During quarantine, I decided I wanted to get back into clean eating, which is sometimes hard for me when all I want to do is order out instead of cooking a meal. I let myself order out once a week as a treat for myself and my stomach.
Sushi You – Bloomfield, NJ
Sushi has always been my go-to comfort food, so that was one of the first things I searched for when things began to open up. I’ve been to Sushi You in Bloomfield plenty of times before COVID so I knew they had cheap, yet good quality sushi. I try to keep my diet on a high protein, low carb basis, so I usually order 4 pieces of salmon sashimi, a vegetable roll, a salmon avocado roll and Alaska maki. It’s great because it’s really high in protein, has a bit of carbs and a bit of fat (thank you avocado!) which is exactly what I need. This meal usually keeps me full until dinner time.
Lovin’ Today – Woodbridge, NJ
A place that I discovered from the comfort of my home was Lovin’ Today in Woodridge, which is mainly a vegetarian-vegan place. I’ve fallen in love with their vegan tacos, Lauren, which contains: vegan chicken, broccoli, onion, jalapeno, vegan cheese, chipotle sauce, cilantro on a gluten-free corn tortilla. I’ve also been experimenting with their wellness shots and juices. I love that when you go on each juice or health shot, it tells you what it helps your body with. I usually go for the Lemon Ginger Zinger juice, which is best for liver function, and their Mean Green shot, good for energy, detox and immunity. I wouldn’t solely rely on these juices for a diet but they should be good for a little boost in your body!
The 3rd Wave Cafe and Crepe Place – Lyndhurst, NJ
The 3rd Wave Cafe and Crepe place in Lyndhurst is another place I found during the quarantine. I was able to try their lunch special chicken kabobs (high protein!) with baked potatoes (fiber and healthy carbs!) on the side and gluten-free tzatziki sauce. My best friend, who’s a vegetarian, loved their veggie sandwich that’s made with black bean burger, tomatoes, avocado and hummus spread on multigrain bread with baked potatoes on the side as well. Of course, I had to try one of their juices and went with their Energy juice, I’m always in need of some extra energy. They even let you have the choice to create your own juice blend, but they do have a very limited selection of wellness shots compared to Lovin’ Today, though I feel that their savory crepes, sweet crepes and smoothie bowls make up for that. When there, I talked to one of the employees and they actually told me they’re working on updating their menu to things like protein pancakes and waffles! I’m definitely trying to get another meal there again soon.
The great thing about these places is that they allow you to pick meals to fit your needs, whether it’s protein, carbs or fat you’re looking for. And hey, it’s only a treat so don’t be afraid to try some of the less healthy options on their menus!