Last month, I celebrated my eight year anniversary as a gluten-free diner. While it’s not by choice (Shout out to the celiacs!), the dietary change opened my eyes to a new world of food. Throughout childhood, I was never a picky eater. I ate everything that was in front of me without a second thought. It wasn’t until my diagnosis that I took another look at what fueled my body.
Even more recently, a growing number of diners have been doing the same. Whether it’s for an allergy or a purposeful elimination, people around the world, are re-evaluating their relationship with food. With that, new diet plans and food trends have followed.
There are still strict vegans out there — who make up 3 percent of Americans according to a recent Gallup snapshot finding — but there are also a growing number of people interested in learning more about plant-based diets. There will always be people looking to drop a few pounds, but there are even more interested in seeing how their bodies would react to a few less processed food items.
This progression has led restaurants to become more transparent about their offerings. Now more than ever, diners can feel comfortable having a conversation with restaurant staff about what ingredients are used in the dishes. And it’s easier to ask if the kitchen can make something healthy (and tasty) for someone on a restrictive diet. Whether your diet is a lifestyle or you are just interested in becoming more aware of your food choices, you deserve to know your options. And these local restaurants are providing a smoother process thanks to their knowledgeable teams and accommodating menus.
Vegetarian and Vegan Diners
Making up 5 percent and 3 percent of the national population, respectively, vegetarian and vegan choices are becoming more mainstream. While fast-casual stops like Juice Junkies may seem like obvious choices because of the array of drinks, the Keller restaurant also has a vegan bites menu. The expansive list includes everything from the Meatloof Wrap — shredded carrots, shredded romaine, pickled purple onions, sweet and spicy pickles, balsamic/mayo dressing, JJ’s seasoning in a whole wheat tortilla (gluten-free tortillas are also available) — to the Better Than “Tuna” Salad — chickpeas, celery, shallots, dill pickle, vegan mayo, mustard, sea salt, black pepper, romaine, cucumber and black olives. Paired with one of the shop’s rich drinks, this full meal has enough interesting flavors and textures to keep you going.
For a hearty, juicy bite, The Impossible Burger at Hopdoddy is a must. The patty is made entirely of plants and it can be paired with vegan smoked gouda and vegenaise to make it fully vegan. Malai Kitchen also offers rich vegan offerings like the Vegetable Spring Rolls and Iron Pot Green Curry with Tofu. Just be sure to talk with your waiter to see the selections available to you. And to cap off the nice meal out, and vegan diners can enjoy the Mango Sticky Rice or head over to Cinnaholic to enjoy a plant-based sweet.
Vegetarians can also find filling food at all of those establishments as well as at eateries like Luna Grill. With starters like bright Stuffed Grape Leaves and Sweet Potato Fries served with chipotle sauce; entrees like the Veggie Kabob, mushroom, squash, onion and bell pepper served with hummus; and beautiful salads like the Modern Greek Salad, topped with crispy
chickpeas, feta cheese, Greek olives, sliced pepperoncini, tomato, cucumber, house pickled red onions and house vinaigrette, it’s easy to build out a full-course meal while dining in. And for a salad that’s much more than lettuce on a plate, Southlake’s latest healthy eatery Coolgreens clearly marks which items can be made with fresh, vegetarian ingredients.
“Free” Diners
This is for all you gluten-, dairy-, and soy-free eaters out there. Getting your hands on the nutrition or allergen menu is key to eating out successfully, and thankfully, it’s now normally housed on restaurants’ websites. For gluten-free pizza that offers a crust that still holds up, Delucca Gaucho allows diners to order a custom gluten-free pie, made with a tapioca flour crust, with up to two toppings. Gluten-free pasta and garlic bread can be enjoyed at Taverna Rossa.
