Ultimate Clean Eating Guide to NYC

While America has some of the worlds worst foods... I'm talking cookie spread in a jar (yes like you put that shit on toast) and maple syrup on just about every second thing (including vegetables, they also have taken on board some of the most sustainable and ethical practices when it comes to making delicious and healthy food.

 

Places like ABC kitchen pride themselves on the high quality, organic, and locally sourced produce that seriously make a party in your mouth, along with other restaurants like The Little Beet Table which is a full gluten-free eatery and only uses the best quality ingredients.

 

OH, and we can't forget my addiction of bone broth from Springbone (where they have a full food menu made using 100% grass fed and organic meats/poultry) and Brodo – I mean where are these places in Oz?!

  

It is definitely a difficult city to navigate around when it comes to making healthy food choices when traveling. I've hated in the past when I've traveling and I get that dreaded travel tummy where you eating crap food and feel crap, but with my latest adventure I have tried and tested many places and these are my absolute favourites!

 

This is next-level healthy...there are many other 'healthy' guides out there for NYC but I have gone to some of those restaurants and left with a crampy tummy and let's just say this — it was NOT olive oil even though they claimed it was when I asked if they use canola oil.

 

I have also compiled some of my favourite other things to see and do while you are there for a taste of the health and wellness scene in NYC. I wonder which will be your fave?!

 

Bird Dog NYC - Dinner (West Village)

One word: delicious! This is a super cozy restaurant (picture around 10 tables, aka don't bring your biggest handbag LOL). The food is absolutely to DIE for especially the gluten free pasta. It’s $65 a head for a starter, pasta, & meat dish — and honestly, that’s a bargain in NYC anyway so take advantage of it! You still get to choose each of your dishes and the owner said that you can totally mix things up so if you want to do 3 pasta dishes you can!

This place is perfect for an intimate girls night or date night this winter.

 

Bluestone Lane - Breakfast, Lunch (Multiple Locations)

Another amazing Australian addition to the NYC food scene, and it will not disappoint. With their own blend of coffee and an Australian-style menu, you will be able to have the perfect breakfast with all your greeeeeens!! Try the 'Green Baked Eggs' with some avocado on the side and no bread (and no feta if you're DF).

 

The Little Beet Table - Lunch and Dinner (Nomad)

One of my favourite places that I have to visit each and every time I visit NYC. With a fully gluten-free menu, it's a health foodie haven, plus many items are dairy free or can be so. The staff are very knowledgeable about what is in each dish and they will easily substitute things/make them dairy free which is refreshing! You must order the olives, sweet potato wedges, brussel sprouts, and charred broccoli. For mains, my favourites are the organic roasted chicken (just ask for no honey on the roasted carrots), the salmon, or the red snapper. Frankly, I bet every dish is amazing but those three I can definitely vouch for!

 

Ruby's Cafe — Breakfast, Lunch (SoHo, West Village)

Another Aussie cafe that has upped the breakfast game in NYC (thank god) and a place when I can get my eggs and avo for breakfast. Try their 'Green Eggs bowl' with poached eggs instead of scrambled and add some extra greens. Although I didn't get to try their lunch, the salads sounds delicious and like they would actually fill you up... not this American iceberg lettuce and tomato rabbit food that everywhere seems to do!

 

Altro Paradaiso — Lunch, Dinner (SoHo)

Say hello to incredible Italian food, such clean ingredients, and a gorgeous aesthetic. And then say goodbye to sore tummies, bloating, or skin breakouts from eating a meal... because Ultra Paradaiso is healthy indulgence. So, so good! If you want to whisk yourself away to Italian vacation vibes, this is your place, my friends!

 

 

Two Hands Restaurant and Bar — Breakfast, Lunch (Tribeca)

Firstly, there are 2 Two Hands... one is the cafe and one is the restaurant and bar. I tried the restaurant and bar because their breakfast menu had greens for breakfast which of course is a must for me. Try the "Brassicas Bowl" with an extra boiled egg — you won't be disappointed.

 

RH Guesthouse — Brunch, Lunch, Dinner (Meatpacking District)

This place is pure vibes, my friends. Let's just say, the vibes were so on point that celebs were present and it was wealthy and expansive vibes all around (how many times can I say vibes LOL). I went here for dinner and had the delectable Whole Branzino, but I can safely assume any and all things on alllll of their menus would be worth it! The food was incredible, the service was great, and all the wood and stone of the aesthetic made for such a sensual and warm VIBE (said it again!). It is more on the expensive side, so I recommend coming here for a boujee date night or girls night!!

abc Kitchen — Brunch, Lunch, Dinner (Gramercy Park)

Firstly, you MUST book in advance, but you also MUST go! This was absolute heaven. I definitely ate way too much, but don't even care because the food was THAT amazing. They are so passionate about offering the best, freshest and most sustainable ingredients and we seriously need places like this in Australia. The whole back of their menu listed where every ingredient came from — farm, city, person, and all! They are involved in supporting the farm-to-table movement and their menu is free of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, insecticides, antibiotics, hormones, is GMO-free, and naturally and humanely sourced from regional farmers and fair trade cooperatives, celebrating community and the future of the slow food movement. BOO YA!!!! How good is that?

Get yourself (brunch menu) the roasted portobello and celery leaves, black sea bass, and/or roasted hake. Plus the roasted brussel sprouts without the mustard dressing and the tender broccoli? To die for!!

