Healthy Eating in the Hood: Elmhurst Restaurants Offer Plenty of Options

I've been fortunate enough to dine out in restaurants since I was a little tyke. My parents ate out weekly at their favorite round of restaurants and always included me from a very young age. As an only child, I was expected to behave like a little lady, and as such, I was treated to a variety of interesting cuisine: French, Spanish, Greek and more.

So dining out is in my blood. I love the ambience and experience of restaurants, but it can be tough to accommodate a healthy diet when you don't have control over the ingredients. Americans are frequenting restaurants more than ever for their meals. Could this be part of the reason for our country's collective expanding waistlines?

In a new series of articles, we'll give you a guide to eating healthy and lower calorie meals in the Elmhurst area. We'll also talk about several alternative-eating lifestyles that some practice. Hopefully this will help you next time you want to enjoy a meal out but still eat healthy.

The Salad

Salads are the iconic representation of a low-calorie meal—but they are not always low-cal. For example, only in America can we take a combination of high fat meat and cheese, a fried tortilla shell and a ton of sour cream and call it a taco "salad."

When done right, though, a salad is an ideal way to obtain all the necessary servings of a variety of vegetables and can be quite filling for lunch or dinner. In fact, in college I survived a whole semester eating from the salad bar rather than the pasty, tasteless stuff that substituted as food in the dorms. I lost five pounds, had clear skin and more energy than ever.

Raw foodies have known this secret for years. Consider author and raw food enthusiast Mimi Kirk. On her Web page, Kirk credits the secret to her vibrant, healthy looks to eating only raw, living foods. Would you believe that Kirk is 72 years old?  While she certainly has good genetics on her side (she was a former actress and showgirl), her lifestyle certainly plays a huge role in her youthful appearance. 

Raw foodists believe that living food in an uncooked state is the most nutritious food for our body. Cooking anything above a temperature of 104 to 118 degrees Farenheit is believed to destroy important enzymes, according to the raw food theory. Higher heats can also cause the formation of harmful chemical compounds, such as HCA's (heterocyclic amines) and glycation.

There are many different types of raw foodists, but a large percentage are typically vegan or vegetarian. Benefits of this type of alternative eating include less inflammation in the body, more energy, a vibrant, youthful appearance and less chance of disease.

While Kirk is likely a 100 percent raw foodist, there's a growing number of people who eat this way for 60 to 75 percent of their meals. While they are still reaping many of the benefits of a raw diet, they are still able to enjoy a meal out or an occasional piece of fish.

Elmhurst resident Betsy Padilla began incorporating a raw food diet into her life several months ago. By making gradual changes in her eating, her goal is to eat raw 60 percent of the time.

"I wanted to live a healthier lifestyle and have more energy," Padilla said.  "I was tired of feeling tired and sluggish."

Padilla juices and make smoothies from vegetables, nuts and fruits several times during the day. Her skin, she says, is clearer and she has more energy and mental clarity than before.

"If I juice and eat raw during the day, and get a workout in, I can enjoy a healthy meal out in the evening," says Padilla. 

Padilla shares her smoothies and juices with her family. Her teenage boys also love these healthy creations.

Padilla (@yummysexyfoods) will be chronicling her endeavor on her blog starting Monday, where she will share healthy recipes, tips and strategies. 

Finding a Healthy Salad

, in downtown Elmhurst, offers a salad bar featuring several healthy toppings that change daily. The staff makes the salad so there is no chance of contamination by others.

has a delicious Amano Salad, made with fresh greens, pears, Michigan cherries, and gorgonzola cheese (raw foodies can ask to hold the cheese), along with a number of other salads. Chef and owner Marco Conte claims that all their servers can tell you the exact ingredients in all their entrees.

Zenwich, located in north Elmhurst, has a unique assortment of salads and sandwiches. They were recently featured on ABC7's Hungry Hound segment. Try their vegetarian Ginger Salad or Zen Salad. They also have a delicious Soba Noodle Salad.

 features a number of salads and lists their calorie count on the menu board so that you can make an informed decision.  While some are great choices, there are a few that are high in calories. 

Raw foodies, vegetarians and healthy eaters will also appreciate Jason's Deli, located at 2060 York Road in Oak Brook.  Their fabulous salad bar features organic greens and spinach and more than 24 vegetables and toppings, most of them healthy. Toppings include organic carrots, peas, peppers, artichokes, broccoli, cauliflower, sunflower seeds and other nuts, raisins and trail mix, edamame, cottage cheese and more. They also have a wide selection of healthy sandwiches, wraps and soups. 

Jason's has one of the best salad bars I've ever seen, and the price is right: $8 for a large container.  There's a large shield protecting the food from environmental contaminants and people's breathing.  The staff is constantly cleaning and refreshing the items.

There are many other healthy and delicious salads at our Elmhurst area restaurants. Just watch out for several things when assessing a salad: creamy dressings and toppings (no sour cream!), an abundance of cheese, added sugar on nuts and fried toppings. Ask for your dressing on the side so you can control the amount used. And most restaurants will hold an ingredient if you ask them ahead of time.

Portion control is so important; even a salad or a handful of healthy nuts can get out of control if you eat too much. Smaller portions equal healthier digestion and less pounds, no matter what you eat.

Next month, we'll assess our dinner choices at a couple of local dining establishments.