Bites Nearby: Liquid Planet

Back when you were little and your parents crabbed at you to eat right, it felt like a punishment. But one of the joys of growing up is finding out that you can eat right and also indulge in wonderful tastes.

That’s the idea behind Liquid Planet in the Cedar Fairmount Business District. And the pleasures there come from fine, fresh foods prepared in a variety of ways to delight the palate from morning to night.

From stuffed pitas to rice bowls and from inventive salads to an immense roster of smoothies, it shouldn’t be hard to visit this planet and find a galaxy of favorites.

There are more than 40 smoothies to choose from, in categories ranging from oatmeal to dessert. The Elvis Chill features (yes, you saw it coming) peanut butter and banana, while the fiber-flexing CranStrawberry smoothie is made with organic oats, cranberry juice, strawberries and whey protein.

If Peter Piper wanted to pack a pita (instead of pick a pepper), he’d go crazy at Liquid Planet. There are multiple grilled cheese, vegetarian and roast beef versions, just to name three of the eight pita groupings. The Beef and Horsey Sauce pita includes those two ingredients along with Swiss cheese, lettuce and tomato.

Rice bowls are served with many popular toppings, such as vegetarian black bean and chicken paprikash. And then there are Sunny Pizzas, personal 9-inch pies with several varieties (creamy peppercorn chicken, barbecue veggie).

Mom and dad were right, eating good stuff is definitely the way to go, especially at Liquid Planet.

12413 Cedar Road, 216-791-3700. Open: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week. Prices: Pitas $3.49 - $6.99, Smoothies $3.95 - $5.95, Rice bowls $7.95