Published Oct 20, 2016

The 14 healthy restaurants you need to try in New York City this fall

A round-up of healthy restaurants and cafes to eat in New York City, all either newly opened or starring an innovative fall menu.

The 14 healthy restaurants you need to try in New York City this fall

A round-up of healthy restaurants and cafes to eat in New York City, all either newly opened or starring an innovative fall menu.

Published Oct 20, 2016

Written by

Emily Laurence

Photo: The Poke Spot

Published Oct 20, 2016

Written by

Emily Laurence

Our editors independently select these products. Making a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission

With thousands upon thousands of restaurants in New York City, deciding where to eat on any given day can feel weirdly complex—especially because the dining options here tend to change by the second.

Consider this list of the best new healthy restaurants (as well as some beloved standbys refreshing their menus big-time this fall) your lifeline.

Whether you’re looking for a brunch spot, a dinner destination, or somewhere to score seriously delish takeout on your lunch break, it’s all here.

These are the 14 best healthy restaurants to eat at in New York City right now—bookmark it now so you’ll be that friend who always knows where to go.

Ladybird

After crafting a mouthwatering menu for the vegan hotspot Mother of Pearl—kalua jackfruit and dragon fried rice FTW!—chef Daphne Cheng poured her energy into Ladybird, a vegan tapas bar owned by restauranteur Ravi DeRossi of Bourgeois Pig fame. (It’s actually in the former Bourgeois Pig space on MacDougal.) Standouts include baby beets (with blood orange jelly and lemon ricotta, obvi), vegetable charcuterie (with smoked carrot, mushroom pate, beet chorizo, fig compote, and roasted grape), and smoked cauliflower (with grape relish, honeydew, and miso butter). Really, there isn’t a single dish on the menu that’s not exquisitely crafted.

Ladybird, 127 MacDougal St., New York, NY 10012, 212-475-2246, ladybirdny.com

alt — *Photo: Instagram/@modernlovebrooklyn*

Modern Love Brooklyn

Isa Chandra Moskowitz is a household name in the plant-based food world—if you’re vegan, there’s a good chance you’ve at least flipped through one of her best-selling cookbooks—and her long-awaited Modern Love Brooklyn is finally open in Williamsburg, serving up “swanky vegan comfort food.” The most Instagrammable dish on the menu? The brussels and shiitake bacon, which, with its edible flowers, tastes even better than it looks.

Modern Love Brooklyn, 317 Union Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11211, modernlovebrooklyn.com

The Wild Son

The Wild Son opened this past summer as a healthy breakfast and lunch spot serving gluten-free buckwheat pancakes and drinking vinegars with activated charcoal. Now owners Robert Ceraso and Jason Mendenhall—the duo behind The Wayland and Good Night Sonny—have rolled out a dinner menu that also offers plenty of delicious, deceptively simple dishes. Standouts include raw walnut pate with house cashew cheese and charred kale with vegan breadcrumbs.

The Wild Son, 53 Little W. 12th St., New York, NY 10014, 212-727-7900, thewildsonnyc.com

The PokéSpot

It’s increasingly hard to stand out in the healthy fast-casual scene, but The PokéSpot has managed it—and it’s got the lunchtime crowds to prove it. On the menu? Signature bowls like the Spicy Salmon with masago, cucumber, and Sriracha aioli (you can get it on top of rice, zucchini noodles, or salad), as well as avocado boats—where the avocado basically becomes the bowl. Um, genius.

The PokéSpot, 120 4th Ave., New York, NY 10003, 212-933-0971, pokespot.com

Inday

Since opening last fall, Inday has established itself as a buzzy grab-and-go destination for health-conscious foodies—and its revamped menu for fall makes it clear why. In addition to two new base options (a squash trio of roasted acorn, delicata, and butternut squash with pumpkin seeds, as well as pink kelp noodles), the menu now includes an apple lentil curry and a sweet potato and purple carrot side. Spicy, comforting, and way more autumnal than a PSL.

