New Year Resolution: BJ's 9 Best Restaurants for Healthy Eating

原创 Tracy W. theBeijinger

Ok, we get you, your waistband has been stretched over the past two weeks, you are trying to ignore the encroaching love handles and muffin tops, and you’ve given up on tracking the numbers on the scale. And no, it’s nowhere near over yet, as while people in the West are dialing back their diets, here we have the glut-a-thon Chinese New Year to look forward to.

With that in mind, January is the perfect time to make good on that resolution to finally treat your insides with the respect they deserve. To make staying healthy as easy as possible, treat yourself to some of Beijing’s best food that do you good and taste even better.

Aside from long-term favorites Element Fresh and Wagas, these are the following healthy food joints worth exploring in 2018:

Tribe Organic
From humble beginnings in Gongti, Tribe now has three locations (Gongti, Solana, and Lido) and a Tribe Nutrition Protein Bar at Oxygym at The Place offering all the usual healthy fare with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. We are not ashamed to admit that we love their salads, sandwiches, and carrot cake. Recently, they revamped their winter menu, adding seasonal purple dishes, beverages, and cocktails, such as red grapes, sweet potatoes, and raspberries. Their outlet in the new WF Central will open soon.

Glo Kitchen
We were amazed when Glo Kitchen and Fitness first opened in 2016 with a great café and gym in the basement. It has now expanded, adding a second location in Sanlitun, and has become one of our go-to takeaway options (like, at least 10 times a month). On offer are plenty of tasty and filling salads, sandwiches and soups, as well as energy bowls and phở. Glo allows you to choose the ingredients of your own salads at a reasonable price, making it ideal for anyone on a strict diet.

Moka Bros
Started by Mosto and Modo Urban Deli, Moka Bros has gained a lot of heat since its opening and now has four outlets in Beijing (Sanlitun, Solana, The Place, and Xidan). The menu has a healthy focus and includes salads, wraps, sandwiches, crepes, and power bowls. If you are on a Paleo diet, try the shrimp and avocado salad or beef salad (both RMB 68), both full of protein and healthy fats to easily fill you up without threatening your diet.

Nooxo
With the opening of the Crib at Chunxiu Lu came Nooxo, named after an indigenous tribe that inhabits the banks of the Amazon River in Colombia. Nestled on the second floor, this relative newcomer provides dairy-free and plant-based bowls that have become some of our go-to takeaway choices. There are soups (one specific soup a day), grain bowls, smoothies, and desserts available. Our favorites are the richly spiced and creamy Lost in Thai (RMB 48), and the almond cake (RMB 16), which has a sweet, nutty base layer reminiscent of hearty carrot cake, and is topped with a citrusy blend of grated coconut and lemon zest.

Salad University
Calling itself a university, this lunch spot does have a somewhat canteen-like ambiance, and just like your school canteen, you can grab a cup (made of recyclable paper) of water for free from the massive mason jar, which is infused with slices of lemon and cucumber. The menu is simple - six basic greens, two dozen sides, grains and nuts, a selection of protein and, finally, fruit. A small salad includes up to 10 toppings with basic greens for RMB 38, and a large one gives you the choice of 15 toppings with basic greens for RMB 48.

2FulFill Restaurant
Located in the basement of Sanlitun Soho, 2FulFill Restaurant serves various salads (RMB 38-78) in big portions, pasta (RMB 38-48), and a dozen different types of rice-based dishes (RMB 28-58). All the items on the menu display the precise amount of nutrition, including carbohydrates, protein, fat, and calories, making it a good option for calorie counters tracking their nutrients. As well as healthy food, 2Fulfill Restaurant have put a lot of effort into their decoration – bamboo leaves, plants, flowers and neon lights adorn the walls and the seating includes a hanging swing and vibrant green chairs, giving a glamorous atmosphere to the space.

The Mission
Located in the new extension of China World Mall, The Mission is a fast casual restaurant serving Latin American dishes such as burritos and tacos. Ingredients are fresh and good quality, including homemade tortillas and imported beef and pork. You can also soup up your order with chips and salsa (RMB 20), guacamole (RMB 10), sour cream (RMB 5), cheese (RMB 5), or fajitas (RMB 5). The carnitas burrito bowl (RMB 42) with guacamole and sour cream (add extra RMB 15) makes for a great way to enjoy protein-packed Mexican food without pushing up the calorie count.

Baker & Spice
We love Baker & Spice for their wine and freshly baked bread and cakes, but they also do excellent salads and savory options. We like their brunch plate (RMB 88) the most, which includes plenty of protein and fats to keep you going all day. It also comes with steaming hot sweet corn fritters, which were savory and soft, and put the final touches on this perfect hangover breakfast.

Root Pop
For those of you who are looking for vegan versions of American comfort food, try Root Pop, where they serve plenty of meat-free burgers, hot dogs, and nachos, made by Glo Kitchen and Tribe mastermind Brandon Trowbridge in Shuangjing. Don't miss the lunch deal, when adding RMB 30 to the cost of your burger or sandwich will get you a side and non-alcoholic drink or coffee, and RMB 45 will let you pick two sides and a drink.

Photos courtesy of venues, Tracy Wang, Dianping.com

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