Healthy and Delicious Dining Options in Sarasota County

Lynn Hobeck Bates, Public Relations Manager

I'm at marks the end of my 21-day clean eating challenge. I gave up processed food, caffeine, alcohol and sugar which is hard when there are so many great places to eat and grab a drink in Sarasota County. Luckily for me, I didn't have to look far to find places where I could honor my challenge and still get a healthy bite to eat without sacrificing flavor. Here are a couple of my go-to favorites:

Simon's Coffee House

Cafés in Sarasota serve delicious coffee for all tastes

Where: 5900 South Tamiami Trail
Phone: 941.926.7151
Although it's a coffee house, there are plenty of sans caffeine options at Simon's Coffee House. Serving breakfast and lunch, the café offers plenty of vegan and vegetarian options, many house-made. There's always a raw food option, such as the Raw Lasagna made 100% from nuts and vegetables. For a treat grab a milky Lassi or fruit-forward smoothie. The take-out menu is perfect if you have to eat-on-the-go.

Veg

Where: 2164 Gulf Gate Drive
Phone: 941.312.6424
Veg restaurant in the Gulf Gate neighborhood is a sit-down eatery with a piled-high menu of vegan and vegetarian options. Their menu caters to the Gluten-free, raw and seafood-only eating crowd. There is also a Little Sprouts menu for tikes--a major bonus. My daughter loved the Little Sprouts Hummus & Veggies.

Ionie Healing Center and Raw Food Café

Where: 1241 Fruitville Road
Phone: 941.955.4599
Ionie Healing Center and Raw Food Café is a calming oasis on a bustling street corner. Part healthy gourmet goddess and part healing studio, it's an all-around good for you kind of place. For a cleansing boost try the Lemon Drop elixir. Ionia's was the perfect cure for my husband's burger hankering. The home-made vegan burger came with rutabaga fries.

Café Evergreen

Where: 801 South Tamiami Trail
Phone: 941.412.4334
Café Evergreen in the Nokomis area of Sarasota is nestled in a historic building and offers a juice bar, dining and a produce market. There are non-vegetarian options, all natural and organic, as well as vegetarian options such as quinoa cakes or the paleo-diet friendly roasted cauliflower.

Of course, a green smoothie from Whole Foods is always a quick and filling treat any day of the week.