Start the New Year on a healthy note at these restaurants

Many people’s new year resolution is to eat healthier. By healthier, we mean a balanced diet constituting mainly of leafy greens, whole meal carbohydrates and organic sources of proteins.

The New Year’s drive to eat healthier is in part due to the fact that we have all piled up on the holiday weight as a result of the festivities and associated binge eating and drinking.

That it is January, is also a contributing factor as people tend to favour salads and greens due to the financial constraints associated with the innumerable bills one has to pay at the beginning of the year.

To make it easier for you to reach your goal of eating healthier foods in 2022, these restaurants that serve great and healthy meals can be your go to place. Happy eating!

1. Bridges Organic Restaurant

This is a restaurant brand that has been serving healthy and organic foods for more than a decade and a half.

Their main dishes are African-inspired. They source for their ingredients directly from organic-certified farmers and use pure olive oil to make their dishes.

They prefer baking to ensure their dishes are free from harmful cholesterol.

They offer cooking classes as they believe that healthy food does not have to be bland.

They have an organic shop where one can purchase organic ingredients, such as honey, hibiscus tea, stevia powder, mint powder, spirulina and other superfoods.

They also have an in-house nutritionist who helps clients curate a menu, a detox plan or a healthy weight loss plan.

This is the restaurant of choice if you have dietary restrictions or want a healthy eating plan complete with tips to ensure success.

They have two outlets in the heart of Nairobi; on Tubman Road and Kaunda Street. 

2. Roro’s Café

Located in Sarit Centre, Roro’s is an instagrammable spot that serves great healthy meals and drinks.

They offer dishes, such as  healthy poke bowls, healthy wraps and burritos, as well as salads.

These can be downed with smoothies, coffee either black or white with milk from a cow or plant based milk, or with health shots, such as immune booster shots. The menu options are endless and the prices affordable. 

3. Marble Arch Hotel

Marble Arch Hotel is located right behind Fire Station in the Central Business District. The hotel has a restaurant renowned for their healthy and nutritious meal options. 

They have great breakfast, lunch and dinner spreads with a’la carte menu options for those who want that.

My favourite menu items are their oat pancakes, their whole fish and kimanga- a mukimo (a meal made from mashed potatoes, pumpkin leaves and corn and/or beans), but theirs is made from nduma (arrowroots) ngwaci (sweet potatoes), spinach and carrots.

They have great drink options, such as vegetable and fruit juices. They also offer detox programmes curated to the specific client and can even prepare the meals for the client if need be. 

4. Monikos Restaurant

Located at Valley Arcade, Monikos is a healthy food restaurant that was founded in 2014.

It has great meal options that cater for a variety of dietary needs. My favourite is their yellow Thai curry normally served with rice.

They also have fast food options with my go-to being the Monikos classic burger, which comes with crispy bacon, char grilled ground beef patty, some cheese and mushrooms. 

They have healthy drink options, as well as carefully-crafted cocktails and mocktails.