Eating healthy in a restaurant used to mean ordering salad dressing on the side or opting for broiled fish bathed in butter over deep-fried. Vegetarian options were nearly non-existent, and the cry for gluten-free was a voice in the wilderness. That’s changed around the county—and in Baton Rouge. Diners are demanding better options, and chefs and restaurateurs are answering the bell with dishes that rely on fresh ingredients rather than salt and fat.
225 food writer Maggie Heyn Richardson, Bite and Booze creator Jay Ducote, freelance food writer Teresa Bailey Day and Baton Rouge business consultant and gastronome Manuel Valencia met up recently to explore the bounty of local healthy food spots and compile a list of their Top 20 Healthy Eateries in Baton Rouge.
Maggie Heyn Richardson is an award-winning journalist who covers food and wine for 225. Her book on the gravitational pull of Louisiana’s emblematic foods will be released by the LSU Press in January 2015.
This New Orleans-based gelateria and new arrival in Baton Rouge uses milk from local Ryal’s Rockin R Dairy Farm in its homemade, preservative-free gelato. The menu features espresso, herbal teas, salads and panini. Ninety-five percent of the ingredients used are locally sourced. The vitamin-rich Carmelo panino combines seasonal veggies, arugula pesto and lower-in-fat pecorino cheese. Acadian Village, 3535 Perkins Road
Chef Don Bergeron includes a different heart healthy entre every day at this gourmet catering and takeout business. For lunch or dinner, pick up guilt-free items such as grilled vegetable or turkey lasagna, chicken kabobs over couscous or quinoa, Asian glazed salmon or vegetable pizza on whole wheat crust. 714 Jefferson Highway
Chef/owner Jim Urdiales recently added several healthy items to help conscious diners stick to their plans while eating Mexican. Order wheat chips or raw veggies in lieu of chips, select one of several new salads or try the Quinoa Mexicana, grilled steak or chicken served over veggie quinoa cooked in chipotle sauce and topped with fresh avocado and pico de gallo. 2323 S. Acadian Thruway
Baton Rouge’s original health-nut hub, Our Daily Bread is a health food store, bakery and café. The Florida Boulevard location features a full-service café inside the health food market, which serves low-fat and vegetarian sandwiches, salads and entrees. The comforting avocado sandwich made with fresh house-made bread is a best-seller. 504 North 5th St., 9414 Florida Blvd.
DiGiulio Brothers delivers a handful of classic Italian options that are neither fried nor laden in gooey cheese. Order spaghetti with garlic, olive oil and parsley; shrimp and pesto; or capers and anchovies. The regular broiled fish special is topped with fresh Italian salsa. DiGiulo Brothers also serves whole wheat pasta by request. It’s made by Baton Rouge artisan pasta company Fresina’s. 2903 Perkins Road
Teresa Bailey Day is a writer, local restaurant cheerleader, avid home cook, complacent gardener and former country girl living in Baton Rouge with her husband and two daughters. Originally from Natchitoches, she can spot a faux meat pie a mile away.
Truly Free can be liberating to those with certain food allergies. With moist cakes and breads that are gluten-free and treats made with no preservatives and no artificial sweeteners, the menu has something everyone can safely enjoy. The sit-down caf offers paninis, wraps, salads, bowls, pizza and special entrees that integrate whole grains, veggies or lean meats such as turkey or bison. Breakfast available. 4321 Perkins Road
Magpie is a seasonal, local and organic café and espresso coffee bar whose made-to-order menu includes fresh, organic juices, homemade granola and Paleo-friendly picks. Watch for healthy community events at Magpie, too, like homemade/handmade goods swap meets. 3205 Perkins Road
Zeeland Street Market’s reputation for soul food plate lunches sometimes eclipses its more healthful options, but they are not to be overlooked. Visit Zeeland for a freshly made salad topped with seared tuna, grapefruit and avocado, or entrees such as grilled drum served with pineapple and avocado salsa. 2031 Perkins Road
This charming spot offers simple dishes that feature fruits and vegetables paired with lean meats and cheeses. Its seasonal menu is prepared with the French-inspired method of using only what fresh local ingredients are available. French food is meant to appeal to the all the senses; relax and experience your lunch, don’t just consume it. 334 Third St., downtown
The Salad Shop specializes in build-your-own salads made to order from 50 fresh ingredients that range from red bell peppers and nuts to chicken and chickpeas. Many of the dressings are low in fat. Once the salad is assembled, it’s chopped with a mezzaluna to ensure all of the toppings make their way into each bite. 3617 Perkins Road
Jay Ducote eats and drinks for a living in Baton Rouge. He writes the blog biteandbooze.com and hosts the Taste Award-winning Bite and Booze Radio Show presented by Calandro’s Supermarket.
