Nara
▶︎Build-Your-Own Bento Box at Nara
$11 | 1617 Main St, Ste 100 Kansas City, MO | narakc.com
Customize your lunch at this Crossroads hotspot with your choice of sushi roll (California, spicy tuna or vegetable) and entree (tempura chicken, beef skewers, grilled salmon, stir-fried vegetables or stir-fried shrimp), plus a house salad, steamed jasmine rice and fruit. Balanced and delicious!
Photo courtesy of Nara Restaurant Facebook
Westside Local
▶︎Seasonal Quinoa
$16 | 1663 Summit St, Kansas City, MO | thewestsidelocal.com
Get all your daily greens with this garden-in-a-bowl entree. Roasted brussels sprouts, broccoli, snap peas, roasted red pepper, toasted almonds and quark cheese combine with quinoa for a nutrient-rich meal. Add chicken or salmon for a protein boost.
Photo by Zach Bauman
J. Alexander’s
▶︎Ahi Tuna Salad
$20 | 11471 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, Kansas 66210 | jalexanders.com
Ahi tuna packs tons of omega-3 fatty acids and minerals such as magnesium, but if that’s not enough to make you a fan, the Asian-inspired ahi tuna salad at J. Alexander’s definitely will. The tuna is seared rare and served on a bed of field greens with wasabi and a cilantro vinaigrette.
Photo courtesy of J. Alexander’s Facebook
Brookside Barrio
▶︎Street Tacos
$9.50 | 6227 Brookside Plaza, Kansas City, MO | brooksidebarrio.com
Let’s be clear: Tacos are super healthy when they’re done with a lean protein and low-carb tortilla. Brookside Barrio does a platter of three with marinated chicken, onion, cilantro, shredded cabbage, pickled onions and an avocado-tomatillo salsa, all piled into your choice of corn tortillas or lettuce wraps.
Photo by Zach Bauman
Tavern at Mission Farms
▶︎Grilled Salmon and Kale Salad
$14 | 10681 Mission Rd, Leawood, KS | tavernatmissionfarms.com
This salad is so good, you’ll forget every bad thing you said and eye roll you made when glancing at the word “kale” on a menu. A plump grilled salmon filet sits atop a brilliant green bed of chopped kale and mixed greens, and there’s a sweet, earthy boost from the roasted beets and toasted walnuts mixed in. Finished with shaved parmesan and a lemon vinaigrette, this is a veritable cornucopia of goodness.
Photo courtesy of Tavern at Mission Farms Facebook
Sahara
▶︎Grilled Chicken Kabob Pita Sandwich
$7.95 | 320 E 51st St, Kansas City, MO | saharakc.com
Mediterranean diets are all the rage, and it’s easy to understand the appeal when you taste the food at Sahara Mediterranean Food in Lee’s Summit. This fast eatery offers a juicy grilled chicken kabob on fresh pita with a side of your choice (fries, soup or salad). Ask for a side of the hummus — it’ll make that healthy sandwich extra special.
Photo courtesy of Restaurant.com
Beer Kitchen
▶︎Jackfruit Tamales
$13 | 435 Westport Rd, Kansas City, MO | beerkcrestaurants.com/beerkitchenkc
Jackfruit, an Indian import, is popping up in kitchens across the country. The unripened fruit mimics the flavor and texture of pork, and Beer Kitchen in Westport makes the most of this meat alternative in vegan tamales with blue corn masa, rojo and verde salsas, heirloom anasazi beans and beer-battered avocado.
Photo by Zach Bauman
Seasons 52
▶︎Grilled Sea Scallops
$24.95 | 340 Ward Pkwy, Kansas City, MO | seasons52.com
At Plaza mainstay Seasons 52, seven plump scallops are grilled and caramelized in a lemon butter sauce, then served with a divine leek and butternut squash risotto and grilled caulilini. It’s hard to believe there are only 470 calories in this balanced and bountiful entree.
Photo courtesy of Seasons 52 (Kansas City) Facebook
Nordstrom Cafe
▶︎Grilled Chicken and Strawberry Salad
$11.25 | Located inside Oak Park Mall
There’s nothing not to love about this tried-and-true salad combination featuring organic baby greens and spinach, grilled chicken breast, crumbled goat cheese, strawberries, marinated red onion and a smattering of candied pecans, all dressed in a dark cherry balsamic vinaigrette. With just 680 calories in this fiercely fresh meal, every bite is as tasty as it is guilt-free.
Photo courtesy of Nordstrom Blog
Princess Garden
▶︎Spiced Diet Chicken and Shrimp
$11.95 | (816) 444-3709
Waldo’s Princess Garden has a devoted “diet” menu full of popular Chinese dishes adapted for low-sodium, low-oil and low-calorie meal plans. The spiced chicken and shrimp are tossed with garlic and ginger sauce and served with steamed white rice, but the accommodating staff will happily swap the rice out for steamed broccoli or a vegetable medley.
Photo by Zach Bauman
