Healthy Restaurant Roundup 2: More Eateries from IIN Grads!

Earlier this month, we posted a mouthwatering, superfood-filled roundup of healthy restaurants opened by Integrative Nutrition grads—and boy did we get a response! It’s clear not only that our community is clamoring for recommendations on places to get great healthy food, but also that there are more fabulous eateries from IIN alumni out there than we could have imagined.

Through your enthusiastic comments on the blog and on Facebook, we learned of many more restaurants around the world opened by Health Coaches. So far, we’ve been blown away by the array of successful, unique, and creative establishments you've created, not to mention the desire of our community to support one another in their endeavors.

Based on your feedback, here are five more great restaurants from Integrative Nutrition alums—and be sure to check back next Tuesday for Round 3!

Greenstraw Smoothies, Newtown PA

When Kelly Anne Troy’s youngest son decided to boycott all healthy food, she responded by creating delicious whole food smoothies that the little guy couldn’t resist. These healthy, kid-approved drinks inspired the Integrative Nutrition graduate and her husband to open a full-blown smoothie shop. Now, the successful family business serves up their trademark smoothies to health-minded locals, along with cold pressed juices and nourishing snacks like acai bowls and whipped frozen bananas.

West East Bistro, Long Island

West East Bistro may be the only restaurant featuring a “Resident Health Coach”—and we think they’re onto something! IIN grad Raquel Wolf-Jadeja collaborates with her husband, a trained chef, to come up with the fare on the menu at this all-natural bistro and wine bar. Using only all-natural meats and organic veggies, they focus on food that’s good for you and for the planet, serving up Asian-inspired dishes like “mummy’s moong sprouts” with cha’at masala, blackened string beans, and even health-ified pot stickers!

Sun in Bloom, Brooklyn, NY

After grad Aimee Follette “realized the relationship between food and happiness,” she became inspired to share that vision with the world through a restaurant that provides patrons with food that makes them feel great. Specializing in gluten-free, vegan, and raw food, Sun in Bloom’s menu had our stomachs growling with items like macro bowls, raw alkalizing green soup, and a sunflower seed burrito.

Sissymama’s, Welches, OR

Amber Spears, whose empowering Health Coaching practice goes by the moniker Lush Lady Wellness, crafts Sissymama’s ever-changing menu with an emphasis on optimal nutrient density and local, seasonal, and organic ingredients. The 2011 grad whips up one Paleo and one vegan dish on most days, with a focus on bone broth soups from scratch, seasonal salads, and superfood-rich sweet treats (as well as many GAPS-approved dishes). I don’t know about you, but we want some vegan garlic tempeh, STAT!

Serendipity Café, Dunedin, FL

After IIN helped Kelly Mohr cure her own health issues by eating more vegetables and whole foods, she was motivated to spread the ripple effect by opening this completely gluten-free café the year after she graduated. Many of the menu items are vegan or vegetarian—though there is some meat on the menu for carnivores!—and all are organic and non-GMO. Serendipity’s slogan is “where healthy meets delicious,” and taking a look at menu items like the “Antioxidants Rock!” smoothie, brown rice pizza, and raw tacos, that seems like the perfect description!

Do you know of a great restaurant from an IIN grad? Tell us about it in the comments below!