10 Healthy Eateries To Feel Fruitful This New Year

Nokomis

Featuring many vegan-friendly options along with local, pasture-raised beef, Cafe Evergreen offers health-minded eaters a very nutritious and salubrious place to get their fill. Everything is scratch-made fresh every day and never out of cans. Aiming to use the best ingredients to keep your food “clean”, expect no preservatives or GMOs and organic ingredients when possible. Start your day off by trying its classic eggs benedict, a healthy omelette with egg whites or a vegan treat. For lunch, try one of the many freshly prepared sandwiches, like the Evergreen Club, Chipolte Black Bean Burger or Vegan Roasted Beet Reuben. And if you're just as thirsty as you are hungry, enjoy a great selection of freshly blended fruit smoothies and juices, locally roasted coffee, organic beers and probiotic drinks as well. 

Downtown Sarasota and St. Armands Circle

With two cozy locations, Green Zebra Cafe offers a warm, casual atmosphere with deliciously nutritious foods and drinks. With a focus on wholesome and locally sourced ingredients, enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner menus that are carefully crafted to reflect customers' special dietary requirements. Serving cold-pressed juices, smoothies, salads, sandwiches, raw entrees and desserts, the organic cafe is a haven for those seeking a freshly prepared meal they'll never feel guilty for. Popular items include the Brazilian Acai Bowl, Rainbow Kale Salad, the Santa Monica Wrap and many more! For smoothies, try the ever-popular Green Power or Lido Sunset. Refreshing juices include Summer Breeze and Beet the Blues, while wellness elixirs like Matcha Master, Moon Milk and Immune Booster will keep any sign of the flu away!

Downtown Sarasota

This downtown eatery prides itself as a farm-to-table establishment that utilizes only locally sourced, organic ingredients. Prepared "the way nature intended," Organic Farmer's Table offers breakfast and lunch options such as flatbreads, protein bowls, a roasted beet salad, kale Caesar, a plant-based burger made of a house veggie patty and other options prioritizing superfoods and organic ingredients. Some other standout items include the Farmer's Club Wrap, the Chia Bowl with dragonfruit chia pudding, a mushroom French Dip sandwich and many other innovative dishes. Come dinner, enjoy its evening concept, Ciao Bella, which turns the café into an Italian restaurant with elegant sidewalk seating, featuring fine Italian wines and traditional dishes made from scratch.

Englewood

With a focus on creative healthy foods, Mango Bistro's colorful fruit murals and sunny décor perfectly matches its bright, colorful dishes. In addition to many vegetarian and plant-based vegan options, there are also many gluten-free alternatives to accommodate a range of dietary needs and preferences. The menu includes everything from grilled paninis, gourmet wraps, French crêpes, nourishing soups, garden-fresh salads, healthy breakfasts and baked goods to pure fruit smoothies, juices, specialty coffees and teas.

Various Sarasota Locations

Fresh fare, smooth spirits and great fun – what more could you ask for? Gecko's Grill & Pub's are favorites of locals and visitors alike, with four locations across Sarasota. Though a pub-style restaurant, Gecko's serves up American bar fare with a gourmet farm-to-table focus – including fresh, locally sourced seasonal produce from its local, organic farm partner, Honeyside Farms. From zucchini, yellow squash, broccoli and a wide variety of tomatoes, Gecko's plans its menu according to the growing season with Honeyside. Ask your friendly server or barkeep what's been harvested just for Gecko's today. Some solid choices include the Gluten-Free Hummus Plate with warm pita, crisp vegetables and feta cheese, Gecko's 1992 Salad, the Power Blend salad or the Ahi Tuna Nachos. 

Multiple Locations

First Watch Restaurants are a popular neighborhood brunch spot for both locals and visitors alike. With six locations serving up crave-able classics and seasonal specialties for breakfast and brunch, enjoy healthful menu items that don't sacrifice on flavor. Seasonally, there is always a specially featured menu of in-season ingredients, including a freshly-made juice, which you can "boost" with a wellness shot of Vitamins B3, C & D, Zinc, Echinacea & Elderberry. The restaurant's dishes offer quality, farm-fresh ingredients that follow the sun – including the Avocado Toast on thick-cut whole grain artisan toast, a continual fan favorite. The Sunrise Granola Bowl, A.M. Superfoods Bowl, Power Wrap and Tri-Athlete are also standout menu items when craving clean eating.

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

The Green Orchid at Selby Gardens offers a dining experience rooted in sustainability, seasonal flavors and a strong sense of place. Set beside Sarasota's bayfront, the restaurant showcases fresh, thoughtfully sourced ingredients – some as closely sourced as its rooftop herb and produce garden. The dishes are inspired by global cuisines and Florida’s natural bounty, designed to complement Selby’s net-positive mission. The Green Orchid places a strong emphasis on environmentally responsible operations and forward-thinking energy practices. The result is a relaxed yet refined spot where garden views, mindful menus and a commitment to the planet for a meal that feels as good as it tastes.

Downtown Sarasota and UTC

With two locations, one on Main Street and the newer at University Town Center, you have double the chance now to embark on a culinary journey of fresh Peruvian cuisine with a Gulf Coast twist. Selva Grill's menu is celebrated for its fusion of flavors – crafting an elevated menu with discernible diners in mind. From the ever-popular, nutrient-packed Caesar salad to expertly prepared seafood dishes rich in Omega-3s, every bite at Selva Grill is a step towards nourishing your body and tantalizing your taste buds. The chefs' dedication to quality ingredients and inventive preparation ensures that each meal consists of vibrant Latin flavors, sustainable sourcing and clean cooking.

Lakewood Ranch

Flower Child is Sarasota County's newest health-focused eatery and excels in the fast-casual counter-service concept. Its signature flowery décor meets a feel-good approach to dining with a menu centered on wholesome, scratch-made dishes that celebrate bold flavors and clean ingredients. From vibrant rice and noodle bowls to nourishing salads, wraps and delicious plates for vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free lifestyles, everything is designed to feel both indulgent and energizing. The airy, sunlit space and laid-back vibe make it an easy go-to for a healthy lunch, casual dinner or post-workout refuel that still feels like a treat.

Historic Downtown Venice