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Favorite Healthy Date Spots in Manhattan

I get asked all of the time for places I recommend for healthy eating & for those with dietary restrictions. Below you can find some of my go-to date night spots (can be for with friend, family member or significant other). FAVORITES

@candle79 & @candlecafe – Vegan. Candle 79 is a little fancier, better for a weekend date whereas Candle Cafe is more casual but still a nice ambiance for weeknights.

@plantfoodandwine – Vegetarian/Vegan

@peacefoodnyc – Vegan . Upper west seems a bit more casual vibe than the EV location.

@divyaskitchennyc – Vegetarian Ayurvedic (first one in NYC). They have a great selection of herbal teas!

@thebutchersdaughter_official- Plant Based & GF. Great for brunch.

@risotteriamelottinyc – Gluten Free. Mainly risotto dishes, so is great for those of you that are gluten free. It’s the cutest spot, making you feel as if you are in Italy.

@abcvnyc – Flatiron, Vegetarian/Vegan.

@caravanofdreams405 – East Village, Vegan. A bit more low key than the above, but still a good date night spot. They also have live Jazz!

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MORE CASUAL – 👇🏼. Still so delicious for lunch or a weeknight quick dinner.

@le_botaniste – Vegetarian

@hukitchen – Paleo

@eatbychloe – Vegan & Gluten Free

@beyondsushinyc -Vegan

@bareburger – Sustainable, 50% Vegan with GF Options. On their menu, Bareburger details exactly where their food comes from, which farms etc. ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ If you are going with someone who is new to the “healthy”, food space, my go-to spots to ease someone into it out of this list are @risotteriamelottinyc , @eatbychloe & @bareburger

You can check out my “NYC Eats” story highlight which includes videos of the food/ambiance for some of these locations.

⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ What are some of your favorites?!

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Ayurvedic Food

I ate dinner at Divya’s Kitchen the other week with a friend. It is a Vegetarian Ayurvedic restaurant in the East Village and I couldn’t be more pleased with my experience! My friend and I both ordered lunch/dinner again from there within the next few nights.

What does Ayurveda mean? It is the traditional Hindu system of medicine, which is based on the idea of balance in bodily systems and uses diet, herbal treatment, and yogic breathing.

On the menu there were the words “Vata”, Balancing for Airy, “Pitta”, Balancing for Fiery, “Kapha” Balancing for Earthy, and “Tridoshic” Balancing for All. Next to each dish, would be one of these words.

There are several ways to determine your body type. The most accurate is through the detailed history and physical by an Ayurvedic Physician. The owner, Divya Alter , studied Ayurveda in India. I was lucky enough to speak with her after my dinner. She is extremely knowledgeable and passionate, and has a beautiful blog with many recipes and an article that further explains Ayurvedic eating.  You can check her website out here.

She also offers Ayurvedic cooking classes above her restaurant that I am so eager to check out!

Below is Roasted Seasonal Vegetables with Quinoa-wild rice pilaf, beluga lentils and tahini sauce

Below is Seasonal Khichari, a grains and lentils stew with yellow mung, red lentils, quinoa, basmati rice, green beans, carrots, zucchini, kale, cilantro-mint chutney and sautéed leafy greens.  This dish was so warming and filling but also light and I left feeling super nourished.

Below is delicious Raw Chocolate Mousse dessert sweetened with dates

They also have the most impressive tea selection I have ever seen! I would totally come here with a friend just to meet up for tea.

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Some other fun facts about Divya’s Kitchen:

  • They make their cultured Ghee ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀
  • They cook their soup 2x a day ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀
  • They make their own almond milk (no nasty fillers/preservatives) ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀
  • Divya sells her cookbook, ghee, raw chocolate and many other goodies at a table in the restaurant, seen below. You can find her cookbook here:

Check out more on my Instagram @simply11.made