13 Healthy Restaurants Outside the District That You Have to Try

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Diet-to-Go meals are the perfect solution for people who want a healthy, convenient way to eat right and lose weight.

But that doesn’t mean the occasional night out shouldn’t be on the menu, too.

Last week, we focused on 10 healthy restaurants in Washington, D.C., the perfect spots to visit for a night out without breaking your calorie budget.

This week, we’re looking at 13 healthy restaurants outside the beltway, near Lorton, Woodbridge, Fairfax, Centreville, Falls Church and Herndon in Virginia, as well as towns in Montgomery County, Maryland – like Bethesda, Rockville, Gaithersburg and Silver Spring.

 

1) Sweetgreen (Multiple locations)

With locations all over the country, including several in Maryland and Virginia, Sweetgreen offers delicious, seasonal concoctions like its Winter Waldorf, Curry Chickpea and Portobello Taco bowls. Warm bowls like the Pesto Portobello and Shroomami are among customer favorites, as are the numerous salads offered there. And as if the menu isn’t enough, everything Sweetgreen does is green — the company uses locally sourced, organic ingredients and is big about composting and recycling whenever possible. It even brings its philosophies to nearby schools to educate kids about eating right and living sustainably.

Go There!
 

2) Naked Lunch (Multiple locations)

Whether you’re a health nut or not, Naked Lunch’s vegetarian, vegan-friendly bowls are the bees-knees. They’re also wicked affordable (a steam bowl is just $7.75) and, located inside the Mom’s Organic Market, it’s a great spot for lunch. Oh, and did we mention they serve all that yumminess up in a compostable bowl? Talk about practicing what you preach.

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3) Cava Grill (Multiple locations)

Start with your base (salad, grains pita), add on some dips and spread (tzatziki, hummus, harissa, feta), then drop on a protein (falafel, chicken, braised beef, lamb, meatballs) and layer on the toppings (lettuce, onions, cabbage slaw, cucumbers, olives) and bam — you’ve got yourself a delicious, filling and super healthy meal. That’s the way Cava Grill does it, and exactly why it’s worth a visit.


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Pho Duong (Fairfax)

If you haven’t tried pho yet, you’re missing out. Here’s your chance. Make your way down to Pho Duong, a humble spot that makes up for its lack of decor with unique and tasty dishes served up quick by a super-attentive staff.

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GreenFare (Herndon)

GreenFare is a new restaurant, but it’s coming in with a bang. The food it serves up is all locally sourced and organic prepared oil- and salt-free. Besides its wide range of dishes (like mushroom risotto and alfredo pasta, for example), GreenFare offers cooking classes, author book signings and a 21-day healthy eating kickstart program.

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6) Brown Bag (Multiple locations)

Every little thing you could want out of a healthy restaurant, you’ll get with Brown Bag. All the food is made from scratch with locally sourced ingredients and all-natural, hormone-free meats. And the menu doesn’t lack for choices either. You can order soups, sandwiches, salads, wraps, noodle bowls, you name it. All delicious — and all super healthy.


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7) Sweet Leaf Café (Multiple locations)

Sweet Leaf is the kind of place you’ll go once for lunch, and then find yourself at again, and again, and again. That’s because the menu is super creative — using ingredients like basmati rice, mint, feta, cucumber, pitas, house-made pesto and much more — to create sandwiches, salads and bowls. Sweet Leaf also has a breakfast menu with some seriously scrumptious egg sandwiches.

8) Modern Market Eatery (Rockville)

A popular option in places like Colorado and Texas, Modern Market Eatery recently opened a location in Maryland. There’s a reason the restaurant is expanding like crazy, it’s beyond delicious. You can visit it for breakfast, lunch or dinner and always find something new and creative. They are all about using clean ingredients and offering healthy twists on favorites like pizza, salads, soups, beef/chicken plates and sandwiches.

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9) Sunflower Vegetarian Restaurant (Falls Church)

If eating vegetable doesn’t come easily to you, then you’ll want to make your way to Sunflower Vegetarian Restaurant. Why? Because the eatery is all about cooking vegetables in a way that makes them about as addicting as french fries (without all the guilt attached). It’s a bright, fun place to visit for a Sunday brunch.

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10) Queen Amannisa (Arlington)

For something a bit outside the norm, Queen Amannisa is just the place. The restaurant’s white cloth tablecloths, wine glasses and silverware give it a fine dining feel, and its blend of Middle Eastern and Chinese flavors (Uyghur food) will really take the whole classy feeling up a notch. The dishes include hand-pulled noodles mixed with a protein, veggies and homemade sauces. Once you go there, you’ll go back again and again.

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11) Dat Jerk Caribbean Chargrill (Waldorf)

Besides customer service that outdoes pretty much anything you’d expect at a restaurant, Dat Jerk Caribbean Chargrill takes jerk chicken dishes to a whole new level. The dishes are packed with flavor and even their drinks take the healthy route (soda without high fructose corn syrup). It’s definitely the kind of place to head for a fun night out.

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12) Silver Skewers (Waldorf)

Silver Skewers is a place that stands out, and not just because it is one of the only family-owned places among a crowd of chain restaurants. It serves Persian food, meaning that you can get healthy options if that’s what you’re after. (We recommend the grilled salmon and vegetables served with jasmine rice and tandoori). Kabobs and homemade stews are also on the menu, and the taste will far from disappoint. This spot is especially great for date night.

Go there!

13) Food For Life (Suitland)

With options like fish nuggets and carrot fries, it’s easy to assume that the food at Food For Life is going to be bland. The reality? It’s anything but. The menu takes classic, high-calorie American foods and puts a creative twist on them. They’re top-of-the-line tasty and worth a visit.

Go There!

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Author: Caitlin H
Diet-to-Go Community Manager

Caitlin is the Diet-to-Go community manager and an avid runner. She is passionate about engaging with others online and maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle. She believes moderation is key, and people will have the most weight loss success if they engage in common-sense healthy eating and fitness.

 

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