Inday, 1133 Broadway, New York, NY 11010, 917-521-5015, indaynyc.com

OCA Positive Food

It’s a small spot, but what New York’s first Brazilian tapiocaria does, it does so well—from the decor to the food. Everything served is seasonal, organic, and locally sourced, meaning the menu changes every month. But the staple is the gluten-free Brazilian tapioca starch, used to create a crisp, flavorful crepe. It’s total perfection in dishes like the Egg ‘n’ Oca, (tapioca starch, farm eggs, parmesan cheese, oregano, and tomato)—and make sure to leave room for their strawberry cashew nut shake, a just-sweet-enough treat blended with OCA’s homemade alt-milk.

OCA Positive Food, 250 Mott St., New York, NY 10012, 212-966-0622, ocastore.com

Rouge Tomate Chelsea

Rouge Tomate’s new Chelsea location is your new date night go-to. Not only does the Michelin-starred restaurant have an extensive wine list, it also serves nutrient-dense plates like zucchini with quinoa, daikon, baby bok choy, and smoked onion, or chicken with sunflower seed “risotto” and leeks. A win for meat eaters, vegetarians, and wine lovers.

Rouge Tomate Chelsea, 126 W. 18th St., New York, NY 10011, 646-395-3978, rougetomatechelsea.com

Farmer & The Fish

Do you really, truly know where your food comes from? Farmer & The Fish makes it easy, with more than three-quarters of the ingredients sourced directly from the restaurant’s farm in North Salem, New York. (The seafood is from founding partner Edward Taylor’s sustainable NYC-based company, Down East Seafood.) You can’t go wrong with the surf-and-turf offerings, but standouts include the farmer’s sushi (wild salmon, tuna, scarlet turnips, and African blue basil) or the Maine mussels (with Thai green curry broth and lemongrass).

Farmer & The Fish, 245 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003, 646-998-5991, farmerandthefish.com

Urban Vegan Kitchen

Restaurateurs Pamela Elizabeth and David Tianga (who’ve been killing it with their Blossom Du Jour empire) definitely want diners to kick back, have fun, and stay a while. Need proof? See the just-opened Urban Vegan Kitchen. There’s a DJ who keeps things in party mode from brunch through dinner, all while guests nosh on cuisine like chickpea hush puppies, tacos, and Mexican street corn with chili lime aioli, and cilantro. Festive, fun, and tasty? Yes, please!

Urban Vegan Kitchen, 43 Carmine Street, New York, NY 10014, 646-438-9939, urbanvegankitchen.com

ReViVer

Everything at ReViVer—which has one location in Columbus Circle and a new outpost in the Flatiron District—is guaranteed to be good for you, because this restaurant’s whole raison d’êtreis is turning out food backed by nutrition science. Each menu item has a nutrient score, is low in sugar, and was created with 10 key nutrients in mind (think vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and good-for-you fatty acids). The resulting menu is wide-ranging, including everything from apricot dijon chicken to mahi curry to—yes—burgers.

ReViVer 934 8th Ave., New York, NY 10019, 917-475-1711 and 303 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010, 646-952-0014, revivernyc.com

Latin Beet Kitchen

Latin Beet Kitchen takes the healthy fast-casual trend and applies it to South American food. Think zoodle bowls topped with crispy corn cancha and salsa criolla, or gluten-free arepas filled with avocado and asparagus, with an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients. And now the three-month-old Flatiron hotspot has rolled out a weekend brunch menu, where you can enjoy a spiked latte (made with pisco, cacao liquor, Devocion espresso, housemade cashew milk, and dates) alongside your egg-topped grain bowl.

Latin Beet Kitchen, 43 W. 24th St., New York, NY 10010, 212-929-1200, latinbeet.com

Hu Kitchen

Hu Kitchen is a healthy eating mainstay at this point, but its updated fall menu definitely offers something new. There’s Paleo-friendly cauliflower hummus (which is completely beanless), broccoli and “cheese” soup (with a homemade zucchini cheese), and organic chicken pot pie at the bowl station. Not like you needed an excuse to pick up one of their amazing chocolate bars….