There’s something that feels like home when you step into MJ’s Café, a vegetarian eatery with a little seafood thrown in. A past participating chef at Slow Food Baton Rouge’s Dinner in the Field, owner Maureen Joyce dishes out soulful soups, salads, sandwiches and quiches that are sourced as locally as possible and loaded with flavor. 672 Jefferson Highway
As a classic French restaurant, Maison Lacour boasts many amazingly technical menu items. Diners will notice a heart icon next to items such as the saumon fumé, soupe St. Tropez and palm hearts salad, signifying that those dishes are especially heart healthy and low in saturated fats. 11025 N. Harrell’s Ferry Road
You could drive past the AM Mart and never imagine that some of the city’s best sandwiches are constructed inside. The small deli creates cold-cut subs that are hot-pressed for their loyal, sandwich-loving patrons. On the healthy and delicious side, I usually opt for the Cajun turkey on wheat. Nicholson at Lee Drive
From the hummus appetizer to the smoked pork loin au jus, Chelsea’s Café serves up a fine selection of unique and healthy menu items. While burgers and fries exist on the menu, you can also find plenty of salads and vegan options such as grilled vegetables on focaccia and grilled veggies over couscous. Perkins Road overpass
Inside the Circa 1857 art and architecture gallery sits a dynamite little lunch spot with healthy options. The tomato basil soup, veggie muffaletta, and turkey and apple sandwich are some of my favorite offerings for a walk on the lighter side. There are nice salad options as well, including the tangy Greek or the sensation with candied pecans. 1857 Government St.
Manuel F. “Manny” Valencia is vice president of strategy and marketing at the consulting firm Excelerant. A founding member of Baton Rouge Entrepreneurship and a community volunteer, Manny recently sounded off on the uptick in healthy eateries in Baton Rouge on Facebook, inspiring this roundup.
This Main Street Market spot is reminiscent of major-metro salad stations that serve fresh salads and wraps while you wait. Veggies, berries and nuts abound to top the greens of your choice, and the owner, triathlete and Rocketkidz co-founder Pat Fellows, champions the healthy lifestyle. Dressings are all low in fat. Fresh will soon open a second location on North Boulevard at Third Street. Fifth and Main, downtown
Flavor is plentiful at this casual-but-nice Mid City neighborhood eatery. There are 14 different salads on the menu and good fresh fish options too. The turkey burger with Gruyere with a side of sweet potato fries keeps your mind off the restaurant’s more indulgent choices. Fresh vegetable side dishes include broccoli, succotash, asparagus, haricots verts and more. A second location opens this fall at The Village at Willow Grove. 5412 Government St.
Owner Luca di Martino prepares homemade, perfectly balanced gelato and sorbetto using fresh, local ingredients. Along with these lower-impact frozen treats, the café features flavorful soups, homemade sodas, salads and sandwiches served with Old World ingredients in sensible portions, and the funky vibe and outdoor seating helps lower stress. 7809 Jefferson Highway
Mediterranean fare meets convenience at this quick-serve cafeteria offering fresh feta or chicken shawerma salad, lots of steamed vegetables, lentils and rice, tabbouleh, hummus, baba ghanouj and more. Healthy fats are the base of every meal, the line moves fast, and the ability to point and choose helps control meal size. 712 Jefferson Highway 18169 Highland Road 14041 Coursey Boulevard 9848 Perkins Road Main and 6th, downtown
Fresh fruit; green salads; lightly marinated kabobs with chicken, lean beef or shrimp; fresh tuna steaks; and more are available at the three Maxwell’s locations. It’s also a source of Boar’s Head nitrite-free deli meats. 6241 Perkins Road 7620 Corporate Blvd. 18135 E. Petroleum Drive