 

Springbone Kitchen —Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, BROTH!!! (Greenwich Village)

Okay so if you've followed me on my Insta-stories for a long while, you will be well aware that I was hella obsessed (and still am) with this place and the whole idea of broth in a cup in NYC! 

Springbone prides themselves on everything I stand for: real ingredients, minimal grains and sugar (well I prefer ZERO sugar... but we are in the land of sweet everything), more vegetables, and better meat. No GMOs, antibiotics, or canola oil EVER. YES PLEASE! Oh, and their meat is 100% free range/grass-fed.

My faves are the Classic Chicken Broth, Liquid Gold, Grandma's Chicken and Rice (with cauliflower rice)... and I added guac to it one time for extra fats, the Mexican Bowl my mum had and loved it (with cauliflower rice), and the 100% Grass-Fed Burger with a portobello mushroom cap with guac and an egg — HOLY GUACAMOLE! Amazeballs. OH ,and try and the roasted brussel sprouts and the carrot fries in grass fed beef fat — yep you heard me right.

 

Brodo — BROTH!!!  (West village, East Village)

Another amazing broth cafe that prides itself on quality ingredients and using only 100% grass fed/organic chicken bones, and organic vegetables. Plus, these guys have drink combos that I could only dream about! With half the menu literally just being add-ons so that you can take your broth to the next level in taste and in health benefits. My fave is the chicken broth with parsley and chilli oil for some inflammatory benefits, and a boost of extra fats to hit to the metabolism and to clear out those sinuses in the winter time!

 

Other Must-Sees:

CAP Beauty — Chelsea

This place is natural beauty heaven!! They stock only the finest natural beauty products, makeup, skin care and beauty supplements. Even if you don't need anything it is worth checking out! Plus, they stock some of the Moon Juice snacks. Try out the activated dulse and vinegar almonds, the activated turmeric pepitas and coconut, and the herb and cheese crisps.

 

Credo — SoHo

Another natural beauty boutique which has a wide range of products, both for skin care and also makeup. You'll spot the blue exterior from a mile away and be presently surprised on the inside with the vast variety of products out there that don't harm our skin! The staff are knowledgeable and friendly when it comes to asking about benefits of different products, or what products to turn to for certain skin types. They have a large stock of brands that I didn't even know existed! Another must see, and you can find my favourite Credo products on my Fave Products Page.

 

MNDFL — Greenwich Village

This is a must see for any health and wellness lovers. The meditation studio in Manhattan is the perfect way to escape and unwind with the hustle and bustle of New York! You will be greeted with a warm welcome and given complimentary tea (try the ginger and turmeric – to die for) and taken on a tour around their studio. When classes are not in session, the space is also open to all for their own meditation practice, or just for a bit of an escape of the manic subway. Their front lounge area is full of books, magazines, and cushions for you to truly relax and unwind. They have many different teachers, all with different practices and backgrounds so there are endless opportunities for you to learn different meditation techniques. Best part? It's close to Springbone so you can stop and get a both after to nourish your soul even further ;)

 

Inscape — Flatiron

This new studio is truly amazing. The space in which you meditate in is a dome-like room with epic mood lighting and surround sound. You truly escape New York in this space. Only downside? The meditation is a recording which was a bit of a bummer because I like going to a meditation studio to have a real life teacher talking to me... but that's just personal preference. Either way, the space is worth a look at.

 

Eataly — Flatiron

While the produce might be a little pricier that other markets, it is worth the walk around. This is so much more than just a market. It is an experience, a museum, a place of knowledge and profound produce where people come together to celebrate amazing food and wine. While you can simply go there to buy fresh fruit, vegetables, meats, fish, cheese, sauces, oils, and really anything Italian, you can also book a table in one of their restaurants to have a delicious taste of Italy. This is an absolute must see

 

Wholefoods - Multiple Locations

I couldn't forget this one! While they have done some incredible marketing of "America's healthiest grocery store", you will still find things full of canola oil, and sugar. They might be the healthiest out of the American supermarkets, but not everything in there is by any means healthy. However, navigate successfully and you will get your hands on some epic American health products like,  Brad's Probiotic Kale Chips and Siete Grain Free Chips! Plus the whole experience of going into a BIG Wholefoods is pretty epic. You'll find all the slightly wacky stuff here, plus all your organic fruits, vegetables, and meats.

 

Honourable Mentions:

Hu Kitchen — Everything (Union Square, Upper East Side)

I am so sad to say they've closed their restaurant, and the only upside is their focus on the most incredible and delicious chocolate and snacks! Here's what I wrote back in 2017 about their amazing restaurant:

This is my favourite place for every meal. Simple, delicious food without any crap. While some of their dishes do contain small amounts of honey or coconut sugar it is easy to steer clear of them and choose one of their millions of other options. The selling point for me? They don't use any bad oils, only olive and coconut oil, and all their meat is organic/grass fed & finished/wild caught, and all their fruits and vegetables with thin skin are organic.

They use homemade bacon, organic eggs, organic fair trade coffee, organic tea, organic Kombucha on tap, sea salt only, cooking oil is coconut oil, real extra virgin olive oil, minimal grains, and everything is from scratch. There is tonnes of info on their website so worth a read.

 

Coco & Cru — Breakfast, Lunch (Noho)

I can't believe this place has closed, and if you've also frequented this place you'll know how I feel. This Aussie cafe was a favourite of mine and I did do a breakfast visit back to back. They served delicious coffee and the food was delicious, too. I ordered the 'Greens Bowl' without the ancient grains and an extra poached egg. (FYI kale pesto is dairy and nut free!)