25 Charlotte spots to try if you want healthy options

Eat good, feel good: The healthy living pros at OrthoCarolina say that eating a nutrient-rich diet can help boost your immune system.

Take note: They recommend eating multiple servings of colorful fruits and vegetables, avoiding simple sugars, and eating lean animal (or plant-based) proteins.

• Get all of OrthoCarolina’s immunity-strengthening tips here.

This content was last updated in January 2022. 

Restaurants

Living Kitchen

Gorgeous plant-based spot with an emphasis on organic, raw dishes, plus juices and smoothies

Go-to order: The Living Burrito – hummus, pico, cauliflower rice, sprouts, guac and cashew sour cream wrapped in a collard leaf

Price range: Dishes start at $8, smoothies and juices are $9

Location: Atherton in South End

Oh My Soul

South African-based vegan restaurant with reimagined comfort food, wine, and cocktails 

Go-to order: Grilled Barbeque vibs, served by the half or full rack (yes, they’re called vibs)

Price range: $9-$22

Location: NoDa, across from the Johnston YMCA

Yafo Kitchen

Local chain serving Mediterranean dishes with Middle Eastern flavor

Go-to order: Shawarma chicken grain bowl with a side of hummus

Price range: $9-$13

Location: SouthPark, Plaza Midwood, and Dilworth

Fern, Flavors from the Garden

Vegetarian restaurant with organic, vegan, and gluten-free options, too

Go-to order: Fried chick’n wrap (house-made vegan chicken, coconut bacon, smoked tomato ranch, lettuce, tomato)

Price range: Entrees are $10-$16

Location: Dilworth, on East Boulevard

Kid Cashew

Mediterranean-focused menu with small plates, cocktails, and a dedicated vegan menu

Go-to order: Quinoa-stuffed avocado

Price range: Small plates start at $6, entrees start at $10

Location: Dilworth, on East Boulevard

ROOTS Cafe

All-day spot with breakfast, brunch, and lunch items made with locally-sourced ingredients

Go-to order: Roots Bowl with sweet potatoes, braised black beans, and creamy verde sauce

Price range:  $7.50-$13.50

Location: South End, just off South Blvd near Lowe’s

Greco Fresh Grill

Local fast-casual Greek chain 

Go-to order: Falafel pita with lettuce, tomato, red onion, and tzatziki

Price range: Entrees are $6-$13

Locations: Steele Creek, Blakeney, Matthews, Wesley Chapel, SouthPark and Colony Place

Flower Child

Popular health food restaurant with several locations throughout the Southwest and California

Go-to order: Mother Earth bowl with salmon

Price range: Bowls start at $10, salads start at $9

Location: South End (at the intersection of Park and Camden)

Eight + Sand Kitchen

Salads, vegan options, and a full-service coffee menu in a beautiful space 

Go-to order: Green Goddess Avocado toast with green goddess spread, avocado, pickled red onion, arugula and an egg.

Price range: Dishes are $6-$13

Location: South End (on the ground floor of the new Bradham apartments right on the light rail)

Salata Salads

Build-to-order salad kitchen with 50 toppings to choose from.

Go-to order: Whatever you want – it’s build your own

Price range: Regular salads start at $9.50

Locations: Uptown

Coaltrane’s

South American-inspired rotisserie and chargrill. Everything is made from scratch and never fried.

Go-to order: Stuffed avocado bowl with chicken

Price range: Entrees start at $8.50, 1/2 roasted chicken is $13

Locations: Plaza Midwood on Central Avenue

Undercurrent Coffee

Coffee shop with carefully-sourced ingredients and sustainable practices 

Go-to order: Sunrise Yogurt bowl with orange zest, turmeric coconut cream, orange slices, buckwheat groats and pecans.

Price range: Food ranges from $5-$13

Locations: Plaza Midwood and Optimist Hall

Grab-and-Go

Green Brothers Juice Co.

Local chain with smoothies, juices, Açaí bowls, and GF & VG baked goods

Go-to order: Sir Purr smoothie (banana, cinnamon, cacao powder, blue manic, and almond milk)

Price range: $5.75-$10.50

Locations: Dilworth (near the Food Lion) and Uptown (inside the Energy Cafe at the bottom of the Omni Hotel Escalators)

Viva Raw

Juice bar with grab-and-go drinks and raw snacks

Go-to order: Green Harvest Juice

Price range: Juices start at $8
Location: Uptown (inside 7th Street Public Market)

Current status: Offering curbside pickup and delivery, plus they have a tuk tuk that drives around town

I Love Juice Bar

Juice bar with grab-and-go drinks, smoothies and bowls. 

Go-to order: The Sunny G with carrot, apple, pineapple, mint, ginger and lemon.

Price range: Juices start at $8
Location: Plaza Midwood

Rico’s Açaí

Açaí bowl spot owned by two Puerto Rican natives 

Go-to order: Rainbow bowl topped with banana, granola, strawberries, pineapple, kiwi, blueberries and raspberries

Price range: $8-$15
Locations: Plaza Midwood, Uptown (Bank of America Tower and 7th Street Public Market), Ballantyne (Rea Road), and South Park

Clean Juice

Organic juice, smoothie, and Açaí bowl chain started in Charlotte 

Go-to order: The berry bowl — an Açaí bowl topped with granola, strawberries, banana, and goji berries

Price range: Cold-pressed juices start at $6.04

Locations: South End, Park Crossing and Myers Park

CLT Nutrition

Smoothie bar concept where you get a two-part combo meal replacement shake and a flavored tea 

Go-to order: Frosted animal cookie shake

Price range: $12+ for a tea and shake combo

Location: South End near Scaleybark station

Berrybrook Farm

Natural food store with a juice bar and cafe 

Go-to order: Vegetarian Chick-N Sandwich

Price range: Lunch items are $5-$8

Location: Dilworth (at the corner of East Boulevard and Kenilworth Avenue)

Smooth Monkey

Funky spot for acai bowls, smoothies, shakes and more.

Go-to order: The Berry Berry bowl topped with granola, strawberry, blueberry, blackberry, raspberry, and hemp seeds

Price range: Smoothies start at $7.50, bowls start at $9.50

Location: Optimist Hall

Village Juice Co.

Juice bar originally from Winston-Salem serving smoothies, grain bowls, and salads

Go-to order: The Green Coco smoothie (housemade coconut milk, mango, cucumber, spinach, kale, banana, mint)

Price range: $6.95-$13

Location: Optimist Hall

Meal plan/delivery services

Get Fit Foods

Healthy to-go meals with options for breakfast lunch and dinner

Price range: Meal plans start at $50

Locations: Park Road, Ballantyne, Plaza Midwood, South End (between Blaze and Bulgogi Box)

Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen

Locally-sourced menu with gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options following FODMAP recommendations. 

Price range: Family meal packs start at $38, individual entrees start at $5. 
Location: South End, offers delivery anywhere in Charlotte and the greater area

Chop & Chisel

Meal service offering delivery and pickup with options to order by the item, pack, pound, and box 

Price range: Items start at $5.50

Locations: Uptown, and Edison Square Concord

Nourish

Meal delivery service with vegan and organic dishes 

Price range: Meal plans start at $53
Location: Delivery-based

For more healthy tips, check out OrthoCarolina’s blog.

This content was created in partnership with OrthoCarolina.