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All of a sudden it feels like everyone is following some kind of healthy eating plan. Keto, Vegan, Paleo, Gluten Free, Dairy free, No-refined sugar – everyone seems to be thinking more about what works best for their body and that can’t be a bad thing.

The food market is responding with health products available online, in specialist shops and even in supermarkets. But what happens when you go out? Alexia Santamaria brings you express’ guide to places to eat that your body will thank you for and won’t taste like cardboard mixed with sawdust!

Mondays

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503b New North Road, Kingsland  www.mondayswholefoods.com

A relatively new kid on the block, this is the baby of two prominent health food bloggers – Eleanor Ozich and Hannah Horton. Choose from raw superfood smoothies, spelt flatbreads, raw vegan treats, gluten-free baking, good coffee and a breakfast and lunch menu that will leave you feeling virtuous but sated too.

Raw Power

10 Vulcan Lane, Auckland Central

One of the first health-oriented cafes in Auckland, Raw Power has been around for more than two decades. It serves simple, fresh vegetarian salads and hot meals – we’ve heard it does a great tofu burger – and its questionable claim to fame is that Gwyneth Paltrow is a fan. Grab a table by the window and watch the gorgeous city folk below!

Revive

33 Lorne St, Auckland Central, 24 Wyndham St, Auckland Central, www.revive.co.nz

Revive is now a bit of an Auckland institution too. The food is entirely vegetarian with a focus on wholegrains; honey and date puree as sweeteners; all natural flavourings; minimal use of dairy products and no deep-frying. We love the salad bar and their famous hot pots (which rotate daily).

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Misters

12 Wyndham St, Central City, www.misters.co.nz

We love this new hot spot in the city with its Ranchero Beans, Griddle Cakes and Rice and Noodle Dons all with a healthy twist (for example the noodles in the Noodle Don are made from Spiralised Daikon, Zucchini and Carrot instead of wheat. Check out their juices and smoothies too. Queues are currently out the door and we can see why.

Wise Cicada

23 Crowhurst St, Newmarket www.wisecicada.co.nz

One of my favourite spots for healthy vegetarian food. Fab juices, smoothies and salads with big flavours (not just lettuce numbers either, more substantial rice, quinoa and noodle salads too). There are lots of amazing refined-sugar-free sweets as well. Bonus is it’s a health food shop too if you need to stock up.

Wilder and Hunt

15 Maskell St, St Heliers and 65 Mackelvie Street, Ponsonby www.wilderandhunt.co.nz

This is a great place for paleo folks and those who want to eat clean, healthy, unprocessed food but are still happy to eat meat. You won’t find anything with refined sugar or grains in this place, and you’ll never believe cupcakes can taste that good without any of those ingredients. Check out their take home fresh and frozen meals too.

Zest Organic Store and Café

8 Victoria Rd, Devonport

Zest does lovely green smoothies in whatever degree of greenness you’re up for, and gorgeous wraps (baked from scratch on-site) Their rice paper rolls and salads are good options too and if you are looking for something in the comfort food range, their vegetarian sausage rolls made from gluten-free pastry with a walnut and sunflower seed will totally hit the spot. Trust us on this one.

Ethos Cafe

East West Organics Superstore, 34D Portage Rd, New Lynn, www.eastwestorganics.co.nz

Another cafe tacked on to a health food shop, is Ethos Cafe. It has an onsite bakery, is fully vegetarian and almost totally organic. The salad bar is great and if you are really lucky they’ll have the raw chocolate cheesecake – vegan, gluten-free raw food has never tasted so good. It’s a great place to take a mixed group as it has all degrees of healthiness – yes you can still have your eggs benedict!

Little Bird

1A Summer St, Ponsonby, (also 385 New North Rd, Kingsland) www.littlebirdorganics.co.nz

Another of my top spots, most people will have heard of Megan May and her husband Jeremy’s wonderful cafe. It was one of the first places to bring super nourishing and healthy food into the mainstream. All the food is raw and vegan (except for a little honey in a few sweets) but nothing has been lost in the flavour department. I love their soft, raw corn tacos filled with jalapeno slaw, capsicum salsa, chimichurri, guacamole and dirty rice and their blueberry cheesecake.

Article | Alexia Santamaria.

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