, and best of all, they take reservations! If you’re seeking a healthier approach to date night, AVO just might be the ticket.
10. Burger Up
The Cool Springs location now operates as a separate entity, Burger Up Franklin, with its own site at burgerupfranklin.com. The 12 South flagship is unchanged.
Sometimes when the new year strikes and your diet has totally shifted, going out to eat with friends can be a bit daunting if not unexciting. But it doesn’t mean that you should stay in and miss out on the fun! I’m a huge fan of Burger Up, with locations both in East Nashville and 12 South, and am particularly fond of some of the healthier items on their menu, whether I’m trying to eat that way or not. The Troyathalon Burger, a veggie patty made of quinoa and black beans, and then topped with melty cheddar, spicy jalapeños, and BU’s signature Jack Daniels Ketchup, is my all time favorite. Swap the side of fries for a side salad (or even go for sweet potato fries for just a skosh of health!) and opt in for the gluten free bun if you so desire. You’ll get the satisfaction of a meaty burger without actually eating red meat. Also, the Kale Salad with dried cherries and pecorino cheese is another one of my go-to’s; I’ll devour it plain, but also love adding a piece of grilled salmon on top for some extra protein.
11. Radish Kitchen
Salads, grain bowls, and wraps with seasonal produce, real proteins, and dressings made in-house, Radish Kitchen has become Nashville’s go-to fast-casual healthy spot. Order at the counter, pick a base, add proteins and toppings, build the bowl you actually want.
They have four Nashville locations now: Downtown at Assembly Food Hall (5055 Broadway, South Hall), West Nashville at OneC1TY (4101 Charlotte Ave, Building G), East Nashville at Hunters Station (975 Main St), and Cool Springs (4041 Aspen Grove Dr). The Mexican Caesar is a personal favorite, but the harvest bowl with sweet potatoes is what I tell first-timers to order.
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