Healthy Eats in Atlanta to Kick off the New Year

After indulging in the holiday season’s abundance of treats, many of us in Atlanta and the metro area are looking for healthier dining options to kick off the New Year. Read on for ways some of the Atlanta area’s best restaurants are rewarding nutrition-minded eaters with exciting yet healthful dishes.

Midtown/Virginia-Highland/Westside
10th & Piedmont reminds Midtown diners of bathing suit season with coconut scallop ceviche with sea scallops, coconut, cilantro, spicy pepper and avocado served with tortilla chips for dipping ($7.50). 10thp.com

At Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland, herb-roasted Springer Mountain Farms chicken with dried cranberry and Brussels leaf salad, creamed corn and mashed potatoes is reminiscent of a holiday feast without all the fat ($16). atkinspark.com

Café Highlands puts a Southern spin on a traditional Middle Eastern favorite with black-eyed pea falafel, cucumber, fried green tomato and za’atar-yogurt dressing in a warm pita ($9). cafehighlands.com

HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern’s Mother Nature salad helps keep waistlines in check with quinoa, cucumber, edamame, avocado, garbanzo beans, tomatoes, pickled onions, cranberries and candied pecan topped with HOBNOB basil vinaigrette ($11.50).hobnobatlanta.com

Ormsby’s keeps hungry guests in a healthy state of mind with an heirloom beet salad featuring arugula, Brussels sprouts and hearts of palm in a citrus vinaigrette ($9). As a bonus, the Westside tavern’s wide variety of games like darts, bocce ball and shuffleboard prevents patrons from becoming too sedentary. ormsbysatlanta.com

Guy Wong’s Vietnamese fare at Le Fat is packed with fresh fruits and vegetables and flavored with fresh herbs so hungry guests can feel satisfied without breaking their diet or the bank. Health-conscious diners can nosh on summer rolls with shrimp, pork, herbs, vermicelli and peanut sauce ($6); papaya salad with green papaya, mango, apple, crispy shallot, peanut brittle and Thai pepper vinaigrette ($10); kale salad with mango chickpea dressing, toasted coconut, sliced almonds and radish ($7); or a chilled vermicelli bowl that includes the choice of sliced pork, chicken, shrimp or lemongrass beef along with an herb salad, cucumber, pickled daikon and carrot, crushed peanut and a crispy spring roll ($16). lefatatl.com

Table & Main: Paleo Wednesdays
Keep yourself feeling healthy with a mid-week pick me up at Table & Main. On Wednesdays they offer a special of the night that is paleo friendly. Although the menu changes regularly some sample items include the Roast Duck Breast with butternut squash pancakes or Grilled Chicken with sweet potato hash and stewed apples.

Buckhead
At Gypsy Kitchen, guests can enjoy tapas and snacks while still maintaining a svelte figure. Pickled beets with crisped shallots and ebi ($6); grilled Spanish octopus with saffron-potato mousseline and shallot sofrito ($15); roasted cauliflower and quinoa salad with smoked paprika, almonds and argan oil ($6); and marinated octopus salad with citrus and fennel($8) are a few of the most healthful options. gk-atl.com

Dining at a BBQ joint doesn’t have to derail diet attempts. Smokebelly BBQ‘s menu features “tapas on the lighter side” such as piquillo pepper hummus served with carrots, celery and house-made crackers ($6.50); gluten-free and vegan jalapeño cornbread cakes with sweet corn edamame succotash ($7.25); and chilled farro and green bean salad with smoked almonds, diced cucumbers and mint yogurt dressing ($4.95). smokebellybbq.com

The Southern Gentleman‘s salad selection offers Southern-inspired gastropub fare free from guilt. The restaurant’s lunch menu features a Boston Bibb lettuce salad with pickled shrimp, red onion and green goddess dressing ($12) as well as a roasted kabocha squash salad with petite arugula, Georgia pecans and onion vinaigrette ($10).thesoutherngentlemanatl.com

Multiple Locations
Guests at FLIP burger boutique can still get a unique culinary experience minus the bun; any of the restaurant’s burgers can be served as lettuce wraps for a healthier alternative to bread. FLIP’s two Atlanta locations – Buckhead and Westside – also offer a raw tuna tartare with Asian pear, pine nuts, soy dressing, wasabi mayo, compressed veggies, mango sphere and avocado puree ($14); a turkey burger with Monterey Jack cheese, crushed avocado, pomegranate ketchup, tomato and alfalfa sprouts ($8); and the FLIP salad with seared chicken, Bibb lettuce, arugula, romaine, pickled veggies, sliced radishes, grape tomatoes, avocado, dill and green goddess dressing ($10).flipburgerboutique.com

The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill in Buckhead and Roswell gets guests beach ready with a selection of fresh fish entrées (blackened or grilled) ranging from salmon to ahi tuna to grouper ($15.95-$24.95), as well as a tropical salad with key lime mango dressing and a Mediterranean quinoa bowl. thebigketch.com

Willy’s Mexicana Grill may be known for burritos, but the restaurants’ Southwest chicken salad is equally satisfying and includes char-grilled chicken, black beans, pico de gallo salsa, corn salsa, Jack cheese, homemade guacamole and tortilla strips ($7.75). willys.com