Hu Kitchen, 78 5th Ave., New York, NY 10011, 212-510-8919 and 1536 3rd Ave., New York, NY 10028, 212-335-2105, hukitchen.com

Divya’s Kitchen

This new East Village restaurant is the very first to apply the ancient principles of Ayurvedic cooking to Italian, Mediterranean, Indian, and Asian cuisine. The result? Delicious, veggie-first dishes served with quinoa and whole grains. Plus, everything on the menu is paired with suggested teas, tonics, cold-pressed juices, or house-made herbal juices. Good for your doshaand your tastebuds.

Divya’s Kitchen, 25 1st St. New York, NY 10003, 212-477-4864, divyaskitchen.com

Nix

No one takes brunch as seriously as New Yorkers and this fall the always-packed vegetarian restaurant Nix (which opened its doors earlier this year) is getting in on the game. The cashew yogurt topped with toasted coconut granola and berries is creamy and just sweet enough, while the Egg In The Hole is a seriously delicious way to enjoy your eggs and toast. As with dinner, reservations are strongly encouraged.

Nix, 72 University Place, New York, NY 10003, 212-498-9393, nixny.com

Don’t have time to sit and linger? These are the best (healthy) cafes in NYC right now. And if you’d rather cook at home, all of these dinner recipes can be made in 15 minutes or less.

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Food Nutrition

Published Mar 7, 2025

Hold Up: Is Your Nutrition App Working Against You?

Here are 6 warning signs experts say to watch out for when using nutrition and fitness apps.

Hold Up: Is Your Nutrition App Working Against You?

Here are 6 warning signs experts say to watch out for when using nutrition and fitness apps.

Published Mar 7, 2025

Written by

Korin Miller

Photo: Getty

Published Mar 7, 2025

Written by

Korin Miller

Fitness and nutrition tracking apps provide an easy way to keep tabs on your health data. But new research suggests that you could accidentally work against your health goals when you use these platforms.

The scientific review, which was published in the journal Body Image, analyzed data from 38 studies on fitness and diet apps, along with symptoms people had while using them. The researchers ultimately found that people who used health and fitness apps regularly were more likely to struggle with disordered eating, body image concerns, and compulsive exercise.

While it’s hard to say whether the concerning habits or apps came first, mental health professionals aren’t shocked by the findings. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll fall into damaging health habits if you use one of these apps, but this is an important association to at least be aware of, according to Hillary Ammon, PsyD, a clinical psychologist at the Center for Anxiety & Women's Emotional Wellness.

Below, mental health providers break down why fitness apps can work against your health, plus warning signs that your use is venturing into unhealthy territory.

How are tracking apps working against your health goals?

There are a few things that could be happening here. “We don't necessarily know that diet and fitness apps ‘cause’ symptoms of disordered eating, body image concerns, and compulsive exercise,” says Isabella Anderberg, lead study author and researcher at Flinders University. Meaning, it’s entirely possible that people who already have concerns around eating and body image are drawn to the apps as a way to manage this, Anderberg says.

But some apps can also create an environment that can be stressful, says Rebecca Boswell, PhD, a clinical associate professor of psychiatry and director of psychiatric services at Penn Medicine. “Diet and fitness apps set rules about how people should and should not eat and exercise,” she points out. “They are designed to provide praise for eating less and punishment for eating more.” Boswell also notes that these apps are also designed to encourage activity to compensate for eating.

Certain apps also offer guidelines that can be customized without flagging goals that aren’t medically or nutritionally sound, Boswell says. “Apps often default to very low-calorie recommendations, e.g. 1,200 calories, the recommended intake for a toddler, and do not raise flags when people lower their ‘budgets,’” she says. “They rarely focus on the quality, balance, and nutritional density of foods.”

These apps tend to center around numbers and setting goals, which can be “unhelpful” for some people, Ammon says. Some even contain images that push thinness as an ideal body type, which excludes the rest of the population, she adds.

Who does this impact?

Again, plenty of people use fitness and wellness apps with no issue, and the link between problematic health behaviors and this tech is still being explored. But certain people may be more susceptible to developing unhealthy behaviors while using fitness apps than others.

