12 Hours of Healthy Eating in Midtown
Until recently, Midtown was mostly fast food, cupcake shops and overpriced, mediocre restaurants aimed at tourists. Luckily, healthier, more affordable, more delicious options have opened up. Here’s our ultimate day of eating well in Midtown.
BREAKFAST: 8:30 AM
Bluestone Lane, 1114 Avenue of the Americas (corner of W. 43rd St. and Sixth Ave.), 212-764-0044
This Melbourne-inspired coffee house is a little oasis from the bustle of Midtown. The chic beach cafe has gained a following for their “to-die-for avocado smash”—avocado on toast with a tahini dressing, a typical “brekkie” choice Down Under. Or try the hot coconut quinoa porridge drizzled with almond butter and topped with fresh banana, coconut, chia seeds, warm blueberries and roasted pistachios.
Second Breakfast: 11:30 AM
Dig Inn, 275 Madison Ave (between 39th St. and 40th St.), 212-697-7867
If you’re like us, you’re always looking for mid-morning nibble to hold you over until lunch. At Dig Inn you’ll find food sourced from small farms in the New York area, all for under $10. We recommend the Serious Green cold pressed juice (cucumber, apple, kale, spinach, celery, lemon and ginger).
LUNCH: 1:30 PM
Beyond Sushi, 62 W 56th St. (between Fifth and Sixth Ave.), 646-964-5097
For many New Yorkers who work in Midtown, “lunchtime” means a stop at Beyond Sushi–the Asian-fusion hotspot specializing in vegan sushi—colorful, healthy plant-based rolls paired with tofu-based sauces. Organic purple barley, short grain brown rice and Chinese black forbidden rice are used in place of plain white rice, adding more protein, fiber and iron. For your daily dose of fruits and vegetables, order the popular Spicy Mango roll, filled with crunchy mango, cucumber, avocado and julienned vegetables topped with toasted cayenne dressing.
AFTERNOON BOOST: 4 PM
The Little Beet, 135 West 50th St. (between Sixth Ave. and Seventh Ave.), 212-459-2338
To trump an afternoon energy slump, head to The Little Beet for gluten-free food and drinks. Order the white bean and kale soup and eat in the pretty dining room filled with rustic, sustainable furnishings.
DINNER: 7 PM
Molyvos, 871 7th Ave (between Seventh and Sixth Ave.), 212-582-7500
Stop by Molyvos for some of the best Greek food in NYC, and indulge in the prix fixe three-course menu—a steal at $40 per person from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, and again at 9:30pm to closing. We like the grilled marinated salmon with spinach and tomato rice pilaf—and not only because it makes us feel better about eating all the dessert.
DESSERT: 10 PM
Ample Hills Creamery, Gotham West Market, 600 11th Ave., 212-582-9354
End your day with a cup of Ample Hills homemade ice cream made from hormone-free milk and cream from grass-fed cows and organic cane sugar. (See, it’s healthy! That’s our story and we’re sticking to it.) Based in Gowanus, Brooklyn, Ample Hills Creamery bakes their mix-ins from scratch, creating unique flavors with conscientious ingredients. You’ll find most of their flavors at their Gotham West Market outpost, from “Peppermint Pattie”—peppermint ice cream with chocolate flakes and homemade dark chocolate-covered peppermint patties—to the dairy-free “Salute!”—sorbet made with wild Maine blueberries and limoncello.
