Thank the nutritional label heavens for the health and juice establishments around Buffalo Niagara for their righteous service. For they make the eternal struggle between convenience and making healthy choices easier for all of us. Find a delicious AND nutritious establishment near you.

by Max Fisher

Whether you’ve been waist deep in salad for eons, a burgeoning health conscious folk, or a part time health food dabbler, trust us – there’s plenty of amazing healthy dining spots around town that you need to try

Making Nutritious Delicious

Let’s be frank here, everyone wants to eat healthy but in reality, no one really “wants” to eat healthy; and in all fairness, who in his or her right mind would want to? It’s such a hassle picking up a plate of broccoli over a burger and a shake. Even things that are supposed to be nutritious and delicious, like sweet potatoes, can’t compare to the flavorful joy you feel when biting into a Stinger or some such unhealthy monstrosity.

But what if I told you some places are equal parts downright delicious as well as nutritious? What if I told you these places are so good it’ll make you throw out that Whopper and get a black bean wrap instead and dump that milkshake for some freshly squeezed juice? Right now you’re thinking, “Yeah right, sounds too good to be true”. Well, my justifiably skeptical reader, let me assure you that such places do indeed exist. There are options for healthy dining across the Buffalo Niagara area. So, if you’ve ever been just a teensy-weensy bit curious about such places, now’s your chance to see what all the fuss is about!

Want Healthy? Ask Ashker’s

Health food has become a fad in today’s consumer market. You want proof? Burger King has a plant-based burger (that’s actually supposed to be just as bad for you as a regular burger). With all this talk of “healthy options” on nearly every menu you come across, it’s hard to tell which place/menu is legitimate and not just hiding another nutritional devastator behind buzzwords of the day like “non-GMO.”

When I want to eat healthily and have a pleasant dining experience as well, I like to make sure that this place is legitimate without a reasonable doubt. That’s why I go to the Ashker’s on Amherst St., one of the great options for healthy dining in Buffalo Niagara.

Admittedly I was a massive fan of the Elmwood location (which I have since mourned its closing). But times are tough and time keeps moving on, so I had to pick myself up, wipe my eyes with a piece of crisp lettuce and keep it pushing. Gladly I realized the Amherst location has its charms, and although it will never replace the Elmwood location in my heart, it nonetheless is a great spot.

You know it’s good if the kids are eatin’ it: smoothie and vegan burrito bowl from Ashkar’s

Ashker’s, on top of being a top-notch eatery that just so happens to be healthy, is incredibly cozy. It’s the type of place you feel like you can take your computer to a far-off corner, fall asleep and wake up to find it’s still where you left it. (Notice I said “feels like” please don’t test this theory). The majority of the inside consists of wood, giving the feeling that you’ve been invited into someone’s log cabin. There’s a hippy vibe going on, but I don’t mean that in derogatory terms whatsoever. It’s a place that’s simple yet communal, it’s a sparse space that isn’t over cluttered with chairs and odd knickknacks, but instead, the walls are peppered with purchasable artwork from local artists and the occasional live band performance. Bringing to mind the kind of lax free energy one might find in an old Hippie commune (just with much better food and drink).

Familiar Food with a Twist

Since Covid hit, Ashker’s has altered its menu options quite severely (I’m still praying for the day the black bean wrap and home fries get put back on the menu). But that’s not to say what they still have isn’t marvelous! Take the Cowboy Sweet Potato, sweet potatoes slow cooked with chili and topped with corn salsa. Now excuse me for partially listing the menu, but that doesn’t sound like any old sweet potato you and I can whip up at home. No, that sounds like a delicacy with some rather special credentials.

The rest of the menu follows suit. Seemingly ordinary food items with a twist that makes you go, “uh, ok, I’ll try that!” Even the beverages on hand ranging from boosters like wheatgrass to all green juice blends (for those who are very serious about their cleanse). To smoothies that combine everyday fruits like bananas and mangos with ginger and beets. (Don’t worry, they also have traditional smoothies if you’re not looking for that extra health kick). Everything not only tastes good, but can help your body in unexpected ways.

Take wheatgrass for instance. It’s said that a 1 oz shot of wheatgrass juice is high in essential amino acids, vitamins A, E, and C, and other essential minerals and vitamins. It’s coming into contact with beneficial things like this that is yet another of Ashker’s strengths. There are so many beneficial things available today for everyday people that are obscured by all the nonsense that seems to be front and center constantly. With places like Ashker’s, you are able to cut through a lot of that nonsense and get right to the good stuff!

We’ve said it before – you are what you eat. Making healthy choices like having a salad vs a cheeseburger has side effects ranging from increased lifespan to reduction in preventable diseases

Energy Without the Negative Side Effects

Healthy foods are a pain, but when it comes down to it they’re a necessity. Healthy eating equals a longer lifespan and a severe decrease from a whole medley of different diseases. Still, not everyone is fortunate enough to have a 5-star chef, ready and waiting to make some healthy delicacy. Everyday people have an everyday battle with convenience that will continue to rage on until the end of time. Yet don’t lose hope because as long as places with options for healthy dining in Buffalo Niagara continue to grow, you don’t have to settle for carbs and trans fats masquerading as healthy foods, and you don’t have to make bland meals at home that make you grab your pillow as soon as you put down your fork.

Never forget that you can have the best of both worlds where flavor and health collide to make something energizing and exciting that gives you the energy to go through the day and be happy with your meal choices as well.

Multiple Locations

What do you think of our list of options for Healthy Dining in Buffalo Niagara? Know a restaurant that we missed? Is there spinach in our teeth? Let us know.

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