Unleavened Fresh Kitchen clearly marks what dishes can be made to accommodate gluten-free diners, including the Havana Wrap, guava-glazed pulled pork, ham, chopped horseradish pickle, sliced red cabbage, swiss and honey mustard with a gluten-free tortilla, and the Grilled Sweet Corn, fresh-shucked corn topped with shallot, harissa crema, lime, ancho, cilantro and cotija.
For a sit-down meal, P.F. Chang’s has an extensive menu that includes Chicken Pad Thai, Chang’s Lettuce Wraps and Fried Rice. The Chinese restaurant even has a gluten-free sauce arrangement available for interested guests. If you are just looking to grab a sweet while out on the town, Pure Cafe has a gluten-free bakery featuring brownies, muffins and s’more bites.
Emilee Prado
Dairy-free diners can often find good options where vegan dishes are served (Cashew cheese is alive and well.), which means a trip to Modern Market can provide a lot of choices. With shareable plates like the Modern Mushroom Pizza, which can be served with no cheese or vegan cheese, people of all ages can still enjoy this fun comfort food. The menu also includes an array of bowls and salads that contain no dairy, and they even have seven salad dressings for guests to choose from.
Keller’s Rush Bowls also provides dairy-free and soy-free dishes for those who still want a creamy, healthy meal. Just ask the staff to make your a.a. without those products and get ready to dive into a treat that won’t make you miss the allergens.
More soy-free options await at Las Colinas’ Freshii. The nutrition and allergen guide is conveniently located on their site, so guests can peruse the list beforehand, which states soy-free diners can eat everything from the tangy Fiesta Wrap to the Thai-inspired Bamboo Bowl.
Short-Term Regime
Whether you are dedicated to Whole30 or playing around with paleo, there are a range of popular regimes that can help diners be more intentional with food. Some routinely use these diets to drop a few pounds before a big event (Hello, me again...) or to eliminate certain ingredients to see if they feel better as they eat a cleaner diet.
For those unfamiliar with these holistic choices, let’s start with the most strict: Whole30. This 30-day plan cuts out things like sugar, dairy, grains and alcohol from participants’ diets and can act as a “short-term nutrition reset,” according to the Whole30 website. Because diners need to focus on eating whole foods, it can be the hardest plan to execute while eating out at restaurants. But now, nearby eateries are introducing Whole30 compliant meals.
Southlake’s Snap Kitchen makes grabbing a healthy breakfast, lunch or dinner pre-made meal easy and tasty with fun flavors. The Whole30 dishes include Chopped Brisket with BBQ Sauce and Chicken Piccata that are accompanied by flavorful sauces that will make you feel like you aren’t missing out on taste. Zoe’s Kitchen also has a Whole30 approved menu including the Chicken Kabobs, Moroccan Citrus Roasted Chicken (sans turmeric rice) and Potato Salad. Plus, the beloved Zoe's Dressing is Whole30, so you can grab a bottle and enjoy it on the dishes you are creating at home.
For paleo (a dietary plan that models prehistoric human diets — normally made up of lean meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds) and keto (a low-carb, high-fat diet) diners, Chipotle has a bowl for you. The quick stop eatery rolled out a new line of lifestyle bowls at the beginning of this year that is perfect for people trying to eat out on a diet.
The Paleo Salad Bowl features romaine lettuce, barbacoa, fajita vegetables, green salsa and guacamole while the Keto Salad Bowl includes romaine lettuce, carnitas, red salsa, cheese and guacamole. Even if you are not dedicated to one of these plans, these bowls are a great way to get in your protein while on the go. For a sweet, Steel City Pops introduced a new array of paleo pops: Paleo Mixed Berry, Paleo Chocolate and Bosc Pear with Honey.
It’s easier now more than ever to enjoy a meal out, no matter your specific diet. It might take a little bit of research and a quick conversation with the restaurant, but gone are the days of settling for the one and only option on the menu. And as more restaurants start to see the value in accommodation, diners will be able to put more stops on their “friendly” lists, which is for the best, because everyone is happier when they aren’t hungry.