Restaurants Lightening Up on WeHo’s Health Row
If one of your 2013 resolutions is eating better, then the stretch of Santa Monica Boulevard between La Cienega and San Vicente will provide you with plenty of tantalizing meal options fit for any diet. I refer to the restaurants along these city blocks as WeHo’s “Health Row.” Here’s a sampling of what they have to offer:
Tender Greens
Fresh, local ingredients comprise the menu, and the open kitchen adjacent to the cafeteria-style line to the register allows you to watch your meal get made from start to finish. The Backyard Steak Salad is an ideal serving of low-carb protein, while the Happy Vegan is actually four grain-based, meat-free items (including delicious green hummus), as light as it is flavorful. 8759 Santa Monica Blvd., (310) 358-1919; tendergreensfood.com
Body Factory
All of their top-notch smoothies contain between 30-40 grams of protein, with no added sugar. The mint-colored BodyFuel smoothie is their ‘signature’ blend, made with pineapples and banana. The PB&Jelly is blissfully like drinking the sandwich it’s named for. 8591 Santa Monica Blvd., (888) 263-9322; bodyfactory.com
O-Burger
The all-organic burger shop is a great place to grab lunch without worrying about your waistline. Their free-range Turkey Burger Bowl is a nice balance of veggies and lean protein without the bloat, while the housemade Veggie Burger patty, filled with spinach, corn, carrots and peas, is the best in town. 8593 Santa Monica Blvd., (310) 854-0234; oburger.net
Fresh Corn Grill
Seeking to add more Omega-3’s to your diet? The grilled salmon, moist and packed with flavor, is outstanding at Fresh Corn Grill. Add it to any of their salads—it’s particularly great in the Cobb—enjoy it on a sandwich or add a vegetable side such as broccoli or asparagus for a protein-packed power meal. 8714 Santa Monica Blvd., (310) 855-9592; freshcorngrill.com
Pressed Juicery
If you’ve taken an oath to eat more vegetables, there’s no better time to visit the latest outpost of this raw, fresh juice chain. The “Roots” juices are surprisingly delicious combinations that often include beets, kale and carrots. If you’re looking for a food-fueled internal detox, the Green Alkalizer, a fresh blend of cucumber, apple, lemon and ginger, is the way to go. 8714 Santa Monica Blvd., (310) 854-4407; pressedjuicery.com