People with a previous history of disordered eating or body image concerns should probably steer clear of these apps, Ammon says. “This is because these apps can bring greater focus to their eating habits, caloric intake, and weight,” she explains. “Individuals with disordered habits tend to track caloric intake or caloric deficits, as a means of controlling weight [and] these apps can enhance those tracking habits with real time metrics and reminders.”

People who have struggled with overtraining in the past may also be at risk of using these apps in an unhealthy way, says Eric Storch, PhD, professor and vice chair of psychology at Baylor College of Medicine.

But even if you don’t have a history of disordered behavior around food or exercise, Ammon says it’s still a good idea to keep an eye on how you react to fitness and health apps—especially if you tend to be very goal-oriented or have a type A personality. Boswell agrees. “People who are prone to perfectionism may have a harder time flexibly using these apps, especially because of their greater sensitivity to reward and punishment,” she says. “It’s very hard for some people to get feedback that they’re not getting an A+ in health behaviors, even when the healthier behaviors might be striking a balance and setting more moderate goals.”

What are the signs your app isn’t helping?

There are a few clues that your app isn’t being a positive force in your life.

1.
Being rigid around your app is a big red flag. “When you start to seem like you ‘have to’ work out daily or ‘have to’ track every single calorie ingested or burned, it may be teetering with an unhelpful focus on these habits,” Ammon says.
2.
Feeling frazzled about not meeting certain goals can also be a warning sign that something is off, she says. “If you notice yourself getting anxious or distressed because you didn’t hit your move goal for a day, it may be worth exploring why you need to hit that goal daily,” Ammon says.
3.
Guilt is also an emotion to be wary of, Anderberg says. Meaning, while it’s OK to feel a little disappointed that you didn’t make a goal on any given day, you shouldn’t feel guilty about it.
4.
This is more indirect, but is still important: Boswell recommends keeping tabs on your internal monologue when using these apps. “If you can’t stop thinking about food or activity, it’s time to take a break and listen to your body instead of an app,” she says.
5.
Negative lifestyle impact is also a big warning sign that this isn’t a good fit for you, according to Ammon. She cites examples like staying up late to burn 500 calories before the end of the day because you feel pressure to, or cancelling plans with friends because you feel like you need to fit in a workout that day as being problematic.

How to use an app in a productive, healthy way

Ammon points out that there are risks and rewards to practically every decision you make in life, including using health and fitness apps. “Rewards can be an improved lifestyle and improved physical health,” she says. “For many, these apps can act as an accountability system with virtual rewards.” Focusing on the positive—as in, you’re doing the best you can to support your health and wellness—is a productive way to view these apps, she says.

Storch also recommends trying to be flexible in how you use these apps, looking at them as more of a guide than what you have to do on any given day. “Approach these apps as a tool to achieve goals, but ones that should be used flexibly versus rigidly, and without angst motivating their use,” he says.

Of course, if you start using an app and you find that you don’t have a good relationship with it, it’s OK to stop. “It’s important to approach them with some level of caution,” Boswell says. “However, not everyone will have a negative experience with diet and fitness apps, and some might find them to be a helpful tool.”

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These are the 14 best healthy restaurants to eat at in New York City right now—bookmark it now so you’ll be that friend who always knows where to go.

Sign Up for Our Daily Newsletter

Get all the latest in wellness, trends, food, fitness, beauty, and more delivered right to your inbox.

How are tracking apps working against your health goals?

Who does this impact?

What are the signs your app isn’t helping?

How to use an app in a productive, healthy way

Sign Up for Our Daily Newsletter

Get all the latest in wellness, trends, food, fitness, beauty, and more delivered right to your inbox.

All Stories

Your Daily Horoscope for March 10, 2025

25 Immune-Boosting Comfort Food Recipes

Yes, You *Do* Need a Pair of Barrel Jeans—Because They Look Amazing on Everyone

The Best Wellness Sales This Weekend: Athleta, Cozy Earth, and More

It’s Time To Stop Believing These 7 Myths About Endometriosis

Yes, You Do Need a Pair of Barrel Jeans—Because They Look Amazing on Everyone